Baby crowning is when the baby’s head starts to appear during delivery, and it is also known as vaginal crowning or birth crowning. Weeks before going into labor, a woman’s body begins to prepare itself for the birthing process. Once the process of childbirth begins, it occurs in various stages, just like the stages of fetal development within the mother’s womb. Contractions are the initial step of childbirth, followed by pushing and baby crowning during delivery. This post explains more about baby crowning, what it feels like, how to fight the urge to push, how to prepare for childbirth, and the duration of crowning.
What Is Baby Crowning?
During labor, your baby’s head starts showing up through the vaginal opening with each contraction. A contraction develops when the uterine muscles tighten and relax for the baby to pass through the birth canal. As you start pushing, the baby’s head will appear, but once the contraction is over, it will withdraw from the view again. The phenomenon of the baby’s head being visible without slipping back is known as crowning (1).
How Does It Feel When Your Baby Is Crowning?
When your baby starts crowning, you will feel a stinging or burning sensation, which is known as ‘the ring of fire’. It happens as the baby’s head stretches the vaginal opening. The moment you experience the burning sensation, you should stop pushing. It helps lower the risk of vaginal tear or a need for an episiotomy. Once the burning sensation passes, it means that the primary stage of labor is over. The stinging sensation or the ring of fire lasts for a short period before you experience numbness. The numbness occurs because the baby’s head stretches the vaginal tissue so thin that the nerves are blocked. It is like a natural anesthetic effect. One cannot predict for how long this stage will last (1).
Tips To Fight The Urge To Push
You should wait for your doctor or nurse to say when you can fight that urge to push. The following tips can help you control the urge to push when the doctor or midwife asks you not to push (2).
Lean back and try relaxing the perineal floor muscles located in between your rectum and the vagina.
Relax your complete body and your nurse or midwife may help you by offering a massage.
Focus on deep breathing exercises that can help you relax. Your midwife will assist you with proper breathing patterns.
Do not try to fight off the contractions. Allow them to work in your labor process.
Preparing For Childbirth
You can prepare for a natural birth crowning before the actual process begins. When you experience the burning, your midwife may offer a perineal massage to lower the risk of vaginal tearing and burning sensation (3). In some cases, you may have to go for episiotomy, a surgical incision of the perineum to facilitate the labor process. The perineum is the skin between your rectum and the vagina. The area is massaged by inserting a lubricated finger to stretch the vagina for about 10 min every day. It is usually done from your 35th week of pregnancy (4). Placing warm, soft cloth to the perineum and vaginal area also helps in preparing for the baby’s arrival.
How Can You Prevent Tears?
Exercise regularly and have a balanced diet so that your tissues are healthy enough to withstand the pressure on them.
Push the baby by lying on your side as this will lessen the pressure on the perineum.
Take long breaths and push when you are exhaling. Instead of pushing violently, do the job slowly but firmly.
What Happens After Crowning?
During baby or labor crowning, your midwife will check for any obstructions and if the umbilical cord is wrapped around your baby’s neck. In some cases, they may have to use some means, like forceps, to deliver your baby manually. After crowning, the entire head emerges followed by the body. The caregiver will suction your baby’s nose and mouth using a tiny bulb syringe to remove any excess fluids. The baby will be placed on your stomach, and the umbilical cord will be cut. All that is left inside your uterus is the placenta, the final stage of delivery.
Duration Of Crowning
If it is your first delivery, crowning may last for a couple of hours. If this is a second or subsequent delivery, it will be shorter.
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title: “What Is Baby Birth Crowning How It Feels Like " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-20” author: “Felix Sanchez”
Baby crowning is when the baby’s head starts to appear during delivery, and it is also known as vaginal crowning or birth crowning. Weeks before going into labor, a woman’s body begins to prepare itself for the birthing process. Once the process of childbirth begins, it occurs in various stages, just like the stages of fetal development within the mother’s womb. Contractions are the initial step of childbirth, followed by pushing and baby crowning during delivery. This post explains more about baby crowning, what it feels like, how to fight the urge to push, how to prepare for childbirth, and the duration of crowning.
What Is Baby Crowning?
During labor, your baby’s head starts showing up through the vaginal opening with each contraction. A contraction develops when the uterine muscles tighten and relax for the baby to pass through the birth canal. As you start pushing, the baby’s head will appear, but once the contraction is over, it will withdraw from the view again. The phenomenon of the baby’s head being visible without slipping back is known as crowning (1).
How Does It Feel When Your Baby Is Crowning?
When your baby starts crowning, you will feel a stinging or burning sensation, which is known as ‘the ring of fire’. It happens as the baby’s head stretches the vaginal opening. The moment you experience the burning sensation, you should stop pushing. It helps lower the risk of vaginal tear or a need for an episiotomy. Once the burning sensation passes, it means that the primary stage of labor is over. The stinging sensation or the ring of fire lasts for a short period before you experience numbness. The numbness occurs because the baby’s head stretches the vaginal tissue so thin that the nerves are blocked. It is like a natural anesthetic effect. One cannot predict for how long this stage will last (1).
Tips To Fight The Urge To Push
You should wait for your doctor or nurse to say when you can fight that urge to push. The following tips can help you control the urge to push when the doctor or midwife asks you not to push (2).
Lean back and try relaxing the perineal floor muscles located in between your rectum and the vagina.
Relax your complete body and your nurse or midwife may help you by offering a massage.
Focus on deep breathing exercises that can help you relax. Your midwife will assist you with proper breathing patterns.
Do not try to fight off the contractions. Allow them to work in your labor process.
Preparing For Childbirth
You can prepare for a natural birth crowning before the actual process begins. When you experience the burning, your midwife may offer a perineal massage to lower the risk of vaginal tearing and burning sensation (3). In some cases, you may have to go for episiotomy, a surgical incision of the perineum to facilitate the labor process. The perineum is the skin between your rectum and the vagina. The area is massaged by inserting a lubricated finger to stretch the vagina for about 10 min every day. It is usually done from your 35th week of pregnancy (4). Placing warm, soft cloth to the perineum and vaginal area also helps in preparing for the baby’s arrival.
How Can You Prevent Tears?
Exercise regularly and have a balanced diet so that your tissues are healthy enough to withstand the pressure on them.
Push the baby by lying on your side as this will lessen the pressure on the perineum.
Take long breaths and push when you are exhaling. Instead of pushing violently, do the job slowly but firmly.
What Happens After Crowning?
During baby or labor crowning, your midwife will check for any obstructions and if the umbilical cord is wrapped around your baby’s neck. In some cases, they may have to use some means, like forceps, to deliver your baby manually. After crowning, the entire head emerges followed by the body. The caregiver will suction your baby’s nose and mouth using a tiny bulb syringe to remove any excess fluids. The baby will be placed on your stomach, and the umbilical cord will be cut. All that is left inside your uterus is the placenta, the final stage of delivery.
Duration Of Crowning
If it is your first delivery, crowning may last for a couple of hours. If this is a second or subsequent delivery, it will be shorter.
