いきむ

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

strain; bear down; push

Used for tensing abdominal muscles, as during childbirth, heavy lifting, or forceful exhalation. Often implies a grunting effort.

• お産さんのとき、助じょ産さん師しさんに「いきんでください」と言いわれた。

  During labor, the midwife told me, 'Please bear down.'

• 重おもい荷に物もつを持もち上あげようとして、いきんだ。

  I strained as I tried to lift the heavy luggage.