Three Stages of LabourThe Birth
The second stage is a lot of hard work, but when you realize that the baby is about to be born,
you may find new strength to cope. In fact some women describe this stage as almost enjoyable,
especially when the baby’s head can be seen. Prior to this, you will have been pushing quite hard,
but as the head appears, the doctor will ask you to pant and push gently so that the head is born
slowly. When the head is through, the baby turns inside you and the shoulders are born one at a
time. Often this happens very quickly, and the next thing you know the baby is being delivered,
perhaps up onto your tummy, for you to greet each other!
Fig. 43: 2nd Stage of Labour––the BirthEpisiotomy
In certain cases, the doctor may make a cut through the muscles of the vagina to increase the
space for the baby to get through. This is called an episiotomy. It may also be made if the baby
is very small, very early, or if forceps or a ventouse (vacuum extraction) is used. With a normal
delivery, the doctor monitors the area called the perineum at the base of the vagina. This small
triangle of muscle thins and stretches to allow the baby to come through. Ideally, the doctor will
help you to give birth slowly, so that it has enough time to stretch properly, but sometimes it tears
as the baby is born. If he feels it will need to tear quite a lot before the baby finally gets through,
he may cut it instead, to direct the cut away from the anal sphincter. An upright position, and
controlled breathing as the baby is born, can help avoid a cut. After delivery, the cut or the tear
will need stitching.^2