Second Stage

Category: Obstetrics or Midwifery

The pains now become more frequent and severe and last
longer, and the patient now manifests a strong desire to expel the
contents of the womb. The woman now feels better in bed and when the pains
come she involuntarily bears down, with each contraction she sets her
teeth, takes a deep breath, fixes the diaphragm, contracts the muscles of
the abdomen and bears down hard if you allow her to do so. The knowledge
that she is working to overcome an obstacle gives her some satisfaction
and she feels that she is accomplishing something by the efforts she is
making. The physician can aid greatly by suggesting to the patient how to
use the pains and how much bearing down to do. He can tell her when not to
bear down, and so save her strength for the next real pain when bearing
down will do good. Although the pains are really harder in this stage,
nervous women suffer no more, for their mind is now concentrated upon the
work at hand. Sometimes at the beginning of this stage the patient feels
chilly or has a severe chill; a hot drink and more covering counteract
this. Another phenomena is the escape of the waters and a lull in the
pains for a little time, when they come on more effectively than before as
the womb contracts down upon the child and is not hindered by the "bag of
water." The pains keep on at intervals until the child is born and the
physician can now be of help by guiding, directing and assisting the birth
of the head. This stage averages about two hours.

Next: Third Stage
Previous: The First Stage

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Second Stage