Can anyone tell me what the pushing stage feels like?

[OhGood]

I had an epidural up for this bit with DD and so have no idea what it's like. I would love to hear anyone's experience.

Was there any change in pain levels from dilation to pushing? Was it any less painful, or more painful, or different pain? Did it feel more like pressure? With DD, I could feel pressure and feel her moving down and turning - did you feel that? And crowning?

Feeling very at the thought of going through this all again...

[RooneyMara]

'Definitely do it as long as you can, but don't worry if you need to give the odd bottle of formula if your baby is hungry and you need a sleep!'

I totally agree about not stressing. But just to add that it can mess with your milk supply if you top up with formula. (I'm sure most people will do their own research anyway!)

actually I really, really need a sleep right now but am terrified of mucking up bf! plus have no formula in the house and no idea what to do with it if I did...

[WellHello]

I remember feeling bloody glad to finally get to the pushing stage and get the show on the road! I was pushing for ages though, had to have slight help from the suction cup thingy at the last minute. Briefly remember the stinging of the crowning but they cut me to make it all easier as Id been at it for so long and ran out of steam.
If it doesnt take too long, you'll find the pushing stage a sort of relief, as it gives you something to do with all that pressure/pain.

[atrcts]

I didn't feel the urge to push even though I apparently had been in that stage for over 2 1/2 hrs 'pushing' down a pretend poo when I was told to, but feeling no urge at all whatsoever so a little bit confusing for me!

I had been induced and was on a drip which made the contractions strong and painful - I had no burning at the crowning stage, but the 'contractions' became unbearably sharp and sore, so I was beggin for some pain relief but they denied it as I apparently had to 'feel' to push (which didn't work).

In the end I was consented for c section or forceps and rushed to theatre where they gave me a spinal block and I managed to delivery on the 3rd and final push of a forceps pull.

So to this day it is still a mystery to me when people describe crowning feelig like a ring of fire and the natural urge to push being like a poo or vomiting, as I have given birth without experiencing either of these.

[tilder]

After the irrational weird behavior of transition, at least something (hopefully) happens during pushing. Just keep pushing as long as you can each time.

My pushing stage has been quicker each time too. But crowning always really smarts.

Good luck, focus on the end game and listen to your dp and midwife.

[frazzledbutcalm]

I've had 4 dc and NEVER felt the urge to push. Midwife had to tell me each time. Only had pain relief for dc1, nothing with other 3 so it wasn't like there was anything stopping me from feeling the urge. I felt like I needed to poo with dc1 but it wasn't a strong urge making me know I was ready to push.. With dc2 and dc3 midwife (who was my sister) knew from my changed body language that it was time for me to push. I go deathly quite in labour, do not speak, or anything! Dc4 I felt pressure so I knew it was time (finally cottoned on after first 3!), but it didn't feel like the overwhelming urge everyone talks about. For me, pushing through the pain did take all the pain away so it was easier than the labour pains. Thankfully, only felt crowning with dc2. It was the horrendous ring of fire as mentioned by others, but usually it's over very quickly.

[Theicingontop]

I was induced and was being a complete nutter about no pain relief. It was excruciatingly painful, back-to-back contractions, no let up.

When I felt the urge to push, it was absolute bliss. It didn't hurt at all and actually felt really nice, like the beginnings of an orgasm . The only pain I felt was a slight sting as I tore a little bit (couldn't control my pushing). Had gas and air for the stitches and realised I'd been taking it wrong throughout my whole labour, and got quite high.

[withjamin]

I think what freaked me out the first time was that it isn't just painful, it's really really intense in a "this is my whole body doing something massively massive on it's own" sort of way. I ended up with an epidural for DD1, overstimulated by syntocin drip and shaking with agony.
Second time round, had mentally prepared myself to try and roll with the punches a bit more. It took a lot of self-control to dig in and let it happen.
Good luck!

[frumpet]

The contractions feel like the worst period pain mixed with trapped wind . Then there is the crowning , which is like doing the biggest peanutty poo in the world ever , you know where you are afraid to push it out because you are not sure your sphincter will stretch enough and it stings like buggery when you do ? well like that but worse

Still not as bad as a tooth abbcess though

[Bumpsadaisie]

DD was an epidural so didn't feel it, I had to 'think' to push.

With DS it wasn't an urge to push as in, "oh, I need to push, so let's push". It was more like throwing up, only a much bigger sensation. You know what I mean? You don't decide to throw up, it just happens and your stomach convulses. Well the pushing was similar for me, except much bigger, like my whole body convulsing and expelling. Very intense but not painful. More kind of "bloody hell what is THIS".

The contractions were just like horrid cramps. At transition I noticed the crampy feelings starting to also be a bit convulsion-y, a bit push-y. Which made sense as I was moving from dilation to pushing.

Crowning stung. But not hellish. And it's over quick. And you can't do anything about it anyway. You really just have time to go "Christ it stings!!" and then it's pretty much over.

[BoffinMum]

I never really got what I would term an overwhelming urge to push, it was more an awareness. I could have had a choice whether to do it or not, IYSWIM. But I was able to get into a bit of a rhythm and do it quite efficiently from about the second DC onwards.

[Crocodilehunter]

To me it felt like when you have diarreah and you can feel your whole body pushing involuntarily, then you push too, I remember it more as pressure rather than pain at that point, the crowning hurt but the rest was fine (remember relaxing completely once the head was out & DP telling me that job wasn't done yet ) but for me (aside from crowning) pushing was the best part of labour!!