息む

いきむ【息む】

strain oneself

strain one's abdomen.

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いきむ【息む】

strain; 〔分娩時に〕 push; bear down.

●赤ちゃんが顔を真っ赤にして息んでいた. The baby was holding his breath and straining, his face a bright red.

・祖母は年を取って息む力がなくなってきた. As she's got older, my grandmother no longer has the strength to push down hard when she goes to the bathroom.

・3 番目の子供は全然息まないでするりと生まれちゃった. I didn't have to push [bear down] at all with my third baby; she just popped out ever so easily.