PUSHING Tips During Labor (You Need to Know)

[@birthtoolbox]

Make sure to watch until the end. My favorite tip comes at 11:37.

[@johnannsbloomsandharvest]

Thank you for the 'no yelling', it is so important to stay in a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

[@samanthawiggin6454]

Incredibly helpful tips! Thank you so much! (38 weeks and can’t wait to use this info!)

[@birthtoolbox]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tanyalancasterbeisert8244]

Cold washcloths are gold during pushing!

[@birthtoolbox]

❤❤❤ washcloths ❤❤❤

[@BirthingBravelyandBeyond]

Thanks for sharing!! I experienced two unmedicated, vaginal births and crowning was exponentially less painful when I got to experience a water birth as opposed to a land birth! This next time around, due to COVID regulations, I am not allowed to water birth and so I cannot imagine how I'm going to do it again without the water! Trying to plan how I would like to push and I'm thinking upright with my arms around my husband's neck for support. Thanks for the tips.

[@birthtoolbox]

I am sorry about the waterbirth restrictions. I like your plan to push upright. Another great position is kneeling and leaning on the back of the hospital bed (with the head of the bed lifted).

[@rachelsawyer4309]

I had an epidural and I loved the pushing feeling. I felt so in control.

[@birthtoolbox]

Love that!!!

[@kristycantu9091]

Thank you for sharing !

[@HadizaJibrin-qb3vd]

Pls Whr did you give birth I think I need epidural too

[@koibitocorazon6365]

Ladies: do NOT hold your breath. I repeat she's right. Do NOT push that way. Signed, a mom who was uniformed and ended up with a second degree tear

[@birthtoolbox]

✅✅✅✅

[@hunnybunny5474]

Great advice, thank you so much! I never quite understand when doctors and midwives mention that they'll tell you "where to push..." Isn't there only one way and one direction?

[@birthtoolbox]

You are welcome! I just published another video on this topic! Check it out at kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWeUh4GIrrh-pck

[@deejaepjs]

What muscles do you use to push? Your core? Your stomach?

[@birthtoolbox]

Great question! You use your abdominal muscles and relax your pelvic floor and glutes.

[@deejaepjs]

Thank you so much! This helps a lot!!!

[@kayeangella8220]

When u feel the urge to push it's discomforting u may scream oh I may loose it for a bit. This nurse once said . U dnt need to shout . Am like shut it. U dnt know how I feel. People need to be empathetic at this time it's so hard on the mother as is

[@birthtoolbox]

I AGREE. If you need to shout then SHOUT!!

[@skblue6992]

So true..I shouted and pushed but I popped and it was so embarrassing coz it was my first pregnancy.

[@ramanikaren4442]

Thank you so much!

[@birthtoolbox]

You are welcome!!

[@hannataylor2254]

When fully dilated are you able to push with out a contraction on asking I was feeling super pushy with out containers and it was so hard to not push

[@birthtoolbox]

When the baby is very low you will often feel like you want to push at all times (with and without contractions)

[@LeftieLoosie]

Push! Ive always loved the idea that if I'm screaming and yelling I'm letting my power out of the wrong end. Lol

[@birthtoolbox]

love it!

[@adararelgnel2695]

Lol thats ridiculous

[@LeftieLoosie]

@@adararelgnel2695 not really.... if you're giving birth and pushing, try screaming, and then try again without screaming.... it definitely impacts the ability to push effectively. Because you're putting effort and energy into your vocal chords as well instead of all of it into your pelvic muscles.... any obstetrician or midwife I've ever seen would agree that screaming while pushing results in less effective pushing.

[@adararelgnel2695]

@@LeftieLoosie it sounds cute in theory but in practice makes no sense. I gave birth twice, my pushing was maybe maximum 2 minutes each and I have never involuntaraly screamed like both those times in all of my life. I find it hard to picture that someone can CHOSE whether to scream or not in that situation. Also, screaming helps you power up, have you never watched a super hero movie? And im almost certain that screaming helps to deal with sudden intense pain like that. Just like how you exclaim "ouch" when you get hurt sometimes

[@LeftieLoosie]

@@adararelgnel2695 yes and everyone deals differently in those situations, I dealt totally differently with birth all three times I did it.... the time I screamed the most was my baby that came out VERY fast. Which sounds like is what happened with you too.... when babies come that quick sometimes you don't even have TIME to think! My first and third were longer pushing 20 minutes and then about 10 minutes and I noticed that when I tried to compose myself it was more effective.... but when I had my super fast labor and even faster delivery I was completely incoherent and didn't even have time to process where I was. So not only is it so different for each person.... but it can be so different for one person in each pregnancy! So if youve only had babies fast like I did that time I TOTALLY understand what you mean by screaming uncontrollably because I definitely did in that circumstance too!

[@TheHeartofjackie]

I had 4 children and once it was time to push, I kept going. I couldn't wait for a contraction 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

[@birthtoolbox]

That urge is hard to deny!!

