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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

How to push

30 replies

savidgerl · 03/05/2006 16:04

I know it sounds stupid but I got really confused about pushing at the birth of DS.
What is the most effective way of thinking about it? Does one actually need to push as I didn't really feel the urge to. Anxious to avoid the same situation next time. I am 34 weeks pg.

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Marne · 03/05/2006 16:08

The midwife will explain how to push, to be honest its like going for a poo, the midwife will tell you to push through your bottom.

Original poster

savidgerl · 03/05/2006 16:11

But do you have to push anyway? Won't the uterus dso most of the work anyway? I sound so lazy!

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Esmummy · 03/05/2006 16:13

Don't ask me. I was so petrified of pooing while i was having DD i was trying to stop myself. Could do with knowing for this time round though

Greensleeves · 03/05/2006 16:15

Um, yes. You do have to push. It's sodding hard work. Sorry

beef · 03/05/2006 16:16

even with pain-free epidurals you have to help baby along and push, push, push!

spiker · 03/05/2006 16:16

I don't think it's stupid - I had the same problem with both of my deliveries, no urge to push and clueless about where I was supposed to do it, only conscious that pushing made the pain worse. My technique with DS2 in particular came in for a lot of criticism from the MW.

The only tip I can give is the old 'try to do a big poo' one. Any warn the midwife in advance that you might not get the urge to push and that you'll need practical help (like MW putting her finger exactly where you should push).

Otherwise you'll end up with Piles From Hell like me

Original poster

savidgerl · 03/05/2006 16:20

It was trying to get three pushes out of one contraction. that I found impossible to do. I definitely do not have natural rhythm. Found it confusing. I was so relaxed up to then as well because I was using self-hyposis.

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sweetkitty · 03/05/2006 16:21

Would echo the "feels like the biggest poo on earth" that shocked me first time around it felt like I was doing a great big ! It's so hard too as you have to push into the pain whereas normally you would fight it.

With both of my births the urge to push has been unbearable so I don't know what it's like not to have that urge. To be honest I felt like my body and the baby were getting on with it and I was just there! The best bit is the relief when the baby comes out and the pain goes.

Esmummy · 03/05/2006 16:25

Yes SK, I am looking forward to that bit more than anything :)

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 03/05/2006 16:26

It is like pusshing to do a poo - and i was terrified of actually pooing too, and lo and behold, i did poo when i pushed becky out.

I wont comment on Jess's birth as had epidural and didnt really have to push that much because she was so tiny and it seemed as if she just fell out!

With ecky, the epidural didnt work, i felt ever centimeter of her, but one the first push was out of the way for me i found it easy (then again, becky was born in 3 pushes!)

Esmummy · 03/05/2006 16:27

I had an epidural with DD and although it had definitely worn off by the time the pushing was needed, i didn't really get the urge. I wonder if that has something to do with the epidural

Original poster

savidgerl · 03/05/2006 16:27

I don't think the second stage is explained very well in a lot of the books I've read. They focus on the labour, how to deal with the pain etc but there is very little info about the actual pushing and how to do it most effectively. I shall let the MW know I have a tendency to be a lazy cow and will only push when I feel like it

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sweetkitty · 03/05/2006 16:32

I found pushing out 9lb 3oz DD2 was easier than 6lb 3ozs DD1, with DD2 I had a slight tear that didn't need stitching, with DD1 I had impressive needlework caused by her hand being by her face and me not waiting after the head was born, basically I just pushed like hell to get her out of me! With DD2 (homebirth) my MWs knew my fears about tearing again so they made me wait, protected the scar area and guided her out.

foxinsocks · 03/05/2006 16:34

I had no urge at all to push with dd (first child) - had to make myself do it when a contraction came (just like doing a poo!).

With ds (second child), I did get the urge to push so maybe it will be different for you this time round!

elliott · 03/05/2006 16:39

I was made to push with ds1 but I don't think it was actually necessary. With ds2 I just followed what my body was doing and didn't need to make myself push at all - it just happened. And that time I didn't tear

Original poster

savidgerl · 03/05/2006 16:58

Good point. This time around I shall trust my body a lot more and will tell the midwife. Because I am planning a homebirth hopefully I will have met her when the time comes. Thanks for all your replies. Good to know I wasn't the only one.

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jamsam · 03/05/2006 17:00

put it this way...its the biggest poo you will ever do...really..youll be fine, just folllow your instincts..

leggymamba · 03/05/2006 17:06

My MW put her finger when I was meant to push (sound awful but really helped!)

Chloe55 · 03/05/2006 17:45

I had to push with mine but my sil didn't push at all (no epidural either) the contractions seemed to move her daughter with such force. She was induced, not sure if this has an effect.

Original poster

savidgerl · 03/05/2006 17:56

What the RCM have to say. (First attempt at posting a link so might not work)

\link{http://www.rcmnormalbirth.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1099658235109}

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aravinda · 04/05/2006 16:49

Not all women need to push or be instructed to push, if you google Jean Sutton you will find an interesting article called "birth without active pushing".

There is lots of research now that states that active pushing is not good for babies or mums. Midwives who are practising evidence based midwifery should not be encouraging women to "push like you are on the toilet" or "put your chin on your chest" as this can make it more likely for mum to tear or have internal damage and for babies to become distressed. My personal choice was not to push until my body told me to - in the end it never did and the contractions moved my babies down.

Seen many births where women have needed to push though - and some have needed guidance in the second stage but IMO its worth seeing what your body does naturally before intervening.

Peachyclair · 04/05/2006 17:34

All my three came out virtually unaided. DS3 literally popped out without any effort at all! Didn't even realise he was on the way, was still asking for an epidural

Original poster

savidgerl · 04/05/2006 17:54

Thanks Aravinda.

OP posts:

pol26 · 04/05/2006 20:52

I didn't want to push with DD and midwife said if I didn't i'd have a baby stuck there. It's rather like having ahuge poo... and alot of relief once the pushing is under way!

GarfieldsGirl · 04/05/2006 21:05

With ds1 I didn't want to push cos it was making me feel sick, I didn't really understand how to push, I never really had teh 'urge' to push, and it started to hurt, so if I didn't push it didn't nhurt.

When I had ds2, it took less than 5 mins to push him out, cos I just somehow knew what to do, and also knew the only way to make it not hurt was to get the baby out! Like others have said, its just like having the biggest poo in the world.

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