The second stage of labour begins once your cervix is fully dilated. Here are my top 10 things you need to know about this stage:
- Stay off your back! Upright positioning will help this stage of your labour to be shorter and more comfortable. It enables gravity to help your baby move into the optimal position and reduces the likelihood of you needing an episiotomy, forceps or ventouse. Standing, kneeling, all 4’s, squatting and using a birthing ball or stool can all help.
- It’s absolutely normal to not feel the urge to push immediately. Some people experience a brief pause in labour once they’re fully dilated often referred to as the rest and be thankful stage. Take this opportunity to rest, catch your breath and prepare for the active pushing stage.
- Push with your contractions. Only when you feel the urge to, that way you’re working with your uterus. If you’re pushing without a contraction, baby is unlikely to move far down and you’re very likely to find it very tiring.
- You might poo as you push. This is actually very common even though people don’t really talk about it. Most of us will poo during labour.
- You might become very noisy – grunting or even mooing through each contraction.
- Breathe! Do not hold your breath. When you hold your breath you reduce the amount of oxygen available to your body and your baby. This can lead to a decrease in baby’s heart rate which may lead to further intervention.
- It is hard physical work, you’re likely to get very sweaty!
- You might feel like you can’t do it anymore as the tiredness kicks in. Make sure that you have a drink, isotonic sports drinks, coconut water, glucose tablets or some honey. Anything to keep your energy levels up.
- It’s normal to take hours. Most people will give birth within 3 hours but it can also be over in a matter of minutes.
- As baby’s head comes down to get ready to be born, this is known as crowning. You will likely feel a really intense stinging and stretching sensation. It won’t last for long but it will likely feel intense.
Whatever you do, listen to your body, follow your instincts and do what feels most natural to you.
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