Comments on: To Push or Not to Push… http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/2010/03/30/to-push-or-not-to-push/ Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:07:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Push/not push question - Labour & Birth Forum http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/2010/03/30/to-push-or-not-to-push/comment-page-1/#comment-11508 Push/not push question - Labour & Birth Forum Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:15:46 +0000 http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/?p=210#comment-11508 [...] possible, and this sounds really strange to me. I googled this question and found this article: http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/2010...r-not-to-push/ What do you girls [...] [...] possible, and this sounds really strange to me. I googled this question and found this article: http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/2010…r-not-to-push/ What do you girls [...]

]]> By: Sarah http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/2010/03/30/to-push-or-not-to-push/comment-page-1/#comment-8412 Sarah Thu, 12 May 2011 16:13:40 +0000 http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/?p=210#comment-8412 Thanks so much for posting this. I'm expecting my 6th baby - all of my babies have been born at home. I'm eager to let this baby out on his or her own terms, and not push before I'm ready. We'll see how it goes. Thanks so much for posting this. I’m expecting my 6th baby – all of my babies have been born at home. I’m eager to let this baby out on his or her own terms, and not push before I’m ready. We’ll see how it goes.

]]> By: Weronika http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/2010/03/30/to-push-or-not-to-push/comment-page-1/#comment-576 Weronika Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:04:52 +0000 http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/?p=210#comment-576 Hi, I'm really glad that I found this post. Thank you. You wrote exactly what I always believed to be true. I didn't check it myself yet but I will after few weeks. I'm not going to the hospital and I will not give birth with a midwife. There will be only me and my husband so I hope that labor will go very natural. I strongly believe that my body is fully capable of delivering the baby without any medical assistance as that's what women's bodies are designed to do. Hi, I’m really glad that I found this post. Thank you.
You wrote exactly what I always believed to be true. I didn’t check it myself yet but I will after few weeks. I’m not going to the hospital and I will not give birth with a midwife. There will be only me and my husband so I hope that labor will go very natural.
I strongly believe that my body is fully capable of delivering the baby without any medical assistance as that’s what women’s bodies are designed to do.

]]> By: Knitted in the Womb http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/2010/03/30/to-push-or-not-to-push/comment-page-1/#comment-302 Knitted in the Womb Fri, 07 May 2010 13:10:23 +0000 http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/?p=210#comment-302 I've had 2 clients who were encouraged to push "through" a lip of cervix. One the care provider held the cervix back while the mom pushed. It was excruciating, but the mom did it. And then she pushed for about 2 hours after resolving the lip before the baby was born. It was a rough 2 hours, and ended with a generous episiotomy--ironic because the mother had changed from an OB to midwives specifically because she wanted to avoid episiotomy. With the second case the mom pushed, and pushed, and pushed. She had a nurse who was proud of being a "loud pusher." That was her own self description--and indeed she was! She loudly counted to 10 with each push. The mom swelled her cervix back to 4, and when she was taken for cesarean, the urine in her collection bag was cherry red. I was told that was because of the hard pushing bursting blood vessels in her bladder! On the flip side, I had a client who had a lip of cervix just the other day. She was allowed to work through it as her body directed (no pushing in her case), and soon she was ready to push--5 minutes for a 9 lb 3 oz baby. I also had a lip in my first pregnancy. I was at "9 cm with a lip" for about 7 hours. My care provider was patient. My baby was posterior. When I adopted a hands & knees position she turned, and I pushed for just 20 minutes. I’ve had 2 clients who were encouraged to push “through” a lip of cervix. One the care provider held the cervix back while the mom pushed. It was excruciating, but the mom did it. And then she pushed for about 2 hours after resolving the lip before the baby was born. It was a rough 2 hours, and ended with a generous episiotomy–ironic because the mother had changed from an OB to midwives specifically because she wanted to avoid episiotomy.

With the second case the mom pushed, and pushed, and pushed. She had a nurse who was proud of being a “loud pusher.” That was her own self description–and indeed she was! She loudly counted to 10 with each push. The mom swelled her cervix back to 4, and when she was taken for cesarean, the urine in her collection bag was cherry red. I was told that was because of the hard pushing bursting blood vessels in her bladder!

On the flip side, I had a client who had a lip of cervix just the other day. She was allowed to work through it as her body directed (no pushing in her case), and soon she was ready to push–5 minutes for a 9 lb 3 oz baby.

