- GUIDING THE MOTHER IN PUSHING: Discourage her from pushing unless her urge to do so is unstoppable, as that will waste her energy and she will quickly become exhausted.
- The vaginal area will bulge and you will soon see the baby"s head "crowning." When that occurs, the mother should push gently between contractions, not hard at the height of the contraction. If she is prepared, for example, through a class in natural childbirth, she will know to exhale through her mouth when her contraction is at its peak, pushing when the contraction diminishes. Help the mother to continue slow and deep breathing, mental relaxation, and concentration on her breathing to control pain.
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