urge to push

[hattieboomboom]

Hi, I'm pregnant with DC2. DC1 was born in hospital with forceps after an attempt at a home birth failed because my labour had been so long (latent phase, active and second stage all went on and on). Second stage was in fact four hours at home pushing before an ambulance was called. I think baby was at an awkward angle and that was the main problem, but during that time, I never really had an urge to push. I don't think... I was wondering if anybody can describe to me what the urge feels like? I was detemined not to push unless i had that feeling (was planning on 'breathing' the baby out, as my hypnobirthig books had all told me - ha!) Anyway I think the four hours of 'forced' pushing really did some damage to my pelvic floor and I'm worried about the next one.

Not really sure exactly what I'm on here for , but that urge to push question is it really. Also if there are any others who had a first labour like this and went on to have a quick second, that would be nice to hear!

I've also heard that the shorter the time since last birth, the quicker it is likely to be - something else I'm hanging onto as it'll be 20 months for me.

Not a lot of help but you'll know the urge to push when you feel it - with DC1 (homebirth) I was standing leaning against DH saying 'Don't let me puuuuush!' when the MW arrived, DS arrived 40 mins later

I had read something about pushing too early when there is still a lip of cervixin the way making it swell and be sore and causing complications so didn't want to push until given the 'all clear'! Not sure I could have stopped myself though

It was more like vomitting for me too. Just in the way that your body squeezes and heaves without your consent and you couldn't stop it if your life depended on it.

I felt it like wanting to do a poo aswell. In fact, I thought that's what was happening! I actually thought they'd let me get out of the bed and drag my drip into the toilet and let me poo!

The best way I can describe is just an uncontrollable need to push. I was told not to (or I would have a 4th degree tear) but I just couldn't stop myself.

Not an urge to push as such but 'bear down', impossible not to just an overwhelming urge to 'expel' something - which is exactly what is happening. Was worried I would have to be told when to push and kept asking midwife to tell me what to do, told me to do what my body needed to do which was exactly right

DC1 similar story to you - epidural, no urge as felt nothing, forceps. 3 5 hr second stage only just avoiding a cx.

DC2 born naturally last week. 5.5 hr labour, second stage 7 minutes.

I thought the "urge" would be like a thought in your brain followed by a decision to push. Not so! For me it was much more like what happens when you throw up - you rush to the loo and it just happens. With each contraction in the pushing stage instead of it hurting as such, my whole body just was overcome by this expulsive force. No way I cd stop it!

It was quite an eye opener!

My first labour was rather like yours, my second was a homebirth.

I really didn't have an 'urge' to push as such. All of a sudden, I was pushing. I don't know I could even have told you it was pushing until a good way through. Just felt like something moving down. It wasn't even like throwing up - it didn't feel that violent at all.

I was a bit worried about the pushing bit, never having done it. Turned out my body knew what to do though. I just wish I could have gone a little slower as maybe I would have got away without a tear - but there was no stopping me at all.

AutumnFalls Tue 08-Nov-11 08:56:19
I did not feel it was like doing a poo, for me it was like when you are about to vomit, and your stomach/diaphragm constricts and heaves. You cannot stop that or help that, it does it. It felt like that for me. There was simply no way at all that I could have not pushed.

^^This
The midwife told me it wasnt time to push, I'd only been in hospital for about an hour and a half at the time and was in the lift being moved to CLU as my BP had gone up. I told her calmly, I wasnt pushing, my body was.
Lots of encouraging me to breathe and not push, and breathe lots of G&A.
DS then got distressed was born about 20mins later by ventouse.

I would hazard a guess that if she had let me push when my body wanted to, he would have been born on his own...

Preg with #2 now, and its the first time I've typed that^ Wonder if there is any truth to it...?

Btw, when the midwife was telling me that it wasnt time to push, she was also telling my mum and DH that it would be hours yet with a first birth, so she was clearly wrong about that...

I wouldn't say it was an urge exactly - my body just started pushing and there was no way I could have stopped it.

Took the mw by surprise after she kept telling me 'no, no dear this isn't labour - these are prostin pains'.