Labour 2nd Stage: Delivery of Baby
As your uterus contracts, it exerts pressure on your baby, moving him down the birth canal. By the time your cervix is fully dilated, your baby is likely to have descended into your pelvis. This is when you begin to feel rectal pressure (similar to bowel movements) and the urge to push.

This expulsion stage lasts from when the cervix is fully dilated to the time your baby is delivered. If this is your first pregnancy, this stage may last an hour or two.

Contractions are coming every 2 to 2.5 minutes, and last up to a minute or so. Often there is a lot of bloody discharge during this stage of labour. As the baby continues to descend, his scalp will become visible. During this time, the urge to push becomes even more compelling and the pressure of his head can cause stinging sensation on your perineum (tissue between your vagina and rectum). At this point, your caregiver may advise you to push more gently to prevent tearing.

The baby experiences a decrease in the oxygen supply each time the uterus contracts. Hence, a lengthy second stage may cause your baby to become distressed and possibly put your baby in danger. If your baby is not delivered within an hour, surgical intervention is often required.

Once delivered, your nurse or caregiver promptly removes mucus in the nose and throat to clear the baby's airways. Within a minute, he has taken his first breath and starts to cry. The umbilical cord is then tied or clipped off. Your baby is now living and breathing on his own.