How did you push?

[maddog37]

For those who had children before, how did you push?

I'm getting nervous. With DS, I tried to push with sound (open throat). The doctor told me it wasn't effective. I eventually pushed with a tightly closed throat once I heard them saying the baby's heart rate was dropping. The pushing stage was 20 minutes which is considered fast. I can't imagine pushing like that for hours like some women.

I hated the closed throat pushing. I want to avoid it if possible this time. But I'm not sure how else to push.

Advice and suggestions? TIA

 

[mammag]

I pushed silently. It seems to me that having to focus on my throat would be distracting? And I only pushed 2 times to get him out. Chin to chest, hard push, bam, baby. Lol. I'm hoping for an equally easy birth this time around.

 

[Mummy to be x]

I pushed silently also, but I was pushing for a long time and it ended up in forceps. I'm really, really hoping that doesn't happen this time round.

 

[tillyttc]

I agree silent worked for me last time 1push the head 2nd the rest took less than 5 mins ! Found I could concentrate better with mouth shut . Xx

 

[Carly.C]

Silent here too, I thought they encourage silence as noise takes up more energy?

 

[Eleanor ace]

With my first I made a mooing sound for a lot of the pushing. My MW told me to try not to as making noise diverts your energy from pushing. When I stopped making noise I don't remember it helping the pushing, but I had quite a large LO who got a bit stuck, so pushing wasn't going to be easy. I pushed for 2 hours. With my DD I don't remember making noise except at the end when she got stuck and it got really sore. I only pushed for 14 minutes with my 2nd.

 

[AllyTiel]

Don't think I made any noise. Had no reason to. Not like I was in pain or anything as I had an epidural

 

[emeeorevan]

Silently for me too. Both were long pushing stages. Ds#1 ended with suction assistance and ds#2 was natural but both ended with me screaming/panting "I can't" during the last two-three pushes.

 

[Selaphyna]

with DS1, from what I remember I made alot of noise (even with the epidural), it lasted almost 2 hours, forceps delivery, and doctor cut me.

with DS2, I started to make noise on first push, was told not to, and so I pushed silently, and he was out in 3 pushes total. No forceps, no tear/cut.

 

[beth30]

Silent, and push like you're popping. Tmi I know. But I used to watch this show maternity ward, and this nurse told a lady on there to push like she was pooping, so that is what I did. Both times my babies came out smooth and quick. The first was 10-15 minutes from the first push and the second was like 7 minutes. That included the time they had me pause for whatever they do when the baby's head comes out.

 

[jzgrace]

With dd2 my doc told me that the baby was measuring to be about 10 lbs. And he said I need to push HARD and with all my energy or they would have to take measures such as forceps, suction, or emergency c- Section. I was terrified by the thought of my baby getting stuck. So I pushed (silently) with all of my might. I pushed so hard that when baby was out my whole body trembled like I was getting electrocuted. With dd1 I moaned once and my doc looked at me like I had 2 heads And said don't do that, you are not pushing correctly if you're making that noise. I felt stupid after that and well never forget it. That was 15 years ago. Things may have changed since then?? But I think I will be silent during this birth as well.

 

[dlj2]

Silent apart from the end as it was very long pushing phase and needed ventouse assistance which was somewhat shocking ;-) tote badly but overall not a bad experience, hoping to be able to do it assistance free this time x

 

[Popples1]

Making low mooing sounds. It was totally instinctual in the end but it's also what my hypnobirthing antenatal classes suggested. Low pitched sounds are good, high pitched ones aren't.

 

[MummyToAmberx]

Push how you want! Unless youve had an epi and cant feel i thing, push how and when you feel like it and dont push on command to a doc or midwife.

This is your birth dont forget that. I honestly cant remember how i was whwn pushing, my full mind was to fixed on the 'signals' i was getting and just went with it.

 

[ttc_lolly]

Chin to chest and silent pushing (with some grunts possibly!). Both labours very quick second stages

 

[Reidfidleir]

Pushed like I was pooping for about three hours. (Water birth and hands were up over face). Mostly silent with some grunting and maybe faint low moans. What I hated was changing positions to try and get baby out. Every time I would move it would bring on a contraction and I liked the resting periods lol but the position changing around is what worked him out and I didn't tear at all.

 

[lemongrass]

My midwife (who was absolutely amazing) told me to hold my breath while I pushed. She also watched how I was contracting and told me when to continue and when to hold it so that I would have time to stretch. I pushed for 20 mins and didn't tear.

 

[Gingerspice]

I was told off for holding my breath but i genuinely couldn't push without doing that. Mind you the labour was so long when it came to pushing I really couldn't feel when was best so i just Pushed like pooing when the midwife said to.

I had swollen face, broken veins and blood shot eyes for days afterwards from pushing as hard as I could. I was generally silent except when I screamed like I was being murdered as I had episiotomy without any pain relief. They removed the gas and air 2 hours before as they thought it was slowing down. By the time LO was pulled out by ventouse i'd been pushing over 4 hours

 

[ToughhGal]

I pushed silently but made a sound letting go of the push at the end, mostly from lack of breath lol.

 

[ttc126]

The dr was telling me to push while holding my breath but i didn't want to burst blood vessels in my face (why in the world did I care at that point???). So I would take a deep breath in and lightly blow out air as i pushed. I pushed 13 minutes and he was out. I tore pretty badly, but I just wanted to be done....

I'm exhausted remembering. And bless every one of you who had to push for hours!