What is crowning ?

It is when your baby’s head begins to show through the vaginal canal with each contraction during pushing and delivery. The baby’s head remains visible and does not slide back in.
 

 
Your cervix must be dilated 10 cm and effaced 100% before crowning can begin. As the woman pushes , the  baby’s head may become visible but after the contraction ends, the head may disappear out of view. During crowing however, the head remains in view.

As your baby crowns, you may experience a burning sensation and stretching  often referred to as a ring of fire. This is as a result of the baby’s head stretching the vaginal opening. It is very important to stop pushing as soon as you feel this sensation. Pushing and bearing down at this point only increases your risk for a tear and the need for an episiotomy. Your doctor or midwife will remind you to stop pushing. Once the burning sensation is over, the major part of labor is over. This burning can be frightening and cause some women to scream or yell. You may not feel this sensation if you had an epidural.

This burning sensation  however lasts for a short time followed by a period of numbness. The numbness is as a result of the baby’s head stretching the vaginal tissue so thin that the vaginal nerves are blocked.  It is almost like a natural anesthetic.