During which stage of labor does the baby begin to be pushed out?

In the context of labor, the second stage is characterized by the intense and active process of pushing the baby out of the birth canal. This stage begins after the cervix is fully dilated to 10 centimeters and lasts until the baby is born. During this phase, uterine contractions become stronger and more frequent, helping to propel the fetus down through the birth canal.

The active phase, while crucial in the first stage of labor, primarily involves cervical dilation and does not involve pushing. The transition phase, often considered the peak of the first stage, involves significant contractions and may include the mother feeling pressure but is still focused on dilation rather than pushing. The third stage, which occurs after the baby is born, involves the delivery of the placenta, further indicating that the pushing of the baby specifically happens in the second stage.

Thus, identifying the second stage as the period when active pushing occurs is essential in understanding the labor process and the sequence of events leading to childbirth.