Pushing technique- tips ?!

[viixie]

I have had two previous babies, both back to back long labours. 2.5 hours pushing minimal progress and ventouse deliveries. Am I doing something wrong here? Does anyone have any advice or anything they felt moved the baby down the birth canal well?

I'm dreading doing it again! Thanks

A great tip I had was to push as if you were having a poo, so out of your bottom. Apparently that's the most efficient way of pushing!

I’d like to know this too- I’m not expecting number 2 yet but thinking about it. I ended up with ventouse and episiotomy with number 1 as they said I was too tired to push properly, but really I just felt like I didn’t know how to push! I’d done a hypnobirthing type course which was all about breathing the baby out, which I’d felt was working well, but then I was told I was on a time limit and had to push and I just didn’t get what I had to do, physically.

Being on my hunkers. The midwife propped the bed up into a sitting position and I turned around and clung on to the upright bit and pushed. A bit like doggy style ifykwim.

In my head I imagined holding on to two gymnastic rings that are attached to ropes from the ceiling. Does that make any sense?

Try staying up right, so crouching, standing with your hands on the bed for support, sitting on birthing stool. Let gravity help! Did you have an epidural with both? I did with my first and it meant I didn't know when to push as couldn't feel anything, was far easier with just gas and air second time round

It was push like you’re doing a poo. I just followed the instructions, they did move me round into different positions to try to optimise the pushing, including leaning against the head of the bed and later in stirrups. I had an episiotomy but as well and I wouldn’t have got her out without it.

I had zero urge to push and ended up with forceps so following with interest!

My body wasn't ready for baby 1 delivery but baby 2 went great!

It's true it is a lot like pooping. I felt like I was gonna go right there on the table and warned the nurses but they told me it just meant the baby was coming!

I pushed like I was pooing and actually did poo - beyond mortifying it’s I gather not unusual.

I found I had to put my whole body into it. With dc1 after 45 mins of pushing not getting baby down I really gathered my strength and used my entire torso to push with everything I had. I made the most ridiculous noises and it hurt like fuck but it worked. Second dc I did the same again, pushed With everything, shouted out all kids of sound effects And baby flew out in one and a half pushes before the midwife had her gloves on properly.

Baby 1 induced with drip and epidural; when it came to pushing, I followed midwife advice on when and I just pushed as tho to poop (with all my might, I felt like my eyes were going pop out). Baby 2 huge painful contractions minutes after sweep, didn’t have to push at all, baby practically delivered self in 30 minutes.

Did you have an epidural? I have had 3 dc, not with epidural (not by choice) and I honestly could not stop myself from pushing, my body kind of did it for me, in fact I was told to stop pushing on several occasions and couldn't. I thought it was the same for everyone? Not trying to be goady just genuinely intrigued.

@revelsandrose

I just had contraction pain and that was it. Even at 10cm dilated, I didnt have any urge to push whatsoever. It was just like really really bad period cramps. I was talking to my MIL yesterday (who didnt have an epidural) and she had the same thing. I have a theory that in first time mums the urge takes a while to kick in (in the way that first labours take longer to get going on the whole), but because of medical guidelines we are not really given the time to wait and see.

Same for baby two; head was crowning and midwives we’re not ready with gloves!

Three DC and never felt any urge to push. Only gas and air. I had to be told to push just like straining for a poo, but all three out in ten minutes. My back to back one was much harder in every way. A baby in the right position is so much easier. Hopefully you'll have one of these!

@Wolfgirrl that sounds hard work!

I had an overwhelming urge to push, but still took ages, eventually the midwife got me to sit on the toilet with my feet up a little I think (she put something in the toilet bowl and was on hand just in case) and bear down, head popped out and I then waddled back to my mat on the floor and it was just one last push to deliver her :)

I was on my knees and holding onto the bed that was raised up (like the part that supports your back to sit you up in bed) ...I'm a big believer in gravity.
I spent 36 hrs in back to back labour but my body automatically started pushing and I was trying to hold it in cus I was in the car and thought I was going to poo. then when they told me I could push i was pushing right down into my bum & could feel him coming down with every push which felt so productive

I found that working my pelvic floor muscles beforehand gave me more "feeling" of how the muscles in that area work, which I definitely believe helped me push.

