Question on pushing?

Question

Hi ladies! I am not expecting but, and interested in what it's like to be pregnant. I am working on college and geting a home a puppy ect. before my husband and I have our kids. Congradts to all you ladies (and expecting fathers online)!

My Question: My friend of 3 told me she had trouble pushing when in labor. Her doc told her she'd know when to push and how. Do you push like you're having to use the bathroom or is it different? Will the doctor (or classes) explain how to push and when? How does that work?

Answer 1

It's true that you'll know when you're ready to push, and you'll just do it. Regardless of whether you've had an epidural or not, there comes a point when the baby's head moves so low that the feeling of rectal pressure cannot be ignored, and just as when you have to have a bowel movement that you can't put off any longer, the urge is there to push that pressure out.

The pushing action itself is similar to a bowel movement, but you also need to use your abdominal muscles and push that baby down from the top of your uterus. This is why it is helpful to put your chin to your chest, round your back like you're trying to hug your baby with your body, and put all your muscles into pushing down and out. It's also important to keep your legs wide, to open up that pelvis. Many women try to bring their legs up, but that's not what you need, think of being in a squatting position, how wide your upper thighs are.

You also want to hold your breath inside your lungs as though you were swimming under water, hold that breath and hold that push for as long as you can. Short little grunty pushes will not maintain the force against the baby to make him move. And when the doc tells you to stop pushing, blow like you're blowing out candles. You can't push while the head is coming out, or you might tear.

Your nurses and doctor will give you instruction when the time comes.

** I wanted to add that with epidurals, many women need to be told when to push because many doctors start pushing as soon as you're 10cm, regardless of how high the baby's head is. A more current practice is to "labor down" and not push until the contractions themselves have moved the baby down very very low, almost to the point of crowning. When the baby is that low, virtually all women, even with good epidurals, will feel some sensation and urge to push.

Answer 2

I didn't have an epidural and there was absolutely no doubt as to when to push and how much. During contractions I felt like I was very constipated and I had to have a bowel movement ASAP. Between contractions, I rested and didn't really feel anything. Many people describe pushing as an "irresistable urge". I did breathe deeply during pushes. Your muscles don't work well without oxygen.

Epidurals can cause a complete lack of sensation from the waist down. Many women who have them need to be told when to push because they can't feel contractions or the sensation of needing to bear down.

Answer 3

I still have six weeks left but I have been to a class and talked to a doctor as well as other mothers. I have heard that you bear down like you are having a big BM. The nurse I talked t said that you will feel the urge to push (with epidural, you may not feel this urge. ) Also while making a birth plan one of the options was "do you want to be told when to push" so I think you feel it, and they tell you when to go with it too. Sorry, maybe I should have waited til next month to answer, that's wen I will have my experience!

Answer 4

its kind of the same but since you have your legs in the air and your grabbing onto something, the pushing is aimed more at the baby and not your butt. As your pushing you can feel the baby coming down through your hips and it hurts really bad. Then they usually tell you to push were it hurts. So, when you start pushing and it starts hurting really bad you have to push that much harder and that is what helps the most. If you can't feel your contractions its harder to push the baby out because you are suppose to push during contractions. Your uterus when it contracts, will help push the baby out if you push at the same time.

Answer 5

This can be a little confusing but....you use the muscles that you use when you are peeing, not the ones that you use to poop. They are totally different muscles. I've heard of horror stories of women pushing for hours to get their babies out and they will say that they use the "poop" muscles and that is wrong to do. I used the correct muscles and with my first daughter it only took 3 pushes to get her out. 2 pushes to get her head out and 1 push for her shoulders and the rest of her. If you use the correct muscles it doesn't take that long (unless there are complications). My lamaze instructor told us to practice throughout the pregnancy. Not really pushing out pee, but realizing which muscles were which.

Answer 6

If you have an Epi, which she probably did, you cant tell when you need to push. Its a common complication with it. You push with each contraction.

My contractions werent regular when I was pushing, I had to stimulate my nipples to get a contraction to come on so I could push. I ended up pushing for six hours.

Its just like pooping. You feel like you're about to take the biggest crap of your life.

Answer 7

It feels like having to go to the bathroom worse then you have ever had to in your life. It almost feels like being horribly constipated, but a little different.

Many women who get an epidural have more trouble pushing because it's harder to feel. One of my friends had no trouble pushing with her first, but she got an epidural with her second and really struggled because she couldn't feel it the way she could with her first.

Answer 8

You push like you are having a bowel movement, during contractions. Yes, the doctor and nurse will tell you when to push.

Answer 9

the answer to ur ? is yes you do have to push like you do when you go poop, but a little bit harder! and you will know when to push because your body lets u know, u will suddenly have the urge to push! you start pushing when ur 10 cm dialated!!! hope that helps

Answer 10

when you go to classes they go through practically everything with you. with my first i had the epidural so all i had to was push and felt no pain. with my 2nd i did it natural and it is pretty much like pushing when you need the toilet. you do know when you need to push as the urge to push is sooo overwhelming! my midwife had to tell me how to push coz if you push to hard sometimes you tear. i got told to do short pushes until she told me to stop.