I also had a lip in my first pregnancy. I was at “9 cm with a lip” for about 7 hours. My care provider was patient. My baby was posterior. When I adopted a hands & knees position she turned, and I pushed for just 20 minutes.

]]> By: Williesmammy http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/2010/03/30/to-push-or-not-to-push/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Williesmammy Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:28:09 +0000 http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/?p=210#comment-114 Why do thy do it? I have heard so many similar stories you'd think they would have caught on to the fact that it does NOT help! Uterine contractions are involuntary ie you cannot consciously control them. The idea that you can effectively 'poo' your baby out is ludicrous. Far better to relax & listen to your body that to try & force it & baby to do something they are not ready for. My first was a hospital 'push push' birth & the experienced left me with PND. 2nd & 3rd were both born at home in water using hypnosis - minimal discomfort, totally relaxed and in control. Daddy received baby both times, we stayed in the pool for ages & no-one else touched them for hours. Perfect! Why do thy do it? I have heard so many similar stories you’d think they would have caught on to the fact that it does NOT help!
Uterine contractions are involuntary ie you cannot consciously control them. The idea that you can effectively ‘poo’ your baby out is ludicrous. Far better to relax & listen to your body that to try & force it & baby to do something they are not ready for.
My first was a hospital ‘push push’ birth & the experienced left me with PND. 2nd & 3rd were both born at home in water using hypnosis – minimal discomfort, totally relaxed and in control. Daddy received baby both times, we stayed in the pool for ages & no-one else touched them for hours. Perfect!

]]> By: Bethany http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/2010/03/30/to-push-or-not-to-push/comment-page-1/#comment-109 Bethany Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:45:15 +0000 http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/?p=210#comment-109 Thank you for this post. I am a lucky one I suppose... I had a similar birth story to the women you described in this post, with one difference: I was never told to push. (I think even if I was, I wouldn't have listened- my body knew better!!) My body did all the work for me... I felt my body pushing my son out, but I never had to actually contract muscles to push. I did not experience pain. It was an amazing experience (the entire birth), orgasmic even, and I will always remember it. I am fortunate that I had a supportive birth staff, even in a hospital setting, with people who understood the natural law of birth. I laugh about it now... the only push I ever gave was to encourage the placenta to come out (which it did with just one little push). My own mother was in disbelief, she thought you always had to push to deliver. It is a common misbelief. I hope we can all work together to change birth experiences to become more positive, more natural, and more blissful- as nature intended. Thank you for this post. I am a lucky one I suppose… I had a similar birth story to the women you described in this post, with one difference: I was never told to push. (I think even if I was, I wouldn’t have listened- my body knew better!!) My body did all the work for me… I felt my body pushing my son out, but I never had to actually contract muscles to push. I did not experience pain. It was an amazing experience (the entire birth), orgasmic even, and I will always remember it. I am fortunate that I had a supportive birth staff, even in a hospital setting, with people who understood the natural law of birth. I laugh about it now… the only push I ever gave was to encourage the placenta to come out (which it did with just one little push). My own mother was in disbelief, she thought you always had to push to deliver. It is a common misbelief. I hope we can all work together to change birth experiences to become more positive, more natural, and more blissful- as nature intended.

]]> By: Eunice http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/2010/03/30/to-push-or-not-to-push/comment-page-1/#comment-108 Eunice Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:34:20 +0000 http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/?p=210#comment-108 Hello, thank you for sharing these birth stories, it will open the eyes of many! CONGRATULATIONS to both mothers, and please know that you both can always have VBAC's Eunice Romero Licensed Midwife miami fl. Hello, thank you for sharing these birth stories, it will open the eyes of many!
CONGRATULATIONS to both mothers, and please know that you both can always have VBAC’s
Eunice Romero Licensed Midwife miami fl.

]]> By: Ginger Hughes http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/2010/03/30/to-push-or-not-to-push/comment-page-1/#comment-107 Ginger Hughes Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:25:16 +0000 http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/?p=210#comment-107 thank you for this story. I believe I also got bad medical advice, which led me to having a c-section in 1997. I had my three more babies after that, all VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarian) and have four beautiful, healthy babies, but the last one, in 2006, doctors were refusing to deliver VBAC's. Women should consider this when they consider having a C-Section. It changes everything for the rest of your life. It is unnatural and sometimes harmful, the scar remains on the inside of your uterus and can complicate further pregnancies. If you can avoid it, NEVER LET ANYONE CUT YOU OPEN!!!!! thank you for this story. I believe I also got bad medical advice, which led me to having a c-section in 1997. I had my three more babies after that, all VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarian) and have four beautiful, healthy babies, but the last one, in 2006, doctors were refusing to deliver VBAC’s. Women should consider this when they consider having a C-Section. It changes everything for the rest of your life. It is unnatural and sometimes harmful, the scar remains on the inside of your uterus and can complicate further pregnancies. If you can avoid it, NEVER LET ANYONE CUT YOU OPEN!!!!!

