bear·ing down (bâr  ng)n. Forceful contraction of the abdominal muscles and diaphragm during the second stage of labor, either as a reflex or as a conscious effort. |
bearing down
[ber′ing]
Etymology: OE, beran, to bear, adune, down
a voluntary effort by a woman in the second stage of labor to aid in the expulsion of a fetus. By applying the Valsalva maneuver, the mother increases intraabdominal pressure.
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