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 to bear down may be reduced.
Pushing to give birth
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As each contraction builds until it reaches its peak, you'll experience powerful urges to bear down and push out your baby as she descends. Bearing down is not something you decide to do; it's an instinctive reaction that you won't be able to resist.
The head crowns during birth
There comes a point when your baby's head doesn't slip back between contractions, but remains visible at the vaginal outlet. This is when the baby's head is said to crown, and you'll feel a burning or stinging sensation as her head stretches your vagina. You'll need to stop pushing at this point so that you give the tissues of your perineum a chance to thin and stretch. This may be difficult as you may still want to bear down, but you must try to resist. If you continue to push at this stage, you'll put too much stress on your perineal area and you're more likely to tear or need an episiotomy. Quick shallow breathing is a good way to try and control your desire to bear down.
Your baby is born
As soon as her shoulders are free, the rest of her body will be born right away. As she slithers out of your vagina, she'll usually be followed by a great gush of amniotic fluid. Your caregivers will hold her very carefully as she'll be slippery. She may be breathing and crying already.
Posted 16.11.2010
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