The Ring of Fire! What It Is and How To Avoid It

When you reach the point in labor that you are pushing you will discover it is like a dance.  The baby will often move two steps forward and one step back.  However, there comes a time when this gentle dance comes to an end.  At this point the baby’s head is crowning.  Their head no longer slips back into the birth canal after each contraction, but rather remains visible at all times.

As your baby’s head begins to crown, the skin of your labia and perineum is stretched much further than it has likely ever been before.  The micro-tears which occur can cause a tingling or burning sensation.  Not all women who have unmedicated births will experience this sensation, but many do.  Fear not, it’s a very small portion of your total labor.

This burning sensation comes to an end when the vaginal tissue has been stretched so far that the signals from the nerves become blocked.  The total experience of this burning sensation is likely to be only 30 seconds to a few minutes.  Once the baby’s head is delivered, the body will likely follow in the next one or two contractions.

Rather than fear the so called “ring of fire,” remember it implies the birth of your baby is quite near.

If you are worried about the ring of fire, you can take measures to mitigate the intensity of the sensation.

1. Massage: Prenatally, you can give yourself perineal massages. After checking with your provider, you can likely begin from 35 weeks on.  You can use a well-oiled thumbs to gently stretch the skin in the vaginal opening. It is also considered helpful to soak in warm baths.

2. Don’t scream: During labor you may find that you want to scream when you feel this sensation. That’s okay and perfectly natural.  However, rather than scream, try to keep your voice low pitched- think moan and groan rather than scream.  The force in your body changes from tightening while screaming and moves more towards pushing energy down your core when you moan.

3. Slow Down: The burning sensation can be a cue that your body needs to slow down so the skin can catch up. Try leaning back, allow your body to relax and pant like a dog with your tongue hanging out rather than pushing through the pain.  During labor, your uterus is pushing the baby down and out.  Given enough time it is possible for your uterus to fully deliver a baby independent of any direct, intentional pushing.  Allowing your body a few contractions to catch up may prevent tearing and is not necessarily slowing the process as a whole.

4. Perineal Support: During labor you or your care provider can offer support to your perineum. Sometimes it feels good to have just a bit of counter pressure on that skin.  This can be done with a hand or a warm washcloth to soothe the skin.

5. Water: Water is another good way to ease the stretching caused by baby crowning. If you so desire, you may find that the birth pool is helpful in softening the tissues.

Don’t worry that you have to remember all of this.  If you have a doula by your side, she will remind you of these tips and tricks. Want more advice on how to manage the intensity of labor?  Contact Lacey Morgan here.