Second stage
The time from full dilation of the cervix to the moment when the baby is outside the
mother’s body. Pushing during the second stage can
last from a few minutes up to a couple of hours.
Show
A show is when the thick mucus which plugs the narrow channel of the cervix during
pregnancy comes away. It is a sign that the body is getting ready for labour.
Spinal
A regional anaesthetic inserted in the lower back which gives complete numbing very
quickly. Usually used for a Caesarean
section.
Stretch and sweep
A traditional method of trying to nudge the body into labour when overdue. The doctor or midwife does an internal
examination and attempts to stretch the cervix and sweep a finger around the membranes.
Sometimes this is enough to get labour going if the cervix is ripe.
Syntocinon
A synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin which women produce when in labour. The
synthetic version is sometimes given to women in a drip if they are not producing enough
naturally to keep labour progressing.
