A–Z Glossary

Perineum

The perineum is the area of tissue between the vaginal opening and anus that stretches during childbirth.

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Episiotomy explained and when it is performed

Episiotomy explained and when it is performed

What an episiotomy is An episiotomy is a deliberate surgical incision in the perineum made during the second stage of vaginal birth, usually when the baby’s head is crowning or birth is imminent. Its purpose is to enlarge the vaginal opening so the baby can be born more quickly or so instruments can be used […]

Helping mother stay comfortable

Helping mother stay comfortable

Start with the basics of recovery The first goal is to make the mother feel safe enough to rest. In the early postpartum period, that usually means quiet, easy access to water and food, a reachable call bell or phone, and support with standing, toileting, feeding, and holding the baby. These are simple steps, but […]

Common experiences during pushing

Common experiences during pushing

The pushing stage is variable, not scripted The pushing stage of labor, also called the second stage of labor, begins when the cervix is fully dilated and the baby is moving down through the pelvis. Although birth education often describes this phase in a neat sequence, lived experience is much less uniform. Some people describe […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Do you need to push and what it feels like

Do you need to push and what it feels like

When pushing usually begins The pushing stage of labor usually begins after full cervical dilation, commonly described as 10 centimeters. Full dilation means the cervix has opened enough that it is no longer the main barrier between the baby and the vaginal canal. Even then, the start of active pushing is not always automatic. Your […]

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 […]