Thank you for your replies, I find all these stories so fascinating. How can some babies come out without even having to push?!.I pushed for two and a half hours and it didn't budge. I find it so frustrating, feel a bit like a failure

Don’t feel like a failure! There’s also negatives with babies who push themselves. Mine came on so suddenly I was scared I wouldn’t make it to the hospital and the sudden pain was frightening. Shouted “I’m gonna die!” As long as they come out in the end, that’s all that matters. Fast labour runs in my family, I even beat my mother‘s record. But yes, it was scary and I felt like I had no control.

You're not a failure at all. Every body is different and muscles have different strengths and weaknesses. It might be that your pelvis or the way your muscles have worked over the years mean that a back to back position is more likely for your babies. Day to day that pelvis and muscle set up works just fine- it supports you and your growing baby, helps you get places and does every you ask of it. But in this one small area, tiny, really, compared with all the hours you're alive, it might just not work quite as it should, or could. And it's disappointing, but not something you can control and definitely not a reflection on your or your body's amazing ability to grow and produce a baby from scratch.

It may also just be bad luck to have it twice in a row. Back to back is super hard to push out and pushing for 2.5 hours is really hard core- you are a tough cookie, well done!!

Hypnobirthing is incredible and super helpful for many women, but there is variety in teachings and sometimes it can make things harder for first time mums. Most women have a strong urge to push and bear down when it's time. Some strains of hypnobirthing argue against pushing and encourage you just to breathe your baby down. As you've read above, that can actually work for some people, especially if it's not their first baby and their muscles have birthed a baby before.

But the first baby is quite often the hardest to birth because your pelvic floor is stretching and moving in a way it never has before. Going back to that particular strain of hypnobirthing, I always find it very strange that their philosophy seems to be to "listen to your body, trust it and go with it. Apart from when it tells you to push. That's wrong- you need to ignore your body and then try to breathe through these incredibly powerful urges to birth your baby". It just doesn't match up for me and sometimes it does seem to make things harder because pushing out a baby can take a while and is hard work, especially if it's your first.

But, in summary, it sounds like you have tried everything you could both times and you should be really proud of your strength in trying. Back to back is hard. It might happen again with this baby, but it might not. Either way, all you can do is your best. Eat snacks, stay hydrated and let gravity help. You've got this xxx

Back to back baby with fist on her forehead. Was on knees most of day to take pressure off my back then stood to push. I did tear badly but that was her elbow not the position. Best of luck!

Op I also don’t get how some people can give birth without pushing till their eyes pop and their body explodes. Try not to worry as stress etc will make it harder.

[quote Wolfgirrl]@revelsandrose

I just had contraction pain and that was it. Even at 10cm dilated, I didnt have any urge to push whatsoever. It was just like really really bad period cramps. I was talking to my MIL yesterday (who didnt have an epidural) and she had the same thing. I have a theory that in first time mums the urge takes a while to kick in (in the way that first labours take longer to get going on the whole), but because of medical guidelines we are not really given the time to wait and see.[/quote]
That is interesting. My first baby I did not get the urge, but the midwives guided me and it was very very controlled, which was lucky as he was huge but I did not tear because it was so controlled. The next one I did not push at all, but my body did, approximately 20 minutes after first knowing I was in labour. She shot out like a bullet but luckily was small. I think tearing was my biggest nightmare, so really glad to avoid that,

I heard you should imagine you are a coffee plunger and you're pushing the plunger down. It sounds weird but I thought it worked well.

Some babies are just itching to get out, DD v short labour and I think I had one push as she was making her own egress!

I had zero urge to push

Me too. I had to rely on the monitor to tell me when to push. Didn’t work tho, had an EMCS 😓