What stage of delivery does the mother usually feel the urge to push?

The urge to push during childbirth is typically felt during the second stage of labor. This stage begins when the cervix is fully dilated and ends with the birth of the baby. During this phase, the mother experiences strong contractions, which help propel the baby down the birth canal. The physiological changes in her body, particularly the pressure of the baby's head against the pelvic floor and the stretch of the vaginal tissues, contribute to the intense urge to push.

Understanding this distinction is critical, as the first stage of labor involves cervical dilation and is primarily focused on contractions that do not yet encourage the mother to push. Alternatively, the third stage is focused on the delivery of the placenta, and while the term "final stage" could imply the conclusion of labor, it is not used in formal obstetric terminology as a separate stage. Therefore, identifying the second stage as the correct answer highlights the specific phase in which the mother's urge to push is most pronounced.