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Childbirth

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

Pushing technique- tips ?!

35 replies

viixie · 17/08/2020 14:01

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

OP posts:
Sarahlouise86 · 18/08/2020 13:34

I had to deliver on the bed as I was being monitored and although my body really wanted to stand to push I was advised not to by my midwife.

I was struggling to get enough force to push him out for quite a while, despite the midwife saying she could see his head he kept on going back in. Then the doctor came in and put my legs in stirrups and gave me some handles which I could grip and push on with my hands and it made things so much easier for me. I could then really push down during the contractions and he was out in a couple - I will be asking for those straight away next time! Not sure if all NHS hospitals have them but honestly they were great.

OhToBeASeahorse · 20/08/2020 14:29

Have you had a birth debrief? You might find it useful. I found it hard too and I had ventouse and episiotomy. My midwife told me.i wasnt trying hard enough and I needed to put myself second for the sake of my baby (lovely) so I absolutely.l ow the feeling of failure. A debrief helped me better understand what happened.

viixie · 20/08/2020 16:03

@OhToBeASeahorse she really said this ?! Please tell me this wasn't reiterated at the debrief ? Angry I was on delivery suite for twelve hours the second time and the midwife told me lots of people had been and gone and to hurry up! Yes because I'm taking my time for the fun of it 🤨

OP posts:
OhToBeASeahorse · 20/08/2020 18:17

She really did. I'm now 32 weeks with my second and worried I'll have her again

Ginmonkey84 · 22/08/2020 22:06

Position position position. Change of position and multiple times if needs be! I pushed in water on all fours, over my birthing ball, standing and eventually got her out in a squatting position. She was crowning sideways and had her elbow up and hand at her face so it took some effort from both me and her. It would have been an assisted delivery if I was in hospital but since I was at home I had to rely on getting her moving or I id be transferred. My midwives were amazing getting me into optimal positions and she shot out when it came to it. But when I was in that position I pushed like I was having the biggest poo. Caused damage mind you but it was still better in my opinion than the other options. No one intervened at all they just guided me and kept me calm. One thing for sure is never be on your back with a difficult second stage!

Ginmonkey84 · 22/08/2020 22:07

Oh and had no urge to push either not sure why that happened!

Hurryupbaby11 · 23/08/2020 23:19

I was given 1 hour to naturally let baby descend more after I reached 10cm. Similar to a PP, I had to be on my back so it really helped me to have handles to grip onto at the side. I had big pads I could push my feet against and also tried legs in stirrups which were moved a couple of times to help with the positioning. Felt like I used all the muscles in my body to push him out. And putting my chin to my chest when pushing really seemed to help too. It took me a while to get the hang of it and was very aware of being up against a time limit - eventually had an episiotomy and he flew out after that!

Givemlala · 23/08/2020 23:23

You're not a failure and you didn't do anything wrong. These things happen, there are a plethora of reasons, few of which we have any control over. I would say though maybe explore different positions, I was strapped to the bed more or less, but would like to be more upright next time, see if gravity can do its thing a bit better. I agree with pushing like you are having a poo.

BobGalaxy · 23/08/2020 23:32

I remember being very vocal, and the mw told me to use all the energy that was coming out of my mouth and focus on putting it into my pushes (so stop screaming basically!) - it really helped!

Member · 23/08/2020 23:43

Baby 1 was flat on back and not allowed to move into another position by a midwife who told me she hadn’t seen such a pathetic attempt at pushing in her 27 years of practice. Went on to have ventouse.

Baby 2 was back to back Labour, I moved onto my knees and grabbed the bed head and did get an urge to push that I couldn’t resist and the midwife just got her gloves on. Apparently I did poo but didn’t realise at the time, I admit I had had a fear of that but couldn’t fight the urge to push which I think was gravity-induced

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