Keeping fluids up is important to maintain throughout the entire labour. Now that there are usually longer rest times between the contractions, there can be more time to take in fluids or to suck on ice cubes. If she is dozing between the contractions let her sleep, but offer her a drink every now and then just as the contraction finishes and before she starts to rest.
If she is in the bath be aware that the warm water can sometimes zap her energy and cause her to perspire, losing body fluids. Keep offering her drinks or ice chips. You could take some individual flavoured ice blocks in the long thin plastic tubes for her to suck on and keep energy levels up.
If her bladder becomes overfull it can prolong the 2nd stage by getting in the way of the baby, or make her too uncomfortable to push effectively. Try to remind her to empty it during the resting phase or just prior to the active pushing phase, otherwise in between one of the contractions if she hasn't been for an hour or two.
Try sitting her on the toilet and turning the tap on if she is having trouble, help her into the shower to see if she can urinate there. The sound of running water may do the trick. Using gentle, downward strokes on her lower back has been known to work. If she is in the bath it is OK for her to urinate in the water, or she may pass urine as she pushes.
If she is unable to urinate a catheter may be needed to empty the bladder. For more information click onto
unable to urinate.