During vaginal delivery, some women experience burning or stinging in the perineum, the diamond-shaped area incorporating the vagina and rectum. This feeling, referred to as the ring of fire, occurs as the vaginal opening is stretched during crowning, when the baby's head emerges from the vagina.
This burning or stinging is brief. The perineum then becomes numb as vaginal tissue stretches and nerves in the area are blocked. When a pregnant woman experiences the ring of fire, she is often advised to stop pushing and focus instead on deep breathing and relaxing the perineal area.
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