Yes, childbirth is painful. But it’s manageable. In fact, nearly half of first-time moms (46 percent) said the pain they experienced with their first child was better than they expected, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) in honor of Mother’s Day.

Here are some more pushing tips to try:

1. Push as if you’re having a bowel movement.
2. Tuck your chin to your chest.
3. Give it all you’ve got.
4. Stay focused.
5. Change positions.
6. Trust your instinct.
7. Rest between contractions.
8. Stop pushing as instructed.

As you approach the time of birth, your contractions draw the cervix up into the body of the uterus, and it becomes thinner (called effacement) and opens (called dilation). When the cervix is fully dilated (about ten centimeters), contractions help the baby begin to move from the uterus into the vagina.

When the baby is ready for birth, its head presses on the cervix, which begins to relax and widen to get ready for the baby to pass into and through the vagina. Mucus has formed a plug in the cervix, which now loosesn. It and amniotic fluid come out through the vagina when the mother’s water breaks.

There were 35 cases of bone injuries giving an incidence of 1 per 1,000 live births. Clavicle was the commonest bone fractured (45.7%) followed by humerus (20%), femur (14.3%) and depressed skull fracture (11.4%) in the order of frequency.

Experts say the best time to get pregnant is between your late 20s and early 30s. This age range is associated with the best outcomes for both you and your baby. One study pinpointed the ideal age to give birth to a first child as 30.5. Your age is just one factor that should go into your decision to get pregnant.

Many women are able to carry pregnancies after age 35 and beyond. However, there are certain risks — for both mother and baby — that tend to increase with maternal age. Infertility. It may take longer to get pregnant as you get closer to menopause.

The model recommends you get started by age 32 to have a 90 per cent chance of realising your dream without IVF. A brood of three would mean starting by age 23 to have the same chance of success. Wait until 35 and the odds are 50:50 (see “When to get started”).

Women are most fertile and have the best chance of getting pregnant in their 20s. This is the time when you have the highest number of good quality eggs available and your pregnancy risks are lowest. At age 25, your odds of conceiving after 3 months of trying are just under 20 percent .

There is a decline in fertility that begins at about age 28. Now, it isn’t like 28 turns the switch off or that 40 turns the switch all the way off, and there’s variability from woman to woman but the point is that there’s no test.

When to get pregnant: your health Spring is another good option for a child, because the main cold and flu season is over by March and April, so both you and your little one will be less likely to pick up something during their very early weeks.

Bottom line: Men generally see a decrease in fertility beginning at 35, and the decline progresses from there. The age men are most fertile may be between 30 and 35, but we haven’t yet determined a specific window of peak fertility.

People who are born male and living as men cannot get pregnant. A transgender man or nonbinary person may be able to, however. It is only possible for a person to be pregnant if they have a uterus.

Sperm stay fertile and healthy for a man’s entire life Not so fast. Sperm production, or spermatogenesis, does take place indefinitely, but the quality and motility of sperm declines with age.

Once sperm have completed their development, they remain in the epididymis. When a male ejaculates, fluid from the seminal vesicles joins the sperm to make semen. If a male does not ejaculate sperm, the body eventually breaks down and reabsorbs them. Sperm can die within a few minutes outside a male’s body.

Guys start producing spermatozoa (or sperm, for short) at the onset of puberty. Puberty starts at different times for different people. Boys usually start puberty when they’re around 10 or 12 years old, though some start a little sooner and others a little later.

Frequent ejaculation will not cause the body to run out. Although it takes the average sperm about 74 days to fully mature, the body makes millions of sperm each day. Men with healthy, normal sperm counts should not worry about the effects of regular ejaculation.

How often should men ejaculate? There’s no “normal” number of times a man should ejaculate per day, week, or month. What’s normal varies, depending on age, relationship status, overall health, and other factors. Is 21 the magic number?

One study surveyed sex therapists — specifically regarding how long vaginal intercourse should last before ejaculation — and concluded that one to two minutes was “too short,” three to seven minutes was “adequate,” seven to 13 minutes was “desirable,” and anything from 10 to 30 minutes was considered too long.

Do we feel anything when we get pre ejaculation? You can’t always tell when pre-ejaculate (AKA pre-cum) comes out of your penis. You may be able to feel a little wetness on the tip of your penis when it comes out, but you may not notice if you’re having sex and other things around your penis are wet, too.

If someone prefers to clean their vagina and vulva after sex, the safest way to do so is with unscented soap and warm water. Some people claim that urinating, showering, bathing, or using vinegar may remove semen from the vagina after sex.