A–Z Glossary

Involuntary urge to push

An involuntary bearing-down reflex is an automatic urge to push that occurs when contractions and pelvic responses prompt the body to bear down.

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Fast labor under 6 hours and rapid labor under 3 hours

Fast labor under 6 hours and rapid labor under 3 hours

What fast labor means in clinical terms Labor duration is not perfectly predictable, but there are useful clinical thresholds. In many references, labor that ends in birth in less than 6 hours is considered rapid labor. The stricter term precipitous labor is generally used when delivery occurs within 3 hours of the onset of regular […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

What pushing felt like real experience

What pushing felt like real experience

When pushing begins Pushing usually begins after complete cervical dilation, meaning the cervix has opened to approximately 10 centimeters. Some people feel an unmistakable urge to push as the fetal head descends into the pelvis. Others reach full dilation without a strong urge, particularly if they have epidural anesthesia or if the baby has not […]