The term ‘perineal bulging’ is an indicator of what stage during labor?

Perineal bulging is an indicator that a woman is in the second stage of labor, which is the stage of active pushing and delivery of the baby. During this stage, the fetal head descends into the birth canal, and as it crowns, the perineal tissues begin to stretch and bulge. This bulging occurs as a result of the increased pressure in the pelvic area and is a visual sign that the baby is close to being delivered. The second stage is characterized by involuntary contractions and the mother’s effort to push, leading to significant changes in the perineum, including that noticeable bulging.

In contrast, the first stage of labor involves cervical dilation without the active pushing phase, while the third stage is focused on the delivery of the placenta after the baby is born. The pre-labor stage refers to the preparations leading up to true labor where no active contractions or significant cervical changes are taking place. Therefore, perineal bulging is specifically linked to the physiological changes occurring during the second stage of labor.