What do you think is the worst part about a natural delivery? The labor pains? The pushing?
Most young ladies mistakenly think it’s the childbirth ring of fire—like it’s going to burn right through your bottom as the description depicts, leaving you burnt to a crisp with blisters or something.
That’s hardly the case.
What Is The Childbirth Ring Of Fire?
Your baby is descending down the birth canal and about to come out after all your pushing. Your vagina and perineal tissue is being stretched to the max.
Then your baby’s head reaches its largest circumference and is crowning. Until their head comes out far enough for your tissue to actually shrink back down, you feel the ring of fire.
- It’s an intense stretching that can feel like burning.
- There’s an extreme pressure that pushes you to the cusp of intensity.
- It lasts for only a second or two at most.
The Truth About The Fire
Most women express that it’s not even as frightening as it sounds. It happens so fast after so many other labor and delivery sensations that it’s usually not given a second thought.
However, some women have shared with me that it’s quite distinct and that being called the ‘ring of fire’ is a very worthy description. But I believe that ALL natural birthing mothers agree that it’s nothing compared to everything felt prior.
I personally don’t think that it’s anything to be feared during childbirth. I’ve felt it twice and it’s such a tiny moment that’s not even clearly recognizable amidst all the other pressures and urges felt in the moment.
So why all the fuss?
Perhaps because for a few women, it can be the pinnacle of undesired sensation. One dear lady like yourself may have had a terrible moment in the end of her delivery where her ring of fire created a story that spread like ‘fire’ to the rest of us.
We always hear the terrible things first and most, right?
But that’s not to discredit anyone’s experiences. We all have different experiences with our births and will describe the same moments of birth completely different from each other. So there’s no reason why this aspect of a birth should vary otherwise.
How To Quench The Fire
But luckily, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the chances of feeling the flames of crowning.
- Perineal Massage – you can easily do perineal massage in the months before your birth to help stretch out and keep your tissues pliable.
- Water Birth – there are many sensations that are dulled and relaxed when you’re in the water. Plus, the moisture can help contribute to lessened chances of tearing, allowing your tissues to stretch farther.
- Use Gravity – your position is everything. The weight of your body, baby’s body, and sheer gravity help to even out the pressure around the crowning.
- Open Up – when you’re squatting, your birth canal opening can be up to 1 cm larger. Baby’s head gets out easier when there’s more room.
- Moisturize – keep your perineal tissue moisturized on a regular basis with a non-perfumy lotion or cream to help the skin stretch better. Keeping up on your water intake will also help.
- Oil Up – the essential oil helichrysum is known to help support perineal tissue. You can apply it during labor so it’s fresh in your tissues.
But even if you use all of these methods, it’s no guarantee that you won’t have the expected intensity at crowning.
Just remember that it’s over VERY quickly.
You will be so ready to finish with your delivery that you will not care about that little ring of fire after all is said and done.
Promise.
The more important things to prepare for happen before the ring of fire. Lucky for you, I’ve found one of the best methods to do so.
Prepare For Your Birth With Your Relaxation Kit
Have any of you fellow mommies felt the dreaded ring of fire? I welcome any and all shares. Best!
