What happens during stage 2
When the baby’s head stretches the vaginal opening to
about the size of the palm of your hand, the head will stay
at the opening — even between
contractions. This is called crowning.
Once the head is born, the rest of
the body usually slips out easily with
When the head
crowns, the vaginal
opening is a bit
larger than the
1 or 2 pushes.
palm of a hand.
How the baby moves through the vagina
Babies change position as they move through the vagina. These pictures show only
part of the mother’s body, so you can more easily see how the baby moves inside.
This is what
happens inside:
This is what you
see outside:
First the baby tucks his head
down, chin to chest. This makes
it easier for the head to fit
through the mother’s pelvis.
The baby’s head is squeezed
and changes shape as it comes
through the mother’s pelvis.
The baby turns his face
toward the mother’s back.
The baby begins to lift his
chin when he gets near the
vaginal opening. This is
called extension.
The baby lifts his chin more
when his head crowns.
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A Book for Midwives (2010)