This is a great visual and explanation by @labor.nurse.mama

This is a great visual and explanation by @labor.nurse.mama If a woman is 10cm dilated and she feels no urge to push, the liklihood is that either she has an epidural or the head isnt low enough in the pelvis. "Why do some women take longer to push than others? . OK, first, let me say as a disclaimer...cause I usually get someone who points out that what I am saying isn't always the case. ⁠ ⁠ So let me say, this is not always the case. I am sharing a fun insider tip. ⁠ ⁠ Everyone knows about cervical dilation.⁠ Right?⁠ ⁠ Some people know about cervical effacement.⁠ Right?⁠ ⁠ A whole lot of people do not know about fetal station. When I ask most friends about what station they are....🙄⁠ ⁠ Fetal Station is significant. Especially when it comes time to push. ⁠ ⁠ Station is measured by the top of the bony part of baby's head in relation to the Ischial Spine. (well, technically its the presenting part of the baby but for the sake of this post we are hoping it's the head!)⁠ ⁠ An imaginary line is drawn between the two bones in the pelvis (known as ischial spines), and this line is considered zero station. ⁠ ⁠ If the baby's presenting part is above zero, it is considered negative. ⁠ ⁠ -1 is right above zero, -2, is a little above that, and-3 (right at the pelvic inlet), which means that the baby is still very high and perfectly happy hanging out. ⁠ ⁠ Anything below 0 is considered positive. ⁠ ⁠ +1 is right below zero, + 2 is even closer to delivery, and ⁠ +3 is at the pelvic outlet. Which is good!⁠ ⁠ In a first time mom, the descent into the pelvis and dilation should happen in tandem. But what happens if you are 10 cm and the baby is not super low into the pelvis, say like 0 or -1? ⁠ ⁠ This means you probably will push a long time. Each increment is like running a 5k in labor terms. It can take first-time mama hours to push from -1 to +1. ⁠ ⁠ So, what's my suggestion?⁠ ⁠ If the baby is stable and showing no signs of distress (although laboring down is sometimes best for a stressed-out baby), ask to labor down. (also called the epidural slide)⁠ ⁠ Laboring down means that you are allowing your body to move the baby down into the pelvis passively" @labor.nurse.mama ⁠