I was raised by my father and getting him to buy my feminine products and undergarments was awkward so, needless to say, childbirth stories were not a part of my upbringing. I didn’t have that ingrained American fearful view of childbirth that many of my friends had. After marriage and then my first pregnancy, I started researching and essentially learned most of what I know from midwifery books. I picked up a book from a second-hand store called Childbirth Without Fear by Grantly Dick-Read that I barely skimmed. I decided I wanted to do an unassisted, meaning no doctor/midwife, homebirth. Ironically enough, I skipped the chapter on footling breaches in the midwifery books thinking there was little chance of it happening to me and baby #1 was indeed a footling breach. I ended up with an emergency c-section but the performing doctor later told me I could easily have had my baby naturally. He was the only doctor in my area who backed the midwives at the hospital. He said breach births make up 25% of all births and in other countries are considered a variation of normal. The next birth of my four total births was done with a midwife who instructed me the entire time and when I reached the ring-of-fire stage excitedly and loudly insisted that I, “PUSH, PUSH!” and I felt myself rip. I am a silent birther literally making no verbal sounds for hours. The stitching of the tear I screamed for…like, ear-splitting screamed. The midwife had advised me before the birth to purchase extra-long maxi pads, cut them in half, soak them in water, squeeze the excess water out, roll them up short ways, put them in a zip-top bag and freeze them for tucking between my legs after the birth to help reduce the swelling. I had swelling and, had I not known better, would have thought I had another baby’s head crowning. The frozen pads were a great help. Baby #3 came along and I still hadn’t read the book. The midwife was there sitting in my driveway but assumed I was still in the throes of labor and, so, sat there while I birthed my child alone. I did what the first midwife had told me to do when I felt the ring-of-fire and, “PUSH, PUSH!”, rip. When the midwife finally figured I was in labor long enough and she’d come in and found that it was all over, she said I hadn’t torn badly and that it would heal fine. I had frozen the pads and needed them as the swelling again felt like I had a head crowning. Soon after the swelling went down but I was still in that approx. 6 weeks of bleeding I stung badly down there especially during urination. After the bleeding was over the stinging continued and got worse only upon urination or extreme sweating. When wiping I would have spots of blood. Relations with my husband were very painful and so, never resumed. Thinking it would resolve on it’s own I didn’t go to the doctor until 7 months after birth. Turns out I tore worse than the midwife thought, in fact, up into my uterine wall where, when healing, my body formed skinless excessive scar tissue projecting out from the tear. I was told keloids. Being skinless, they bled easily and and the nerves had no protection against the acidic urine. I had to cut those off twice before they finally stopped growing back. Baby #3 came along and I read the book. Finally. The author, a doctor, traveled the world studying dozens of culture’s ways of birthing and found that the 1st world countries are the only ones that have their birthing mothers lay on their backs to birth. Apparently, thanks to a ruler wishing to watch the birth of his child, the attending physician appreciating how much easier it was not having to crouch on the ground to catch a baby beneath a squatted woman or a birthing chair and now tons of movies showing births lying down, we think lying down to birth is normal. So, the reason I’m writing this and the actual address to the subject matter of the article above is: one of the many things the doctor learned that the second and third world countries practice during childbirth is that when the ring-of-fire starts they purposefully hang their jaw which, in turn, generally causes the other muscles in their body to relax and the perineum relaxes as well. My midwife is very accommodating and without telling her what I planned, we agreed she would watch and only help if needed. My husband isn’t one to be in on the birth. I find hands and knees the most comfortable way to birth so she stood at the bottom of the bed watching as I progressed. She talked some informing me of what she saw, i.e. the head/hair. When the ring-of-fire started, I hung my head and jaw and stopped pushing and just waited. It was a bit intense as the pressure is pretty strong but I started feeling it decrease. I could see the midwife in the mirror and she suddenly cocked her head sideways and looked confused which worried me as I thought something might be wrong but she then said, “WOW! You are stretching GREAT! What are you doing?” She asked a time or two more but I glared at her and she laughed and said, “OK, I’ll ask you after this is over.” The burn completely subsided and I felt the urge to push again. Now, mind you, I felt the ‘urge’ to push during the ring-of-fire pressure but I think that’s a natural sort of fight-or-flight response. “Ouch! Quick! Get that thing that’s causing the pain out of me!” When I felt the urge to push again and did so, the baby came out quickly and everything was well. I was examined and there was no tearing at all. After I rested and got up to get the frozen pads, I realized that I had no swelling or feeling of a head coming out. I exclaimed to the midwife and my mom that I felt like one of those moms who got up after childbirth and cooked and cleaned. I didn’t but I understood the feeling! Anyway, that was more like my 20 cents worth but I hope it helps someone.
