The Second Stage of labour begins when you are fully dilated which is usually 10 cm. Your contractions may become shorter in length and there may be longer breaks between them. If this is your first baby, Second Stage can last two hours or more. In future birthing experiences, this stage is usually shorter.
At full dilation or 10 cm, you may feel an overwhelming desire to push or an intense pressure on your perineum (the area between your vagina and rectum) or on your rectum.
During the Second Stage you need to work with your body to push your baby through the vagina (birth canal). As your baby gradually moves down, your vagina will slowly stretch. This slow stretching helps prevent a tear that could happen if your baby was born too quickly.
TAKE NOTE: Some women have the desire to push before their cervix is fully dilated. If this happens to you, your nurse will suggest ways for you to avoid pushing until your cervix is fully opened.
Just as some women might have the urge to start to push their baby to birth before they are fully dilated, many women who are fully dilated get a natural break of about 20-30 minutes before active pushing begins. Some women and/or their healthcare providers call this few minutes the ‘rest and be thankful’ phase, as it gives mom a chance to regroup, and get ready for this new sensations of labour as she now begins to bring her baby to birth. If baby is doing well, but mom does not yet have an urge to bear down or push, it is usually quite safe for both baby and mom to just rest until mom’s body s ready to start the next stage of labour. Your healthcare provider will guide you in listening to what your body wants to do!
As the First Stage is ending (transition phase) and the Second Stage or the pushing stage begins, your healthcare providers will be more focused on you and your baby. They will help you with suggestions of ways, and positions you can be in, which might help you push more effectively. Often you’ll be encouraged to just push whenever you feel that urge to do so, and not worry about how long ago the last pushing contraction was. Also it is common to make low grunting sounds during pushing, so just follow your instincts.
Pushing techniques
Your healthcare provider will help you and your partner as you work with your body to move your baby through the birth canal. You’ll use your diaphragm and abdominal muscles to help with pushing, Your healthcare provider will likely encourage you to not archyour bck or neck, but to try and relax your jaw and drop your chin as you push.
You might find it helpful to do the following:
- At the beginning of a contraction, take a deep cleansing breath; in and out
- When you feel the urge to push downward, gradually release your breath as you push. Some women find it helpful to make grunting sounds, or to release their breath as if they were blowing through a straw.
- Breathe in and repeat pushing during the entire contraction.
- Take a deep breath and relax when the contraction is gone.
TAKE NOTE: You may find there are times during the pushing stage when you are holding your breath. Try not to do this for longer than five to 6 seconds. It is important to breathe to provide oxygen for you and your baby.
Just before birth, the opening of the vagina will stretch around your baby’s head. This is called “crowning.” Your caregivers may tell you to stop pushing at this time, and just to breathe, so that they can guide your baby out slowly and gently.