This study, in which women in labor were instructed to
delay pushing during the second stage of labor, found that
delayed pushing reduced the time these women spent in the
second labor stage, reduced the need for instrument-assisted
delivery, and lessened postpartum fatigue. Extended fatigue
affects indirectly the health of both mother and infant,
whereas fatigue-induced despondency can trigger postpartumdepression
and undermine the mother’s normal patience
and ability to think rationally. Concurrently, proper care
for the newborn infant is negatively affected. Thus, such
a result serves to undermine the mother’s overall satisfaction
in the delivery process. Individuals who provide healthcare
service to mothers in labor in the hospital or clinic
play a critical role. With delivery treated as a natural process
and pushing exertions allowed to follow a mother’s
natural rhythms (rather than being forced to fit external
standards and expectations), unnecessary harm to the
mother may be avoided. By delaying pushing exertions
until the mother feels a reflexive urge to do so, the need to
remind the mother of proper pushing technique is significantly
reduced.