Birth: Birth – Delivery – Labor
How to push safely at the end of labor

How to push safely at the end of labor

Start from the physiology of the second stage The second stage of labor begins when the cervix is fully dilated and ends with birth of the baby. That threshold matters because pushing before a fully dilated cervix can increase discomfort and does not help the fetal head descend efficiently. Current obstetric guidance places the decision […]

Open-glottis vs directed pushing comparison

Open-glottis vs directed pushing comparison

What the two techniques actually mean Open-glottis pushing means the glottis remains open enough for air to move out while the person bears down. The push is usually coordinated with the contraction, but the breath is not held rigidly. Many people describe it as exhaling through the effort rather than bracing against it. Directed pushing […]

Signs pushing requires help

Signs pushing requires help

What normal pushing looks like The second stage of labor begins once the cervix is fully dilated and the baby is ready to descend. For many birthing people, the urge to push is strong and often described as pressure low in the pelvis or the sensation of needing to have a bowel movement. Contractions usually […]

Guided vs natural pushing methods

Guided vs natural pushing methods

What guided and natural pushing mean In practice, guided pushing means the labor team tells the person when to begin and stop each push, often with counting, breath-holding, and repeated coached efforts. It is sometimes called directed or coached pushing. The goal is usually to synchronize effort with a contraction and make each push look […]

Pressure sensations and urge to push explained

Pressure sensations and urge to push explained

What the sensation usually is People often describe the sensation as a deep, heavy pressure low in the pelvis, sometimes spreading into the rectum, anus, back, or thighs. It may feel like the body wants to brace, open, or empty itself. During a contraction, that pressure can peak quickly and then ease, only to return […]

Overview of the second stage of labor

Overview of the second stage of labor

Definition and clinical boundaries The second stage of labor is defined as the interval from full cervical dilation, usually described as 10 centimeters, to delivery of the baby. This boundary matters because the cervix is no longer the main structure changing; attention shifts to how the fetus descends through the pelvis, rotates, and ultimately births […]

Descent and rotation during second stage

Descent and rotation during second stage

What happens in the second stage The second stage extends from complete cervical dilation, usually 10 cm, until delivery of the baby. It is often described as the pushing stage, but this description can be too narrow. Some people experience a period after full dilation in which the fetus continues to descend and rotate before […]

How baby moves during pushing

How baby moves during pushing

The second stage: more than pushing downward The second stage of labor begins when the cervix is fully dilated and ends with birth. This is the phase many people call the pushing stage, but the baby’s movement is more complex than a straight-line passage. The fetal head must fit through a curved, muscular, bony canal […]

What is crowning and burning sensation explained

What is crowning and burning sensation explained

What crowning means in labor Crowning is the point in birth when the widest part of the baby’s head remains visible at the vaginal opening between contractions. It is a clear sign that delivery is close and that the body is in the final stretch of the pushing stage of labor. For many people, this […]

Controlled pushing and slowing at crowning

Controlled pushing and slowing at crowning

What controlled pushing at crowning means Controlled pushing at crowning refers to deliberately reducing the strength or duration of pushing once the fetal head is distending the perineum and visible at the vaginal opening. In practice, this may mean taking shorter pushes, exhaling instead of bearing down hard, or pausing briefly when the clinician asks […]