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What is happening during the Second Stage of Labour?
As you move from the first to the second stage of labour, your hormones will change and your contractions will prepare you to birth your baby. This is powerful and can feel overwhelming. Everyone feels different about this stage. Some feel like they can’t do it; some enjoy this part more; and for others it can be a sleepy, restful time. You may want constant reassurance or to be left alone. Everyone is different!
The pushing bit!
Although we call it ‘pushing’, this can be misleading, and might make you feel like you would just need a few pushes to birth your baby.
What can I do to help myself in the 2nd stage?
Upright birth positions
Breathing techniques
Something that can feel amazing at this point is a warm compress on your perineum. This can be a flannel or a pad. Birthing in water also helps with softening and stretching the muscle.
The crowning bit!
Once your baby’s head is born, there will be a pause until the next contraction, before the rest of your baby is born. This can sometimes be 2-3 minutes. Your baby needs time to turn their shoulders and make the most of the space available. The rest of your baby is usually born with the next contraction, and given straight to you for skin- to- skin contact.
Please let your midwife know if you or your partner would prefer to be the ones to lift the baby up and how you would like to discover the sex of your baby.
Tears
As your baby’s head is born, the skin between the vagina and the anus (called the perineum) is stretched. For many women it will stretch and remain intact. For others it may stretch and tear.
- Perineal tears are described in degrees, which tell us their size and effect:
- First-degree tears are small, skin-deep tears. These usually heal naturally.
- Second-degree tears are deeper and affect the muscle of the perineum. These usually require stitches.
- Third-degree tears involve the muscle that controls the anus (the anal sphincter). Stitches will be needed.
- Fourth-degree tears are the same as third-degree but extend into the lining of the anus. Stitches will be required.
Find out more about third- and fourth-degree tears here
What can I do to help prevent tearing?
Sometimes there is nothing you can do to control whether your perineum tears. However, we know that there are some things that might help.
- Birth position – being upright and free to move, kneeling being on all fours or lying on your side may reduce tearing.
- Warm compress – a warm flannel or pad placed on the perineum in second stage can help the skin to warm up and stretch.
- A ‘hands on’ birth means that your midwife or doctor can help support the perineum in second stage.
- Perineal massage while pregnant has been shown to help. Ask your midwife for information and instructions on how to massage your perineum to help prevent tearing during birth.
Perineal massage a step by step guide
Explanation Point
Term | Description |
---|---|
Cervix | the cervix is the bottom end of the uterus, it expands to create a wide opening into the vagina. |
Hormones | Hormones are chemicals that tell cells and body parts to do certain things. |
Epidural | An epidural is an injection in your back to stop you from feeling pain in part of your body. |
Contraction | Contractions are the tightening of muscles at the top part of the uterus. Contractions push the baby down into the birth canal during labour. |
Pelvis | The pelvis is a bowl-shaped bony structure made up of two pelvic bones (hip bones) and the sacrum., iIt connects the trunk and the legs. |