A Laboring Mother Has an Internal Exam and It Reveals

Multiple Choice

A laboring mother has an internal exam and it reveals her cervix is fully dilated. The caregiver tells her it is time to begin pushing. She says she feels like she needs to have a bowel movement, and she is grunting and groaning during contractions. What is the BEST way for the doula to help?

A) Encourage the mother to find a comfortable position, then take a breath and exhale while pushing several times during each contraction, then rest between contractions.
B) Support her in continuing what she is already doing.
C) Tell the woman she will need to get into a semi-reclining position on the birthing bed.
D) Instruct the woman to hold her breath and push to the count of ten several times with each contraction.