It will absolutely help, Christi. Thank you. 🙂
Hum, I have birthed 7 children, 6 without epidural and I have to agree with the ladies who say the ring of fire is the worst part and that it lasts for way more than a few seconds! I can handle contractions, but would take an epidural just for the pushing part if it didn’t make me unable to push. I have done perineal massage during pregnancy and gave done water birthing, but no matter what it is just as painful! I’m actually surprised some ladies don’t think it is that bad… I guess everyone is different.
Thanks for sharing Rebecca. The only ladies that I’ve ever met with bad ring of fire experiences have been right here on this post. I value your perspective! So you never found relief in any way? What a trooper, with 7 children! Congrats mamma.
This post is super old, but I had to comment. I have had 3 natural births. My last was a water birth at home, and I have to agree with the small percentage who think the”ring of fire” is the worst. I would take 10 hours of contractions over the horrible burning tearing sensation. I used the hypnobirth CD and my contractions were a breeze but I feel like I’m dying when I push the baby out lol. I guess I am a weird one!
You’re not weird Courtney! It’s true, there is a percentage of moms like you that DO feel the intensity of that ring of fire, and I certainly don’t want to discount what you go through. 🙂 I just want to make sure that moms know it’s not the biggest thing to be worried about, based on the statistics we see of experiences. Thanks for sharing though! I’m glad that the feelings of the ring of fire do not last very long, especially for moms like you that have a rough time with it. I’m taking guest posts if you’d like to share one of your birth stories. 🙂
I have a niece who is in her last trimester. Your doctor has never done internal exam on her. and he told her to speed up early labor to do these exercises at home I’m just wondering if you’ve ever heard of them. She is supposed to squat and put as many of her fingers inside of her vagina and pull to the sides to open up the space. She’s supposed to do this 10 times a day and hold it for 3 to 5 minutes each time. Have you ever heard of such a thing?
Sure, it’s just stretching her vaginal tissue. But that’s not the tissue that is going to have a problem. What really needs to stretch is her perineum. She may have already had her baby by now, but if not, read this post and have her give it a try.
– Dear Perineal Massage, I Don’t Know If This Is Working Out
I had some very pleasurable contractions, and painless ones that were completely unfelt. The only painful part…The baby crowning and coming out. The ring of fire lasts at least 15 or 20 minutes. It doesn’t stop until baby is completely out. I have had 4 children, and it lasts a very long time.
That’s interesting Brooke, you’re the first person to share with me that your ring of fire lasted that long. Mine were always quick, like less than a minute. What tips would you give another mom that experiences the same as you?
I also felt the “ring of fire” was the most difficult part of childbirth. Perhaps I feel this way because the pain was more recent in my memory than the uterine contractions. My contractions lasted about two days and painfully progressed, but once it was time to push that pain went away and behold, the “ring of fire.” I wanted to suck my baby back up into my belly and not push any longer, but the nurses made reality very clear…whether I like it or not, this is happening. Each push only lasted about 10 seconds, but compile all those pushes and the “ring of fire” was about a minute. A minute too long. I suppose in retrospect the uterine contractions should be harder because they last longer, but to each their own.
Yes, you’re right Jennifer, to each their own. Sorry your ring of fire wasn’t great at all. Did you end up having any pain with healing afterward?
I personally found the sensation of the stretching of my perineum, the ring of fire, the worst and extremely painful part of labor. So women like me exist, the ones who found that to be worse than the contractions. Don’t get me wrong, my contractions were very intense and it took a lot of concentration and breathing to get through them but I felt like I was working though my pain and my memories of that part of birth are not bad at all. Well, once I was told I was at a 10cm and ready to push, I felt a huge sigh of relief as if the worst was over (in my preparation for birth, I read many stories of moms who said that the pushing was a relief and not as painful as contractions leading up to it).. Well, I was in for a surprise. I never once doubted my decision to not get an epidural, but during pushing I felt like it was way beyond my ability to cope and I would have taken anything to stop the intense pain I felt. Now, I have to mention that my MW was stretching my perineum during the whole time I was pushing and so I felt this horrible stretching the whole hour I was pushing, not just during crowning. So maybe her message was part of the bad experience and had she not done that I would have coped better during the few minutes of crowning, I do wish I told her to stop, maybe she was too aggressive, I don’t know, but I do know that hour of pushing was the worst part of my 12 hour long natural birth that left me feeling somewhat traumatized (where as contractions didn’t). I am preparing for my second birth and I am struggling with a lot of fear because of that memory.
