What to Know About the “Ring of Fire”

The crowning phase in labor is often referred to as the “ring of fire.” According to Rebecca Keith, M.D., a board-certified OBGYN at OB Hospitalists of Kentucky, part of Pediatrix® Medical Group, the baby’s head goes in and out of the vaginal opening while mom-to-be is pushing. “We always say, ‘Two steps forward and one step back,’” said Dr. Keith. But eventually, you’ll start to see some forward progress. “Crowning is when the top of baby’s head remains outside of the vagina between pushes,” explained Dr. Keith. “It’s called crowning because you can see the portion of baby’s head that would be surrounded by a crown if you were looking down on a person’s head.” At this point, the tissue in the vaginal opening is stretched significantly. “The stretched tissue or skin causes certain pain fibers to react and creates a burning sensation, hence the ‘ring of fire.’"

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