When we think of labor we often think of only the contractions and the first stage of labor, where the cervix is opening for the baby to descend into the birth canal. Let's talk about second stage, or pushing.
Pushing is characterized by contractions that have are generally occurring less frequently than in the end of first stage, giving mom a bigger break in between the contractions. Where mom has been told her entire labor to "stay out of the way" of her contractions, now she is actively working with the contractions to give birth.