A–Z Glossary

coached pushing

A coached form of labor pushing in which the care team gives instructions about when and how to push.

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Pushing stage for first-time moms

Pushing stage for first-time moms

What the pushing stage is The pushing stage begins in the second stage of labor after full cervical dilation, when contractions continue and the baby moves lower through the pelvis. For a first-time mom, this can feel different from earlier labor because the work becomes more focused and often more physically demanding. Some people feel […]

Pushing stage for second birth

Pushing stage for second birth

Where the pushing stage fits in a second birth The pushing stage is the active part of the second stage of labor, which starts once the cervix is fully dilated. In many labors, it is preceded by a quieter period of passive descent during labor, when contractions continue and the baby moves lower before strong […]

Best pushing techniques explained

Best pushing techniques explained

What pushing technique actually means In labor, pushing technique refers to the way a person coordinates breath, abdominal effort, and pelvic floor relaxation to help the fetus descend through the pelvis. Clinicians often discuss this within the second stage of labor, which begins at full cervical dilation and ends with birth. In practice, technique is […]

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 […]

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 […]

When pushing feels uncontrollable

When pushing feels uncontrollable

What the body is doing When pushing feels uncontrollable, the first thing to know is that this can be a normal reflex. In active birth, downward pressure from the baby’s head, stretching of the cervix and vaginal tissues, and stimulation of the pelvic floor can create a strong urge to bear down. Many people describe […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]