Funny Question about contractions/pushing, does/did anyone else do this??

[Awhiteelephantintheroom]

I am due baby #4 shortly; I plan to have gas and air for pain relief this time as I've done in my previous 2 times (epidural 1st time). During my labours, when I have a contraction I do a bearing-down sort of thing, almost like I'm letting go to do a wee, not a full on push, and it really helps to ease the contraction. Each time previously the bearing down has just got a bit harder as the labour's gone on. I was just wondering if anyone else has done this? I've had quick easy labours and dilated quickly so it's obviously okay but it just feels a bit "wrong" when you're not meant to push until 10cm, lol. But hey if it works to ease the pain then it's good. My midwife with baby #3 said to just go with whatever my body needed to do.

Also, I got a very strong pushing urge quite early on last labour, I'd just been examined at 6cm dilated and couldn't stop myself pushing. I had about an hour of trying to breathe through contractions but doing the occasional push, it was very hard work. Has this happened to anyone else, I was thinking perhaps the more babies you have the earlier you need to push as your body knows what it's doing?

Not sure. I had baby no 3 3 weeks ago and my labours have all been quick (no 2 and 3 extremely so), there is no way I could stop my body from pushing when it's ready. I agree with MW, to go with what your body wants to do

This is a fab article and sums it all up perfectly!!

www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/ruleof10.asp

Hi

whiteelephant in the room. Thanks for your post. I wish that I had done this during my first labour with dd now 4 years old. I had a trendous urge to 'bear down' or 'push' when I was about 5 cm dilated. However, midwife advised against it and I am almost certain that this made the labour much longer and more painful that in would have been. I think if I had done this the labour would have been much quicker and it would have enabled me to cope with the contractions. So it is great to hear someone who has had experience of this!

I have been doing some research online and have found a few articles about this which have been posted by other mumsnetters which basically challenge the 'myth' of having to reach 10cm before pushing etc.

I am now 33 weeks pregnant with DD2 and this time I am definately going to 'bear down/push' when I feel the urge to do so. I am hoping it is going to lead to a labour that I feel more in control of my own body rather than listening to some external 'received' wisdom about how my body should be reacting.

Homebirthmummy I have tried to follow your link but I did not seem to be able to gain access to this article. I would be very interested to read it. Could you give me some more info as to how to search for it on the midwifery today website?

See article below re: involuntary pushing before 10cm dilation

midwifethinking.com/2011/01/22/the-anterior-cervical-lip-how-to-ruin-a-perfectly-good-birth/