|
The Second Stage This is the period from full dilation
of the cervix until you baby has fully emerged from the birth canal.
As you move into second stage your contractions may be further apart
than at the end of the first stage; instead of them resulting to a
peak of intensity, they may be constant, feeling the same
throughout.
 Second
stage can last anything from less than half an hour to two hours
depending on whether this is a first delivery, which usually takes
longer as the pelvic floor muscles have never been stretched to such
lengths before.
Once your cervix is fully dilated, you will be instructed to push
when you feel the urge, which will move the baby down the birth
canal, from the cervix to the opening of the vagina. Though the
distance is only about 10 cm., it may take anywhere from 20 minutes
to 2 hours to push your baby that far. At this point your doctor may
perform an episiotomy to enlarge the vaginal opening, therefore
easing the delivery of your baby's head.
The last contraction before the delivery of the baby's head may
cause an unpleasant burning sensation, but this won't be felt if you
have had a local anaesthetic.
With the onset of the next few contractions the baby's head will be
visible, and as it crowns the doctor or midwife will gently guide it
out. The head will spontaneously turn to the left or right to line
up with the baby's shoulders, which are still in the birth canal.
The doctor will then locate the umbilical cord, slipping it over the
head if it is around the baby's neck, or clamping it in two places
and cutting it, if it happens to be wrapped around more than once.
With the next contraction, the upper shoulder will be delivered, and
once it emerges, the rest of the baby will slide out. If the
umbilical cord has not yet been cut the doctor will wait awhile for
it to stop pulsating, and then clamp and cut. This officially marks
the end of stage two labour, and it is at this moment that your baby
becomes a totally separate human being.
|