]]> By: mystic_eye http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/2010/03/30/to-push-or-not-to-push/comment-page-1/#comment-101 mystic_eye Sat, 10 Apr 2010 18:10:36 +0000 http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/?p=210#comment-101 Its true. I had a lip and was told not to push, even though I very much wanted to. I was told that my cervix would swell if I pushed against the lip. I firmly believe that the stress of not pushing (which is really pushing and not pushing at the same time) is what caused the baby to pass meconium. Now of course that alone wouldn't be a problem because during labour the baby stops "practice breathing" and "practice swallowing" so they aren't going to inhale/swallow meconium. But of course doctors can't trust the observation of clear amniotic fluid from an hour before. *Sigh* Even then calling in a neonatologist over the meconium shouldn't have been a problem, but the specific neonatologist and their specific prejudice about home births... anyway. Its true.

I had a lip and was told not to push, even though I very much wanted to. I was told that my cervix would swell if I pushed against the lip.

I firmly believe that the stress of not pushing (which is really pushing and not pushing at the same time) is what caused the baby to pass meconium. Now of course that alone wouldn’t be a problem because during labour the baby stops “practice breathing” and “practice swallowing” so they aren’t going to inhale/swallow meconium.

But of course doctors can’t trust the observation of clear amniotic fluid from an hour before. *Sigh*

Even then calling in a neonatologist over the meconium shouldn’t have been a problem, but the specific neonatologist and their specific prejudice about home births… anyway.

]]> By: sarah http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/2010/03/30/to-push-or-not-to-push/comment-page-1/#comment-100 sarah Sat, 10 Apr 2010 16:55:47 +0000 http://naturalchildbirthedu.com/?p=210#comment-100 I agree!!!! I didn't research this, but seem to come tot he conclusion after hearing detailed birth stories. Time and time again it seems that as soon as the mother reaches 10 centimeters, she is instructed to push. The baby can still be very high in the pelvis, but the poor mom has to work really hard for sometimes what can be hours on end because she is instructed to lie flat on her back and push. I love hoe The Birth Book says that the longer you lie flat on your back during labor, the higher your risk of a c-section. It seems that the baby doesn't have gravity on it's side when trying to descend and thus, the mother must do all of the work. Add to that the epidural which can prohibit mother from pushing to her best ability (no pain cues to cause her to give her best energies) and you can have anywhere form one to five hours of pushing before the baby finally comes out! (Side note: Some doctors or mid-wives may not allow you to push this long, depending on whether or not the baby goes into distress or your cervix swells, as stated in your post.) Sorry, that was a LOT of words only to say that I have come to my own conclusion that women will know when to push and when the urge is there, with proper coaching, the baby should make it's way out in a very short time. With my two drug-free births, the first took 15 minutes of pushing and the second only took one big push. Trusting your body is part of it and positioning yourself in a way that enables baby to descend is another. I agree!!!! I didn’t research this, but seem to come tot he conclusion after hearing detailed birth stories. Time and time again it seems that as soon as the mother reaches 10 centimeters, she is instructed to push. The baby can still be very high in the pelvis, but the poor mom has to work really hard for sometimes what can be hours on end because she is instructed to lie flat on her back and push. I love hoe The Birth Book says that the longer you lie flat on your back during labor, the higher your risk of a c-section. It seems that the baby doesn’t have gravity on it’s side when trying to descend and thus, the mother must do all of the work. Add to that the epidural which can prohibit mother from pushing to her best ability (no pain cues to cause her to give her best energies) and you can have anywhere form one to five hours of pushing before the baby finally comes out! (Side note: Some doctors or mid-wives may not allow you to push this long, depending on whether or not the baby goes into distress or your cervix swells, as stated in your post.)
Sorry, that was a LOT of words only to say that I have come to my own conclusion that women will know when to push and when the urge is there, with proper coaching, the baby should make it’s way out in a very short time. With my two drug-free births, the first took 15 minutes of pushing and the second only took one big push. Trusting your body is part of it and positioning yourself in a way that enables baby to descend is another.

]]>