Pushing - any advice

WaitingForBaby wrote: with ashton I keep pushing with my head, any easy ideas how to push? I want to do the 2nd one different, I was so scared pushing with my head, Is water birth better?

that 1 and 10 count is hard

CantWait replied: Just like you're having a poop. I don't know what you mean by pushing with your head. I did get my dh to hold under my neck though so I didn't strain it to much. Also when you're holding your thighs, hold them evenly and not just one and not the other, as to avoid pulling a groin muscle (my friend did this). I didn't do the counting thing either, just listened to the doctors as best I could, which not to tute my own horn, I was a pretty good pusher (I'm proud of that).

Jackie012007 replied: this is the part that scares me, I have a huge fear of pooping when pushing (if I am allowed to have a vaginal birth) ... I am so scared to give birth!

Brias3 replied:
I wouldn't worry about that. Not to be TMI, but there is usually so much "stuff" coming out during a vaginal birth and they're so good about having things underneath you and whisking the paper sheets away right away. Typically, you're not supposed to eat anything once you go into labor also and I actually got an enema before I had Aliyah Y-U-C-K. Seriously though, I was freaked out about that too and my mom explained it all to me before I had Ryan and it went fine!

As far as the pushing goes, I'm not sure what you mean "pushing by the head" either. I was told you're supposed to try and push down (like you're having a BM) and then "forward and out", which didn't make sense to me until I actually did it.

Jackie012007 replied: well that's a little more comforting, thanks Bria! My mom had a C-section that she was so doped up during she remembers like nothing, so she is no help... and I'm the only child the episiotomy really freaks me out too... I had to talk about all this stuff with my new DR and they gave me this Birth Plan thingy... jeeze I never realized how much control you have over the birthing process! I just thought everything was done a certain way and that's how it was!!!

ZandersMama replied:
Don't worry about that, if it does happen(and it probably will unless you have an enema, it did to be) you wont care at that point. When I did(sorry if its TMI) the nurse said"good job, this baby will be out quick" I started pushing at 9:59 am and I was nursing my boy at 10:05 am. That apparently is the best way to push, gets things moving quick lol. As for epesiotamies, I would rather tear. I tore on one side and had an epesiotamie on the other and the tear healed alot quicker and was alot less painful.

luvbug00 replied: push into your bum and I pooped no biggie, they have seen it all!

MyBabeMaddie replied: I was soo afraid I was going to poop when pushing cause they told me to push like youre going to have a BM - All I talked about in labor was "I hope I don't go to the bathroom when I'm pushing" i think the staff got annoyed with me... When it came time to push I really could have cared less if I went or not i just wanted the baby out!

DansMom replied: Just to back everyone else up on the "you won't care at all at that point if poop comes out" statements. You won't. Really, your brain goes into a different zone and it becomes all about getting the baby delivered. From your vantage point, you see the crowning head---your body takes over---and like other said, lots of stuff is coming out (hopefully that doesn't make you worry more!). I don't remember feeling the episiotomy I had (but yes, I remember the stitching-up afterward and the healing). I wasn't happy with my position during pushing either---I was really on my back when I wanted to be more sitting.

CantWait replied: Don't know if I pooped with either. Didn't feel it and no one told me, thank goodness.

coasterqueen replied:
Just tell your SO to make sure he does NOT tell you if you did! Mine told me and I could have gone the REST of my life without knowing that. He kinda ruined the whole experience with that info.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Oh I would have to kill him if he would tell me! I had such a wonderful epidural that I don't know if I did or not.

What does it mean to "push with the head"? I don't know what the original post meant by that.

MyLuvBugs replied: There's actually three different ways to push. We learned that in lamaze class. There's an exhale push (which I'm so doing this time around), the hold your breathe push (UGH ), and then there's a modified exhale one but I don't remember much about that. I'm sure if you do a google search you can find out the different types.

Just do what is comfortable and natural for you though, and if you can't push by holding your breath and counting to 10 then don't.

ashtonsmama replied: What do you mean by "pushing with your head"? And you're still not even pregnant correct? Just checking. And I was definitely self-concious about the pooping thing before going into labor, but couldn't have cared LESS while I was in the middle of it!

ediep replied: I too, was worried about pooping but I pushed for sooooooo long that by the time Jason finally came out, I didn't care at all! I think I was pushing wrong too...maybe more like an ab push instead of a tushy push (if you get my drift)

I am hoping to push correctly this time around