Thank you for sharing your perspective, NaturalMama. You are the first mother I’ve heard from that has had a much different experience when it comes to pushing and the ring of fire. I have not had perineal massage done while I’ve been pushing ever, but I have done perineal massage beforehand. Maybe that’s the difference? Did you do perineal massage before your birth?
I wonder if your position made the difference too. What position were you in while you were pushing? I’m glad that you’ve visited here; I have an entire series on overcoming fear before birth. Let me know how I can help! 🙂
I couldn’t agree more with your view point on the “ring of fire”. I wasnt ever intimidated by it simply because I’ve always felt like I’ve had a very high tolerance to pain and recovery, so I just didn’t even think twice about that topic until I could have my own opinion on that moment once I gave birth. Well here I am, one natural child birth later and I have no idea why it’s even made into it’s own separate topic and is widely discussed all over blogs, pinterest, etc. I don’t feel as thought it was something even worth mentioning, much less make it out to be this excruciating moment that you need to be fearful of. Like you said, everyone is different so I’m respectful of anyone who does think that it’s excruciating and something to be fearful of, but I just can’t relate in the slightest. I can’t believe anyone even notices any other kind of pain in comparison to contractions. I seriously thought my contractions were going to kill me they were so intense and forceful… but then again, those same contractions are also what’s helping your body naturally get the baby out of there. I was in so much pain from the contractions and all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball on my side in the fetal position (haha) . When youve got excruciating contractions one minute apart and hardly any rest in between them, I honestly can’t even recal any kind of ring of fire moment. If anything I was just so relieved to not have those contractions anymore that I definately can’t even recall anything as scary as i’ve seen many people describe or anything at all. I just remember having a HUGE moment of relief and accomplishment once my son’s head popped out.
Hi Cameron! Thanks so much for sharing. Do you have just your son, or having you given birth more than once? I agree about not noticing much at all with the first one. But on my second and third babies, I did notice much more what mothers call the ring of fire. But for me, it was more just extreme pressure and stretching. Maybe it would have been worse if I hadn’t done any perineal massage beforehand. Maybe you’ll notice more the next time around. Thanks for commenting!
I know this post is a few months old, but I just stumbled upon it today. My husband and I are expecting our first child (in December) and I have been seriously thinking about a natural birth. I have spoken to close friends about their birth experiences, some who have taken the epidural, and some who went natural, and some who took the epidural but felt everything because it either didnt work or wore off.
I want to be as mentally prepared as I can before making my decision. Your post has given me a different aspect on the ring of fire, and a lot to think about. Thank you for the information!
Hi Rachel! That’s so exciting for you and you clearly are taking the right steps to prepare for your birth. Since you still have many months to research and make your decisions, feel free to ask me anything or find what you’re looking for here on My Natural Baby Birth. May I recommend a few posts that may help? Check out Overcoming Fear Of Childbirth and How To Master Pain In Childbirth In Just 15 Minutes. Again, congratulations!
Hmm very interesting, not exactly something I would be interested in however this would probably help many women who are pregnant or looking to become pregnant, immensely. It is well written and very well designed, with a beautiful theme and elegant voice.
At first I was thinking, NO, too touchy feelly a topic, but was actually pleasantly surprised once I got reading.
Amazing.
I’m glad that you stayed and left a comment. Even though these topics may seem too touchy-feely at first, the reality is that they’re just a normal matter of life–something that your wife or women in your lives routinely experience, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Feel free to share, thanks!
Sarah, you are amazing! I went through normal birth and I couldn’t bear the pain and went for an epidural (plus my blood pressure was too high, so I had to). And you went through natural birth, w-o-w! A relaxation kit would definitely be nice after such an ordeal. 🙂
Hi Raquel! You’re so sweet 🙂
The Birth Relaxation Kit is actually a full blown birthing course and hypnobirthing program to prepare mothers for their birth. The best post-partum kit for recovery is this Earth Mama Bundle I want all mommies to have.
