Birth: Birth – Delivery – Labor
How to avoid tearing while pushing

How to avoid tearing while pushing

Understand what tearing is and why it happens Perineal tears occur when the tissue between the vaginal opening and anus, and sometimes the vaginal wall or nearby structures, stretch beyond their capacity during birth. Clinicians usually classify tears by depth. First-degree tears involve skin or superficial tissue. Second-degree tears extend into perineal muscles. Third- and […]

When vacuum or forceps are used

When vacuum or forceps are used

What assisted vaginal birth means Vacuum and forceps are used to assist a vaginal birth in the second stage of labor, after the cervix is fully dilated and the baby has descended into the pelvis. The clinician applies traction in coordination with contractions and, when possible, maternal pushing. The aim is not to pull a […]

When assisted delivery is needed during pushing

When assisted delivery is needed during pushing

What assisted delivery means during pushing Assisted delivery, also called operative vaginal delivery or assisted vaginal birth, refers to using instruments such as vacuum or forceps to help complete a vaginal birth during the second stage of labor. This is the phase after full cervical dilation, when the person is actively pushing and the baby […]

How pushing problems are managed

How pushing problems are managed

What clinicians mean by pushing problems In birth, pushing problems usually refer to difficulty moving the baby down and out during the second stage of labor, after full cervical dilation. This does not mean the birthing person is doing anything wrong. Pushing depends on several coordinated factors: uterine contractions, maternal effort, pelvic anatomy, fetal position, […]

Fatigue during pushing stage

Fatigue during pushing stage

Why fatigue happens in the second stage Fatigue during the pushing stage is not a sign of weakness. The second stage of labor is metabolically demanding: the uterus continues repeated high-intensity contractions, the pelvic floor stretches, the fetus rotates and descends, and the birthing person may be asked to coordinate abdominal pressure, breathing, positioning, and […]

Baby not descending and stalled pushing

Baby not descending and stalled pushing

What stalled pushing means The second stage of labor begins when the cervix is fully dilated and ends with birth. During this stage, the baby usually descends through the pelvis while also rotating and flexing the head. Descent is not always smooth or linear. Some labors have a long early second stage with passive descent, […]

Why pushing may not be effective

Why pushing may not be effective

Why effort does not always equal progress People often interpret pushing as a straightforward muscular task: bear down harder and the baby will move. Birth does not work that way. The uterus is already doing the main propulsive work through contractions, while the birthing person coordinates abdominal pressure, pelvic floor relaxation, and timing. If any […]

Common problems during pushing

Common problems during pushing

Why pushing sometimes becomes difficult There is a useful difference between a hard pushing stage and a problematic one. Hard work is expected; a true problem is when contractions are no longer translating into descent, or when the person pushing is becoming too exhausted to continue safely. A broader pushing stage and delivery overview helps […]

Urge to push and sensation with epidural

Urge to push and sensation with epidural

How epidural sensation usually changes Labor epidural analgesia is a form of neuraxial analgesia, meaning medication is delivered near the spinal nerves that carry pain signals from the uterus, cervix, vagina, perineum, and pelvic structures. Modern labor epidurals often use relatively low concentrations of local anesthetic, sometimes combined with an opioid, to reduce pain while […]

Pushing with epidural explained

Pushing with epidural explained

What changes when pushing begins with an epidural The second stage of labor begins when the cervix is fully dilated and ends with the birth of the baby. With epidural analgesia, this stage may feel less instinctive because the medication reduces transmission of pain and pressure signals from the uterus, cervix, vagina, perineum, and pelvic […]