In plain words
The second stage of labor starts when the cervix is fully open, about 10 centimeters, and ends when the baby is born. It has two parts. In the passive phase, the baby moves down with contractions, and the mother may not yet feel the urge to push. In the , the mother feels the urge to push and bears down with contractions. Many mothers feel pressure in the pelvis and rectum during this time. The care team watches the baby's heart rate and how the baby is moving down. Lengths vary widely between mothers. Guidance on when a second stage is too long was revised in 2014. It is not the same as the , which is the delivery of the placenta. Positions and pushing approaches are discussed with the care team.
The deeper version
The second stage runs from complete , 10 cm, to delivery of the infant. It is divided into a passive phase, descent without maternal expulsive effort, and an active phase, with expulsive effort. Descent is assessed by station on pelvic examination and by the position of the fetal head on the pelvic floor. Studies of immediate versus delayed pushing have reported mixed effects on duration and outcomes, and clinical guidance generally favors individualized pushing over fixed time limits. Contemporary labor curves, including Zhang and colleagues (2010), found longer second stages than older reference charts, which changed how stalled labor is defined. analgesia is associated with a longer second stage in several cohorts.
Where it comes up
- Pushing and positions for birthGetting Ready for Birth
- The stages of labor, plainlyBirth and the First Days
- Vacuum and forceps birthsBirth and the First Days
What mothers here say about second stage of labor
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Zhang J et al. — Contemporary patterns of spontaneous labor with normal neonatal outcomes. Obstetrics and Gynecology 2010
- ACOG and SMFM — Obstetric Care Consensus No. 1: Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery, 2014