What does "pushing correctly" actually mean?

dojo1

FTM, totally ignorant.  I always thought there was just one way to push... kind of like taking a big number 2 (except with more long-term rewards that only stink like crap some of the time).  How does one push correctly or incorrectly?  

Luvmy2sons

Some people push and it does nothing to the movement of the baby. They think they're pushing but really are just flexing their stomach muscles. I had a hell-of-a-push, or so said my midwife. I pushed so hard, DS2 had a conehead when he came out. (NO lie, it was a gigantic hematoma because he dropped so quickly and I was barely 10cm). You know you're pushing right when you poo on the table. Sorry, but it happens. And it happened to me.

dixee.deluxe

I think if you don't push hard enough, then it's incorrect.  Or if you "use your arms".  They kept telling me to stop using my arms.  They also kept telling me not to push with my face.  I have no idea what that meant.

But after two hours of unmedicated pushing, I got real determined and I guess I started doing it right.

gekeler6

I don't know what that would mean too.  I have always told I was great at pushing.  The only thing I could think about would be the position of your body when you are pushing and if you are numb from an epi it may be hard to when you need to push.  I don't waste anytime when pushing..... each kid was out in 3 pushes.  My older twins are 5 minutes apart and my younger twins are 4.  I didn't have a problem pushing with an epi, I actually liked it better with the epi.

dixee.deluxe

I think I would have been better at pushing with an epi because I wouldn't have been distracted by the pain of the perineal massage or the thought of my butthole turning inside out.

mamabear0813

Well, yeah, like Luv said, it's when the pushing is actually progressing the baby down the birth canal and out into the world. It's more of a bearing down than a push, from my experience. There is some "practice" involved. Most FTM's (or even 2+) need to push a few times to get the feel of it. My epidural wasn't so strong that I lost all feeling, so I was able to feel my pushing and it helped a lot. But ideally your nurses and doctor/midwife will be able to help you change what you're doing to make it right if you get an epi that is strong enough to not feel anything. 

And I definitely pooped on the table. 

TKx2

The nurse kept telling me I was pushing all in my face and my stomach.  I couldn't feel anything going on because of my epi (my own fault - I overused the pump they gave me) so I couldn't figure out where to push because I couldn't feel anything.  Once they turned off my epi and had me labor down to let it wear off, it was a lot easier.  I'm still going to get an epi this time, but I'm going to keep my hand off that damn pump!

gekeler6

dixee.deluxe:

I think I would have been better at pushing with an epi because I wouldn't have been distracted by the pain of the perineal massage or the thought of my butthole turning inside out.

  This was totally my concern too when I went natural.  The contractions for me where so intense I would push and forget to breath.  I loved having the epi. I just pushed when the nurse told me to.  I fight and tense up with pain, and was not relaxed enough to just let my body do it's thing.  I'm going to retry natural but won't turn done an epi if I feel the need! 

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Mrs.Teddy

Many women are afraid to poop and so they don't push into their bottom and that's not going to work. A lot of women also push with their face or stomach and not right into their bum. The most effective pushing is when you push like a bowel movement!

jkfranklin

That's do funny. I was just talking about this today with a coworker. The way I described it was the bad pushing (that didn't work was pushing with your kegels and the good pushing is when you are pushing like you are pooping. When I wad pushing with DS they had me doing like 3 reps of 10 count of pushing. I would start with the kegel pushing and about 5 seconds into it get into the poop muscle pushing so I was really only pushing for a 5 count. Looking back on it now, I should have told them to do a 15 count so I could get more good pushing in then it wouldn't have taken me 2 hours to push him out! Eta: I could still feel the difference between the good and bad pushing even with the epi, I just couldn't get my body to push right at the beginning of the push.

Mamasaurus

They told my SIL she was pushing wrong when she tried pushing at the wrong time. She couldn't feel when she was supposed to push  (epi) and was just guessing, so eventually they started telling her when to push. It took a few tries before everyone was on the same page because of that and the fact that she was so numbed up, she couldn't even tell for sure that she was pushing some of the time.