Feel free to share, thanks!
Hi Sarah,
I am expecting my first (due in May) and have been debating whether or not to have an epidural. It’s either that or a water birth… I have heard so many opinions and people telling me what they think is the best option for me – but I have no idea what to decide. Obviously I cannot do both. Any impartial advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you 🙂
Hi Holly. I’m so glad you’re here!
First thing: only YOU can decide what the best option is for you. There are many more things to birth than extremes like an epidural and water births.
If you visit the Start Here page, I outline some things that can help you get started. Just keep in mind that it will take TIME to understand a lot of options. I am learning more every day even four years and three babies later myself.
Please let me know when you have questions; I am here! Thanks.
Hi Sarah,
I actually just gave birth 4 months ago through normal delivery and as I have read your post, I actually do not have any idea of the so called – childbirth ring of fire – but I have to agree with you that the sensation will be over so quickly. My friends also used to ask me on which part is the hardest and most painful, I actually told them that the pain is unexplainable. Now that I have known the term I will definitely share it with them. I’ll make them say “a-ha!” Thanks for a very informative post.
Jezza
Congratulations on your baby, Jezza! I would love to hear your story.
You’re quite right about how things are explainable sometimes. It may help to explain the different stages of labor to your friends so things make a little more sense.
Thanks for sharing!
Hey Sarah,
This is a great article you have, I could never imagine the pain women have to go through to give birth to a child, does the pain linger as your tissue recovers after the birth?
I’ve always been curious, my sister is giving birth next month and I’m not what to give her to calm her down. This may be out of topic, but are there are gifts people usually give after someone gives birth?
Hi Riaz. Unfortunately, there can be terrible pain and discomfort in a women’s tissues for months after her birth. It varies and you can read a lot more about Vaginal Delivery Recovery.
If you’re sister is nervous about her birth, feel free to suggest my #1 recommendation, The Birth Relaxation Kit. She can learn how to calm her mind and body so she’s much better prepared. And be sure to get her a Recovery Bundle. This is the best gift for a new mamma. It’s got all the essential things that will help her heal much quicker and find much needed relief while healing.
I’m glad you stopped by today and hope that I’ve been helpful. Let me know if you have any questions, thanks!
Sarah, great article. I don’t have any kids, but I am getting married soon and will definitely think about having kids in the near future. The idea of having kids sounds really excited, but the whole thing of child delivery terrifies me because I’ve heard sooooooo many stories about how painful it is and how much pain you are in. So reading your article made me feel a little better about it 🙂
Hi Katie! Definitely read Overcoming Fear of Childbirth. Then read my baby birth stories. I promise that society has manipulated the view of childbirth into a pure fear fest. When you believe that your birth will be painful, then it DOES become painful. Our bodies do exactly what they tell them to sometimes. And this is mainly why so many mothers have bad experiences.
I’m glad your more confident about it just after this post. There is SO much more to it that is greatly beneficial too. Let me know how I can help. Best!
Hi Sarah,
My wife and I are just starting to think of issues like child bearing. I stumbled on your post and had no clue what the ring of fire was. I was thinking Johnny Cash. Typical male, sorry.
But I learned a good deal about this sensation and I enjoyed your suggestions about considering a water birth. That seems to make good sense to be easier on the tissue and facilitate the process.
Thanks for your advice,
Todd
Hi Todd! I love Johnny Cash too. My husband said I should have a music video in this post just for that. *eye roll*
There are many things to consider if you’re going to be trying soon. Make sure you understand the risks based on your wife’s age when over 35.
Let me know if you have any questions. Best!
Dear Sarah,
Thank you for all the great tips. It’s really helpful to learn as much as you can about delivery before going into labor.
When I was pregnant I was extremely grateful for articles like this. It really can help mom’s-to-be to prepare for the journey of birth.
Thanks again,
Cora-
You’re welcome, Cora! Please share and visit often. Thanks!