pushing vs. breathing down (as in hypnobirthing)

[aikigypsy]

Just wondering if anyone here has tried breathing down, as recommended in hypnobirting, rather than pushing to get the baby out. I thought it made sense, but the nurse running the childbirth class I went to tonight said that the baby doesn't go anywhere if you don't push.

[TheCatInTheHairnet]

ERmmm, aikigypsy, are you pg with your first baby as I would really hate to be the one that shatters your illusions

[slim22]

I think what she means is that when the time comes you won't know your head from your a*

I can still remember consciously doing the breathing down and it helped. But you should practice a lot. the last three months of my pregnancy I was on a regimen of almost daily 2 hour yoga sessions.
If you practice a lot, you can do it, but at some point, you'll just loose it and that's ok because all you'll be thinking of at that stage IS pushing the baby out.

[Lulumama]

actually, i have read some stuff that suggests the explulsive contractions themselves can be enough to get the baby out, without any effort on the mothers' part..

however, many women do find that the urge to push is absolutely overwhelming and if you follow the urges of your body rather than directed or valsalva pushing , you will have a more effective second stage.

thomcat;s recent birth announcement was a lovely example of breathing hte baby out, IIRC

i know a lot of people speak very highly of hypnobirthing

[spugs]

personaly i cant imagine been able not to push iyswim, but breathing the babies head out definitly works (feels difficult)

[aikigypsy]

Yup, this is my first. I'm only doing yoga once a week or so, hypnobirthing relaxation when I have time in the afternoon. OK, so I'll probably do some pushing (or a lot!) but the breathing down idea really makes sense to me. Not used to directing my energy quite that way, but ... well, I guess I'll find out some time next month.

[claireybee]

I had no urge to push and physically couldn't make myself do it for a long time-when i did push it was a real conscious effort and the pushing stage took far longer than it should've done. dd definitely didnt go anywhere until i started pushing but then i wasn't doing any special breathing either...I'd be interested in knowing how to do this in case i have problems pushing this time round too.

[ladymac]

Having given birth 4 times I have to say that IME the urge to push has been absolutely overwhelming.

[jamila169]

I've never had any urge to push (Post C/S nerve damage) to have had to rely on baby coming down and the feeling of pressure to know when pushing was a good idea - However if by magic i actually got a pushing urge, I'd go with it rather than wanting someone else to tell me when IYKWIM
Of course it is possible to birth without pushing,paraplegic women do it! As far as breathing the baby out is concerned it's not, not pushing - It's about not doing directed pushing,and letting your body do the work on its own - Thats where the breathing comes in, to help you stay focused and let things happen in their own time rather than getting into a tiz !
Lisa X
does that make sense - I'm absolutely cream crackered and only on here to wind down lol!