Luvmy2sons

Mamasaurus:

They told my SIL she was pushing wrong when she tried pushing at the wrong time. She couldn't feel when she was supposed to push  (epi) and was just guessing, so eventually they started telling her when to push. It took a few tries before everyone was on the same page because of that and the fact that she was so numbed up, she couldn't even tell for sure that she was pushing some of the time.

Seriously did my epi not work? I was in SO much pain when it was time to push I was shaking. I didn't get a little button, I WANT ONE!!! It came to a point for me where nothing worked. I did 16 hours of pain without the epi, and 7 with. 23 hours of labor. Let's hope #3 isn't so slow!

mamabear0813

Luvmy2sons:

Mamasaurus:

They told my SIL she was pushing wrong when she tried pushing at the wrong time. She couldn't feel when she was supposed to push  (epi) and was just guessing, so eventually they started telling her when to push. It took a few tries before everyone was on the same page because of that and the fact that she was so numbed up, she couldn't even tell for sure that she was pushing some of the time.

Seriously did my epi not work? I was in SO much pain when it was time to push I was shaking. I didn't get a little button, I WANT ONE!!! It came to a point for me where nothing worked. I did 16 hours of pain without the epi, and 7 with. 23 hours of labor. Let's hope #3 isn't so slow!

Yeah, Me too. Like the contractions I was fine, but when it came time for pushing, I HURT! LOL

I think some people get a Spinal-Epidural. It's both the blocks, so maybe that's part of it. I had a pump (no button, but it was a constant slow drip of meds) that they didn't turn off until AFTER my stitches were done. I think it was a straight epidural though. 

NayNaysPlayPen

Why do I want to cry after reading this post and all the comments?

I can do this I can do this I can do this.

C&C6202005

NayNaysPlayPen:

Why do I want to cry after reading this post and all the comments?

I can do this I can do this I can do this.

I'm right there with you....and this isn't my first little one. 

craftymom3

Push when you contract.....I pushed for 13 min when I had my second and she was out!  I was totally numb too because they gave me another epi at 8 cm.  I was numb until the next afternoon!  If you have a good nurse they will tell you exactly what you need to do.  I was on bed rest for both babies when we were suppose to be going to prenatal classes so we had no prep at all.  Dont worry ladies you can do it and your delivery team will be a huge help....and not everyone goes on the delivery table I lucked out both times....but the majority of people do.  So dont feel bad.

Mamasaurus

mamabear0813:

Luvmy2sons:

Mamasaurus:

They told my SIL she was pushing wrong when she tried pushing at the wrong time. She couldn't feel when she was supposed to push  (epi) and was just guessing, so eventually they started telling her when to push. It took a few tries before everyone was on the same page because of that and the fact that she was so numbed up, she couldn't even tell for sure that she was pushing some of the time.

Seriously did my epi not work? I was in SO much pain when it was time to push I was shaking. I didn't get a little button, I WANT ONE!!! It came to a point for me where nothing worked. I did 16 hours of pain without the epi, and 7 with. 23 hours of labor. Let's hope #3 isn't so slow!

Yeah, Me too. Like the contractions I was fine, but when it came time for pushing, I HURT! LOL

I think some people get a Spinal-Epidural. It's both the blocks, so maybe that's part of it. I had a pump (no button, but it was a constant slow drip of meds) that they didn't turn off until AFTER my stitches were done. I think it was a straight epidural though. 

Yeah, she had the kind that's continuous until they turn it off, not with a button. She was actually really angry because they told her she'd be able to feel a lot still, and when she couldn't feel much anymore she asked them to turn it off, and they said, "Oh, no, you need more." She couldn't even turn onto her side without help! Seeing how frustrated this made her is a big part of why I don't want an epi at all.