Baby Crowning: What It Is, When It Happens and How to Prepare?

Labour is a multi-stage, drawn-out and demanding procedure. The crowning of the baby’s head is one of the birthing process events. During childbirth, crowning occurs when the baby’s head is visible through the vaginal opening. At this point, the top of the baby’s head is visible through the vaginal opening. This moment occurs when you push and deliver the baby during the second stage of labour. You push out the remainder of your baby’s body once they crown.  

In a delivery process, crowning is frequently referred to as the ring of fire. It occurs when the mother has fully dilated, and the head of the unborn child is visible in the birth canal. In many aspects, it is the home stretch. It is a time to deliver the baby when the cervix is fully stretched. It is soothing for some mothers and uncomfortable or painful for some. But it is good to know what to anticipate during a vaginal delivery.

What is crowning in labour?

The body will get ready for labour and delivery as the pregnancy comes to an end. This is the procedure that will give birth to the child. Each person’s labour is often unique. Some work quickly, while others’ labour takes a longer time and is difficult. Crowning is the major stage in the labour process, where a foetus turns its head into the vaginal opening. There are three main stages in the labour process, which involve:

• Early labour: For a first birth, labour usually lasts 12 to 24 hours, but for subsequent births, it usually lasts 8 to 10 hours. Mothers go through all three stages of labour during this period. From the moment they enter labour until the cervix is open, the first stage is typically the longest. Early labour is the term used to describe the start of this period.  
• Active labour: The second phase is referred to as active labour, where the contractions get stronger. During active labour, the cervix expands rapidly, and the contraction gets much stronger. It is a stage where crowning occurs. The baby turns around towards the vaginal opening. Crowning helps to take the baby out easily and quickly.  
• After birth: This is the third stage, where the placenta comes out along with the baby attached to it. The placenta is then trimmed and put back inside.  

Before the baby passes through the cervix, it must thin out and expand outward like a round doorway. Contractions are what create this thinning and trenching. There are several ways to characterise contractions, from severe abdominal tightness to uncomfortable, menstrual-like cramping. In addition, you may experience pressure in the pelvis and a dull aching in the lower abdomen and back. The muscles in the uterus actually tighten during a contraction in order to dilate, and the uterus relaxes in between contractions. Each contraction helps in the crowning of the baby, which finally pushes the baby out.  

What does crowning feel like?

You can feel as though you need to urinate because of the strain on the rectum. The vaginal nerves and the tissue between the vagina and anus may be stretched and irritated by the baby’s departure. As the newborn leaves, they could sting, blister and tickle. This sensation is referred to as the ‘ring of fire birth’. However, if you take painkillers during labour, the pain is somehow managed. The epidural block is the most popular choice. Through a tube in the lower back, it aids in numbing sensations in the lower body. Doctors or surgeons may administer a shot known as a pudendal nerve block to assist with the crowning if not received an epidural or any pain reliever. Additionally, the pain can be managed without using any medicines.  

When does crowning happen?

Crowning takes place during the second stage, which is when the baby is born. As the cervix thins down and dilates from 0 to 6 cm in early labour, the body will have experienced several regular contractions before this point. It takes many hours to pass this stage. The cervix dilates from 6 to 10 cm during 4 to 8 hours of active labour or about one centimetre every hour. The first stage of labour could take anywhere from 12 to 19 hours in total. Crowning occurs when you are fully dilated. Surgeons closely monitor this process. You might even be able to use a mirror to get a glimpse of your baby’s head or reach down and touch it when the baby is coming out. The sight is inspiring and overwhelming. After crowning, the baby might be born in one or two contractions.  

How to prepare for crowning?

Remember that the real crowning experience could differ from what your mother, sisters or friends have gone through. What occurs and how it feels is personal, just like every other aspect of labour and delivery. However, avoid pushing too soon if the doctor or midwife confirms that you may be crowning. Actually, you ought to make an effort to unwind and let the body go as slack as you can. You may feel compelled to push. However, make every effort to go slowly and allow the uterus to handle the majority of the work. Severe ripping may be avoided by relaxing. The baby’s head remains still in the birth canal when you are crowning. After contractions, it does not fall back inside. In order to protect the skin between the vagina and rectum, the doctor will assist you in pushing through this stage and guide the baby. The perineum is another name for this region, and you may have received a warning regarding the perineum tears.  

Conclusion

To conclude, when the baby’s head starts to come out of the delivery canal during childbirth, it is referred to as baby crowning. As it signals that the baby is almost ready to be born, this is an important point in the delivery process. The mother may experience severe pressure during crowning when the baby’s head is usually visible at the vaginal entrance. In order to facilitate its journey through the birth canal, the baby’s head often turns. Intense feelings may accompany this period, and the medical staff will frequently advise the mother on when to push in order to prevent ripping. To learn about what to anticipate during birth, particularly the crowning process, pregnant moms and their parents should consult doctors and surgeons to know more.