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Childbirth

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

Original poster

How to push with epidural?

26 replies

Mamabearno1 · 25/10/2021 16:19

How do you push with an epidural?

My last labour was natural on gas and air and I vowed never to do that again Blush

They’ve offered me an epidural from start of induction but how do you physically push with an epidural not knowing the sensation to push for?

I really struggled with my first to push with only half an epidural taking let alone a full one Hmm

OP posts:
Mumoblue · 25/10/2021 16:23

My epidural worked like a dream. I don’t think it could have possibly gone any better.
I could kind of tell when to push anyway, but wasn’t entirely sure (as it was my first baby), so I had a midwife with her hand on my stomach directing me when to push and stop. It was very straightforward for me.

WhatTheEll · 25/10/2021 16:23

Midwife puts their hands on your lower abdomen and tells you when they feel a contraction and then you do what you think pushing feels like, because you can't feel it!! Good luck

Skyla2005 · 25/10/2021 16:28

They tell you when to push !

Original poster
Mamabearno1 · 25/10/2021 16:32

I know they tell you when to push, but how do you know you’re pushing, as in physically if the sensation is taken away?

OP posts:
MistyFrequencies · 25/10/2021 16:34

I was induced with epidural on baby one and I honestly couldn't push. I just had no idea. They kept saying "push to your bottom" and I was there with absolutely no idea where my bottom was....ended up (after an hour of trying to push and failing miserably )being prepped for a section, she was born by forceps in theatre.
My second I had just gas and air and the pain was obviously bad but I felt much more in control and knew when to push. I also recovered so much quicker from the birth too, whether that's related to epidural or not who knows.

SpamIAm · 25/10/2021 16:49

I could still feel when to push and could still push fine. There's obviously a range of experiences but I assume most women are still able to push?

I found it much better than my second labour (just has and air which I don't even count as pain relief because it's shit) because I was calm enough to actually focus on the job in hand.

Rugsofhonour · 25/10/2021 16:52

This reply has been deleted

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BaronessBomburst · 25/10/2021 16:59

I could still feel everything. In fact it still effing hurt, just less than before.

Mumoblue · 25/10/2021 17:01

It’s kind of like how you can still move your legs even if they’re numb. You can still push.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 25/10/2021 17:02

I didn’t know when to push, so I pushed when I felt I had energy to do it. Didn’t work. Got piles and DC was born in via forceps in the end.

roofingexpert · 25/10/2021 17:03

You can definitely feel the pressure of it as opposed to the pain.

lawofdistraction · 25/10/2021 17:05

I was completely numb but could still feel my contractions as a painless tightening, like a braxton hicks. But the MW will tell you when to push.

8dpwoah · 26/10/2021 22:53

@SpamIAm

I could still feel when to push and could still push fine. There's obviously a range of experiences but I assume most women are still able to push?

I found it much better than my second labour (just has and air which I don't even count as pain relief because it's shit) because I was calm enough to actually focus on the job in hand.

I would say exactly the same! With my epidural I felt pressure but not pain and the midwife coached me in how to try to use my muscles to push, plus my body was doing it anyway. Had forceps in the end but to turn her, suspect that might have happened anyway.

Just had a gas and air only delivery and I kept saying to them I know what I'm meant to be doing but I can't physically coordinate myself to do it, was a quick panic birth and obviously painful. They got the forceps out as she was distressed but I somehow just about got her out myself, in the end it was because I channelled my frustration at the staff not understanding what I meant into pushing, that seemed to work!

If I was to have a third I'd have an epidural without hesitation. Yes my recovery this time has been easier but I think the few extra days of being a bit tender was well worth a calm birth for my first to be honest.

wishing3 · 26/10/2021 22:59

I could still feel the sensation of pushing just fine so it wasn’t an issue. Good luck with your labour. I personally found my epidural fab and if I’m lucky enough to have a second baby I’d want one again.

