Things to consider during the crowning phase can include:
Affirmation and key words
Eye contact or whispering in her ear
Perineum burning and stretching
Being 'washed down'
Episiotomy
Tearing
Affirmations and key words. Before the birth, discuss with your partner (or support person) key affirmations (or words) you can use when your baby's head is crowning and the perineum is stretching and burning. Practise saying and hearing these words during the pregnancy while you 'pant' or breathe. For example, "blow", "out breath", "our baby is coming". Imagine yourself breathing your baby out, rather than pushing your baby out. Rehearsing this can help you to 'cue in', or stay focussed, on the difficult task of breathing at this point. Be aware that this may 'go out the window' if you are in intense pain for this very short period.
Eye contact or whispering in her ear. Even though your caregiver will be directing you, the internal signals your body is giving at the time can make it hard to concentrate on what you are trying to achieve. If your partner can maintain eye contact or repeat the caregiver's directions in your ear, you may find it easier to pant or breathe.
Perineum burning and stretching. While it can be excruciatingly painful, the burning and stretching sensation of the perineum usually only lasts for a reasonably short time. Try and use it as positive feedback, to tell you the labour is nearly over and you will be holding your baby very soon. Women often have feelings of immense relief once the head emerges.
Being 'washed down'. In years gone by it was a popular practise to wash the woman's genitals down with warmed antiseptic solution, usually as the baby's head was crowning. It is now known that this procedure has little benefit for the woman or the baby (birth is not a sterile procedure!), having no effect on infection rates after birth. There are still some hospitals and caregivers who continue to 'wash down' women for birth.