If you never pushed what would happen?

[suzi2]

I didn't have the urge to push with either of mine, even when they were crowning. But I pushed like mad as I thought that's what I was meant to do.

But if I hadn't pushed? I assume that nature would have got them out anyway? Or that reflex would have kicked in eventually?

Daft question I know, never having another but I've always wondered!

Pushed like I was possessed with NO1 and was being yelled at by a v stern German midwife, I even was pushing away when the contractions had finished, this was not productive at all. I think I pushed too much too soon and ended up with an episiotomy and a tear.

With no two I didn't push at all, did't really have the urge. Kinder midwife said don't push if you don't feel the urge and DD was born by contrations alone. Tried to relax as much as possible as I was 100% focused on not tearing again but unfortunately did tear along the same tear scar as last time. But it did feel so much more under control for not being TOLD to push.

By body pushed him out anyway with my second, I really didn't want to because I knew how much it wou,ld hurt.

with DS2 I had 'involuntary pushing'. My body just did it - really weird feeling after struggling to push DS1 out through an epidural that worked rather too well.

I had no urge to push with DD. The midwife told me to, and I remember thinking, "but I don't want to". I did in the end, and often wonder now if I would have had less of a tear if I had gone with my instict. Suspect if I had 'natural pushing' would have taken over.
Really interesting thread.

Yes I felt nothing for the same reason the first time, Schneeb

Total surprise - 'so this is why everyone says it hurts!!!!'

I hjad an epidural with dd so I had no urge to push her out, but he placenta was a different story. I don't know if the epidural had been allowed to wear off by that point, but the urge was overwhelming- I had no control over it whatsoever. I remember being told by the midwife not to push and not being able to stop myself.

I remember a midwife friend telling me once that she had been unable to find a fetal heartbeat during labour, so starting to get quite worried she pulled the sheets back to do an examination and found the baby quietly lying in the bed. (the woman had a very good epidural )

with DD my body literally took over.
the midwife was telling me not to push as she wanted to examine me, but i couldn't. i wasn't pushing.

my body was doing it all itself. it was both freaky and amazing all at once