[@reitumetserakhobo2537]

This is very helpful

[@birthtoolbox]

I'm so glad. You might also like this video where I answer the Internet's most asked questions about pushing in 5 minutes. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWeUh4GIrrh-pck

[@mariahiggins4787]

So can you push anytime you have a contraction? I had an extreme urge to push when I was 8cm dilated but was not allowed to push. It was so hard to hold the urge I have a ptsd from it. I’m 10 days away from my induction date with baby#2 and seeking advice/info on how to hold the urge to push when my cervix is not fully dilated.

[@birthtoolbox]

So that you don't tear your cervix you should wait until fully dilated to start pushing. It is so hard to have an urge to push before you are fully dilated and I am sorry that you had to experience this Maria. If your cervix is checked and you aren't fully dilated but have a strong urge to push you can request that your nurse or midwife/doctor check your cervix again in a short amount of time and not wait. A cervix can change quickly at that stage.

[@mariahiggins4787]

Alice Turner thank you so much!!😊

[@adararelgnel2695]

1. You dont need to be "fully dilated" to push. I gave birth at 7cm dilated witg no issues and many others have as well. This fully dilated thing is a myth. 2. Know your body. If yoir body feels ready to push, youre probably okay to push. Obviously if the midwife or doctor can SEE that you are about to tear if you dont stop pushing then head the advice, and remember, its ADVICE, only a suggestion. They cant be certain it will or wont tear. 3. If the urge was so difficult to hold back that you got ptsd from it, id sue wtvr hospital you were at. As much as keeping you physically safe is extremely important during labour, YOUR MENTAL SAFETY during the most vulnerable time in your life is also EXTREMELY important and will have its effects on you physically. You need to FEEEEEEL safe JUST as much as actually being safe.

[@iamlollipoppin]

Second time mom here but 17 year gap. Due to the distance in childbirth will my second phase still be faster?

[@birthtoolbox]

It’s a guess, but I think it will be slightly faster

[@radhikaharwani9879]

Hey Alice, this was so educational! Thank you.. just one question though, Once the baby has descended, does the probability of emergency C sections reduces?

[@birthtoolbox]

Yes, that usually means that there will be a vaginal birth.

[@liu2778]

Very helpful, thank you ❤️ I am wondering, while you rest during pushing, will the baby be lack of oxygen when his/her head is in the vagina? If the rest happens while the baby's head is fully out and the vagina embraces his/her neck, is this situation dangerous?

[@birthtoolbox]

The baby is being oxygenated through the cord until they are fully on the outside.

[@rachelsawyer4309]

I was a birth coach. I loved doing the counting for her. I did have to get a little firm to her. She started giving up and was losing control. I had to tell her firmly to take deep breaths and push her baby out.

[@birthtoolbox]

Sounds like you were a big help to her!

[@rachelsawyer4309]

@@birthtoolbox Because I had been through birth twice with 2 completely different experiences, I knew what I was talking about. I had done so much research on birth even before I had ever given birth.

[@jadejade5303]

Ok this is a stupid question.... but how do you push? Im not sure how you do it.

[@birthtoolbox]

Basically you use the same muscles as you would to poop.

[@Aqua_soul91]

My hospital didn’t allow me to change position while pushing .. they insisted I push on my back .. I failed baby had to be vacuumed out ..

[@birthtoolbox]

You didn't fail! You did your best!

[@sallybooker8867]

This fully dilated thing is kind of a myth to me I think it depends on several different factors especially if the baby is already crowned and ready to come out I pushed my last baby out at 8cms she came out with a balled up fist and arm sticking straight up with no tears and she was a 3rd time vbac.

[@birthtoolbox]

Yes, there are definitely cases where you aren’t 10 cm. But most of the time your cervix needs to be out of the way before pushing.

[@sallybooker8867]

@@birthtoolbox yes it does but this little girl was not waiting for me or the docs she took things into her own hands. 🤣

[@emiliejohnson9763]

I have a VERY low pain threshold so I’m planning to have an epidural. BUT are the doctors/nurses gonna roll their eyes at me when I express concern about purple pushing and not wanting to do it? Or is it possible to avoid it with an epidural and they’ll be nice? I just hate when I do want an epidural but I don’t want all these other not so great practices that often come with it ya know? Ugh.

[@birthtoolbox]

Emilie this is such a great question! One thing to note is that you are in control of your pushing. Your care providers might roll their eyes or more likely will try to coach you to do the purple pushing, but you can just do what you want to do. I recommend that people just keep pushing like they want and the only reason to change is if your style isn't working. Even with an epidural you can push in various positions. Try to push on your side and then switch to the other side. You don't need to ask "Can I push on my side?" instead say "My plan is to push on my side" and then start moving on your side. Birthing people have more control over preferences than what it might feel like. Also, back to the eye rolling...please don't let someone's opinion about how you want to birth cause you to change your mind! It's your voice that matters most!

[@alyssawinn4198]

very helpful! thank you:)

[@birthtoolbox]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robloxpiggyfanalyssaaaaaa]

YOLO I HAVE THAT SPINNING WHEEL AT SCHOOL

[@birthtoolbox]

IKEA for the WIN!!

[@NatashaEze]

❤️

[@anoldranger1575]

Why don't nurses know these things? Why do they seem so ignorant, after going through nursing school, on the best ways for women to push?

[@birthtoolbox]

It's so hard for the system to change...and so frustrating too.