Most women's experience of second stage contractions is that they feel less painful and more positive than those of the first stage. You are now adding your own efforts to those of nature, as you work to push your baby out into the world. You may feel clearer in your mind, knowing that very soon your baby will be born.

The sensation as your baby's head stretches the birth opening - called crowning - can be intense and painful, but does not last long. Once the baby's head is through, the hardest work is done. The baby's head turns, so that the baby's shoulders can easily come through the widest dimension of the mother's pelvis, then the rest of the baby slithers out quickly and easily. So long as there are no problems, the baby is placed onto the mother's tummy, while the cord is cut and he is checked over.