Shortening the pushing stage?

[DollyDealer]

Hello

I am 26 weeks pregnant with baby #4. With my first DC the pushing stage was an hour, and with the second two it was about 20 minutes. I'd really like to try and shorten it this time and be one of those who pushes the baby out in 3 pushes or something, lol.

With the other 3 I've pushed laying down, the second and third I was on my side. With #3 I did kneel up against the end of the bed and push a bit, but these were only tiny pushes when I started to get the urge and the midwife was keen for me to turn over to "push properly". So I figure it will help if I push standing up or kneeling this time? Someone suggested squatting but do I squat on the bed or on the floor to push? Also am I better off trying to breathe through urges for a while to let the head come down or is it better to go for it as soon as I start feeling a bit pushy? You'd think by #4 I'd know all these wouldn't you?

Any advice? Anyone had a super-short pushing stage?

I pushed for about 15 minutes with DC1 which wasn't super-short but pretty quick for a first timer.

I give credit to my midwife who had me laid on my side and was keen for DS to "labour down" as she put it, meaning that I should not push until the latest possible stage and let DS work his way down the birth canal without additional force.

You want time for your perineum to have lots of time stretch surely?

I'd take an intact perineum over less time pushing any day.

Best advice - listen to your body. And not to some idiot midwife if she's telling you to change position when you're a) comfortable and b) making progress!

Dc1 -2 hours pushing
Dc2 - 8 minutes

I had a water birth with DS2. The water meant I could change position really easily. I was kneeling in the pool and the MW told me to squat. It really made an immediate difference, he nearly shot out. The only reason it lasted 8 minutes is because crowning really hurt, so I slowed down pushing.

I pushed for about 30 minutes with each of my 3 and only a tiny graze with ds1. With my 3rd I was worried that he'd shoot out and give me a massive tear (a few of my friends had that happen with their third) so I knelt on the bed while the midwife told me when to push and when to pant. It was quite nice not to make an effort for a while and just puff on the gas and air.

I'm an annoying one who only pushed three times: head - torso - placenta. 9lb 6oz and no tearing It was DC2 though!

I have no idea if it was just luck but other contributing factors are:
I'd attended active birth classes before DC1. I was 42 weeks. I'd had low level contractions for a couple of weeks. I laboured kneeling on the floor, holding on to the bed.I screamed a lot. I gave birth on the bed (cos the mw wanted to examine me) but on my side.

DS - about 15 minutes
DD - No pusing, popped out with a contraction.

DD I think because I was very relaxed, at home, standing up & supporting myself on DH's shoulders, no tears or grazing - I clearly have a very stretchy (or just plain huge) fanjo.

Don't relax between contractions, try to keep on just enough pressure so the baby doesn't slide back.

I pushed 3 times, the trick was to not push at all despite the bearing down and then just 3 big pushes at the end was hard to resist the urge. You can also do fist breathing and I found all 4s the easiest to resist the urge but then stand for the pushy out bit.

With no3 I didn't push at all. 2nd stage was 7mins, IIRC. I was kneeling in the birthing pool, which I think made a huge difference. It just felt right not to actively push, but to breathe and relax through the contractions. He didn't come out in any sort of rush, and I didn't tear - despite him being 11lb

My other two birthings were on beds. Far harder work, and irresistible urge to push. And a lot of damage to my bits.

I've had four, two of which were only a few pushes, they were the two births that I had no epidural, both times I was on my knees, with one leaning over the back of the bed, the other on my elbows because the bed broke and it all happened too fast for me to change beds. Both births were spontanious pushing, my body did it automatically, I didn't have to 'push' at all, just relaxed into the birth and it all happened by itself. No tears etc at all which suprised me with both considering one was a shoulder dystocia (even with the SD she was out faster than most babies!) and the other was out in two pushes, the first broke my waters and pulled her down a bit, the second push delivered her whole, didn't even realise I was pushing at the time, first I knew of her being born was her crying, lol.

Stand the F--- Up.
Seriously, I am completely convinced that my body would have pushed the baby out a lot faster if I had stood leaning slightly forward on something, and rocked back and forth once I got to the "I can't stand it any more" stage (better known as transition).

Did manage to stand for DC4 and can't believe how easily he came out. And it stopped hurting ridiculously, because my body was finally doing what it wanted to.

Birthing stool. Pushing stage 7 mins ...

Stay as upright and mobile as possible for as long as possible - its the most natural way to do it. And listen to your body, not the MW, unless things get serious of course!

My DS came on the crest of a wave - massive contraction after ARM, poor MW didn't even have time to dry her hands before having to catch him!

My first was out in a few pushes - maybe 5 mins? And the second was a bit strange. My doc was so concerned with me not tearing, that he wouldn't let me push at all despite my feeling an overwhelming urge to do so and begging him to let me push. I was so scared about tearing that I listened to him. I didn't push for about 20 mins and then eventually ds just came out in one push as I just couldn't hold back any more. So maybe not pushing straight away helped him make his own way out, but I have to say not pushing when you really REALLY want to is excrutiating and it got to the point where I didn't care about tearing anymore & just wanted him out! I was upright walking around right up until the urge to push came, then I climbed onto the bed and lay on my back. I'm pregnant with dc3 and am really curious to see what happens next time. This is a really interesting thread - thanks OP

8 fricking hours with dd. 8

And I still had an emcs.

couple of hours with dd1 (on back, ended with ventouse)

really short with dd2 (on floor on knees, resting upper body on a big pile of cushions). Felt exactly the right position to be in and i hardly had to push at all tbh whereas with dd1 i felt like i was pushing all wrong and just wasting my energy.

This is an interesting subject - I've often wondered why some woman are hours pushing and others minutes.

I have a large family and all but my youngest two were 2 pushes and out. Reasons being was that the 2nd youngest was premature, born at 26 weeks, and I was really scared to push too hard incase she shot out like thejoyfulpuddlejumper baby..

My youngest took about 6 pushes and I think the reason for that is that I was sceaming like a banshee.. After the 3rd push and she still wasnt out I remembered right back to my first born and the midwife telling me to make no sound - not even to breath, while pushing. It lessens the power while baring down if we are crying/screaming/breathing! Chin on chest and concentrate completely on getting your baby out.

I was also horizontal but propped up with pillows and strapped to the monitors - they can be so annoying, but obviously necessary.

thejoyfulpuddlejumper I drank gallons of RLT, had 2 hours of pushing with an eventual forceps delivery. Also had an atonic uterus by the third stage so for all the 'efficiency' that RLT promoted, it did bugger all for me!

The only pregnancy I drank RLT in was my worst labour, no.3. The contractions were rediculously painful, wayyy more painful than any of my others and they didn't dialate me past 6-7cm, ended up on a drip for 7 hours. I'll never touch the stuff again!