Labor - Stage Two

Its time to push! 

While this isn't the case for every woman, pushing was wonderful for me. Granted, it took just shy of 3 hours and I was super exhausted at the end, but this is what my body had been craving (well before it should have) and I was so glad that I was finally going to get to do what I needed to do! 

You'll find that this stage of labor is pretty intense and your contractions are stronger. Your contractions will be around 60 - 90 seconds long and be happening ever 2 - 5 minutes (these numbers are averages...everyone is different). You'll feel a fullness in your vaginal and bowel area and you'll have a strong urge to push. Your bloody show may increase when its time to push as well (mine did!).

Break: 

Positions -

1) Resist the urge to lay on your back (if you haven't had an epidural). 

2) Staying upright has a lot of advantages, mainly gravity. It can also help the alignment of the baby in the birth canal, make your contractions more efficient, and help widen the passageway through the pelvis, possibly reduce the length of time you're in labor and/or need the use of an instrument or an episiotomy. Some good upright positions are sitting and squatting.

3) You may also find that lying on your side is helpful. 

Back to pushing...

With each contraction you're going to feel the urge to push (unless you've had an epidural - some women do not feel the pushing urge...a side effect). You may find that putting your chin to your chest while pushing helps you to bear down and concentrate. You may also find that making noises or breathing deeply and quietly is helpful. Do what comes naturally. Instincts may take over and you may find yourself in the most peculiar of positions and you may find yourself making noises you haven't heard much of before.

Break:  

Pooping - yup...pooping. Some women do defecate while pushing, and while its most women's biggest fear, you should know that it very common and natural. Your doctors and nurses are so used to this and will sweep it away quickly - so quickly that it may even go unnoticed.

Back to pushing...

You may feel a stinging sensation as you are stretching (you wont probably feel this if you've had an epidural). My doctor told me to stop pushing at one point - this is so that your perineum can thin out for a moment so that the baby's head doesn't come out really fast and tear you. During that moment you can pant or blow to help yourself resist the urge to push. I'm so thankful for her doing that (and for her massaging and stretching me while I was pushing) because I didn't tear! You may also feel a lot of pressure in your back and rectum. 

Crowning...Two steps forward, One step back -

What happens when the baby's head is crowning is it will come down with the contraction and then move back up a little after the contraction is over. When the head comes down and is visibly through the vagina, the baby's head is crowning. Once crowning has started and the contractions continue, the head will eventually stay visible and it wont be long until your baby is out! 

Delivery: 

Once the head is delivered, your baby will turn a little bit so that the first shoulder can be delivered with the next contraction. When that shoulder is delivered, your baby will turn a little bit again and the other shoulder will come out; then the rest of the body will emerge and you've got yourself a baby!