Chickydoo · 26/10/2021 23:01

Couldn't feel a thing, had forceps. Lots of stitches, pretty traumatic. Same happened with Dc 2

DramaAlpaca · 26/10/2021 23:16

I haven't a clue because I couldn't feel a thing. It had to be forceps in the end.

Peach01 · 31/10/2021 00:29

I still had the sensation but absolutely no pain so I knew when to push. I was attached to a monitor for contractions, along with the midwife with her hands on my tummy. They watch the monitor and feel and tell you when to push. I think this is in case you don't feel the sensation. The midwife will still encourage you to push even if you can do it alone. Epidural is great.

BooseysMom · 31/10/2021 02:42

@MistyFrequencies

I was induced with epidural on baby one and I honestly couldn't push. I just had no idea. They kept saying "push to your bottom" and I was there with absolutely no idea where my bottom was....ended up (after an hour of trying to push and failing miserably )being prepped for a section, she was born by forceps in theatre.*

This was exactly what happened to me. I always regretted asking for that epidural. The what ifs
.but DS would have likely got stuck anyway. I'm just so relieved he was ok. I would have had to have a c section if I'd had a second due to being old!!

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 31/10/2021 02:55

@WhatTheEll

Midwife puts their hands on your lower abdomen and tells you when they feel a contraction and then you do what you think pushing feels like, because you can't feel it!! Good luck
^^ this

but ideally they can gauge how your labour is progressing v effect of epidural so they could not top you up or give much smaller doses as you are coming closer to being fully dilated. that's what I had with my last 3.

or you could get "lucky" and have it re-sited twice and so having it fucked up 3 times over all resulting in one side being completely numb, the other being full on agony and so when it's time to push you are fully aware!

or you might get even luckier and arrive at the hospital 6cm dilated, have 2 sips of courtesy gas and air, be fully dilated 5 mins later and have baby out with 3 pushes before the midwife had a chance to say "no time for pethidine"🤣

or just go for a cozy ELSC because baby is footling breech...

you have so many options!😉

georgarina · 31/10/2021 03:49

If you ask for a mobile epidural you will be in charge of the dose so you can make sure not to give yourself anything leading up to pushing. That way you will still be able to feel when the contracts are without feeling the pain.

With DD I had an epidural and couldn't feel to push, I was trying as hard as I could but it was like trying to run in a dream iyswim. Ended up with an episiotomy and ventouse delivery.

OldTinHat · 31/10/2021 04:02

I didn't have the urge to push with either of mine bizarrely. I had a tens for DS1 and gas and air for DS2. I relied on guidance from the midwife and I expect it will be the same with an epidural. Just push like mad when they tell you to!

GiltEdges · 31/10/2021 04:06

@Mamabearno1

I know they tell you when to push, but how do you know you’re pushing, as in physically if the sensation is taken away?
In my case, the epidural completely took the sensation away and I couldn't feel it whatsoever. Ended up with an EMCS after DS's heart rate dropped and I wasn't progressing quickly enough to get him out. No idea it I'd have felt anything if I'd continued with the pushing.
MilkywayMonarch22 · 31/10/2021 04:21

I had my epidural turned down towards the end so I could push, as they had me in for a c section (looooong labour) and I told them I didn't want it and wanted to try pushing. The doctor said to me you've got until 10.30 then you're coming for a c section (that was 1 hour!). I was so panicked and said to midwife that I really didn't want the surgery, I was low risk other than long labour. So she turned my epi right down so I could feel the sensations and turned up my oxy drip I believe (it's all a haze now but I believe this is what she did) and within 30 mins of her leaving I needed to push. Felt like needing the toilet really urgently. None of the other midwives believed me but I said to DH , find X midwife and tell her it's now. She came back with hot water and flannels and within 10 mins I'd pushed DD out :) no tears or damage. Lovely pushing phase.

This was last year for context

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 31/10/2021 04:45

I could feel when to push, like a feeling of built up pressure without the excruciating pain- wish I had had one with my first

BertieBotts · 31/10/2021 05:08

Push like you're trying to do the world's biggest poo.