Active pushing contractions
Emotions during the active pushing phase
The active pushing phase is from when the woman starts to feel the urge to push (usually during a contraction), until most of the baby's head can be seen at the opening of her vagina. Most of the 2nd stage is made up of the active pushing phase. The sensations during this phase can range from a slight urge to push, only at the peak of the stronger contractions, to an irresistible urge to push (or bear down) all the time that you may have little control over. Pushing without a contraction only tires you and achieves very little progress. Be aware that:
You only need to push when the contraction is happening.
With each contraction, the baby comes further down the birth canal, but as the contraction eases, the baby's head moves back up, only not as far as it was before the contraction started. The descent of the baby during this phase is frequently described as:
2 steps forward....1 step back...2 steps forward...1 step back
Gradually, the baby's head can be seen clearly with each contraction. The first glimpse of your baby's head often looks similar to a 'wrinkled walnut' at the vaginal opening. This is because the bones of the baby's skull naturally overlap and the skin becomes 'bunched up' in the process. At this stage of the labour, your caregiver would refer to the baby as being 'on view'.
Active pushing contractions
The active pushing phase contractions may: