Second stage of labour

Delivery is the main event of the second stage of labour: it's what you've been waiting and preparing for over the last nine months. You're expectations are realistic -a manageable labour, not necessarily painless but happy and relaxed, with your chosen birth partner and staff you know around you in familiar surroundings.

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  Contractions and pushing

  The second stage is the expulsive stage - you push your baby out. It lasts from the time your cervix is fully dilated until your baby is born and, for a first baby, generally takes less than two hours.
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  Giving birth to your baby

  Your baby's journey down the birth canal lasts about an hour on average. You'll probably feel swept along by an unbelievably strong urge to bear down and push your baby out of your uterus. Listen to your midwife; she'll tell you when to push and when to relax. If you've had an epidural your urge...
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  Partner's role at the birth

  By this second stage of labour, your role in providing loving support for your partner will be well established. You've now passed through the most painful phase and have reached the climactic stage of delivery.
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