CHANGE OF FEELING
Gradually the time between the labour pains grows shorter and the pains increase in severity until they are coming every 2 to 3 minutes. It will not be long now before the baby is born.
At this stage the mother will notice a change. Instead of the tightness in the lower abdomen and pain across the back, she will feel a bearing down sensation almost as if she were having a bowel movement. This means the baby is moving down.
When this happens, she should lie down and get ready for the birth of the child. The tightening and bearing down feelings will come more frequently and be harder.
She will have an uncontrollable urge to push down, which she may do. But she should not work too hard at it because the baby will be brought down without her straining too hard. There will probably be more blood showing at this point.
The person attending the delivery should thoroughly scrub hands with soap and water. Never touch the vagina or put fingers inside for any reason. The mother also should keep her hands away from the vagina.
As soon as a bulge begins to appear in the vaginal area and part of the baby is visible, the mother should stop pushing down. She should try to breathe like a panting dog with her mouth open in order not to push the baby out too rapidly with consequent tearing of her tissue.
She should keep her knees up and legs separated so that the person helping her can get at the baby more easily.