I need to write a whole blog post about my pushing. When I was birthing Bryson and my husband was filming it, I never though it would end up on You Tube! My DH didn’t want the whole thing out there, so I cut that out of the You Tube version. I do show the whole video to my Hypnobabies students.
I was calm during pushing. Between pushes it looks like I sleep a little. At first I was breathing him out. The OB says, “No, now you need to push.” I say, “I am pushing, I am breathing him out.” I did that for about 4 minutes or so. Then there were about 2 pushes where I “yelled him out” I felt like a powerful lion roaring. It just felt right to do that and I was listening to my body. It felt really cool, I liked that part.
I was comfortable while pushing. I remember the OB saying “Now you are going to feel the ring of fire” and I remember thinking, “I haven’t felt any pain yet, why should I now?” and I bounced her comment right off my bubble of peace. And I felt only stretching, no pain.
The last push, the nurse had said, “If you hold your breath and really push, you can get him out with this next push.” I didn’t really want to do that, but I worried maybe there was a problem, so I did. I held my breath and pushed his head out with the next push. Then they suctioned his mouth and nose out. The cord was around his neck 3 times. The OB tried to unloop it, but it wouldn’t unloop. She had me push again and I pushed really hard and his shoulders came out. You can see her unlooping the cord, by moving his body in 3 circles. Then he went right up onto my chest.
I think this is where the video resumes.
Overall I loved pushing Bryson out. I wish the nurse hadn’t said anything about holding my breath. I was doing fine, pushed for less than 10 minutes and I did tear at the end. I wonder if I had been able to push my own speed the last few pushes, if that would have helped prevent my tear or at least lessen it.
But, it was great. I always tell my dads during class. If mom makes noise during birth, that is great. If mom has been quiet and then is making noise during pushing, that is fine. It doesn’t mean she is in pain. They are working sounds, powerful sounds! So I wasn’t silent during pushing, I yelled a bit. But I was comfortable and powerful!
I give examples of sounds moms might make. I was very vocal during my Hypnobabies birth, and felt only discomfort during transition with his little hard head on my pubic bone.
So I always give examples of “working” sounds. lol. They always laugh at me (and i laugh as well. =) ), but at least they’ll be prepared and know that it’s “okay” for mom to make these sounds..
When I pushed willem out i did combinations of purple pushing and breathing through my surges. Towards the end i sort of held my breath then blew.. “zerberts”? I guess that’s what it was. lol
And I pushed his head out really slowly. no tears, and his head was 38 cm! I think sitting on the birthing stool really helped do a lot of the “work”.
I also didn’t do the “curled forward” pushing that you normally see. I would push down, then straighten my back. It was really strange. But I can honestly say I LOVED pushing. I too, didn’t feel the “ring of fire”, just very intense stretching. And the urge to push was just amazing and wonderful! I loved it.
I had this little “wish list” for my perfect birthing, and wanting to feel the urge to push was on that list. I had never felt it with my first.
Peggy Vincent describes it in her book BabyCatcher, pushing urges feel like a curling over and rolling up of the uterus.. much like a tube of toothpaste. I completely agree!
Awesome! If only people would be QUIET during birth! But it still sounds like an wonderful and healthy experience. Way to go mama!
I just want to thank you for your post. I’m preparing to have baby #5 any day now. One fear I’ve been working to overcome is that of pushing because of the ring of fire and strong sensations. Your post brings me great comfort. Many blessings!
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I remember making loud noises because of the directed pushing, it was the only way I felt I could get enough air. I felt like I was being discouraged from making noise but no one understood that I just wanted to breathe. No more hospital births for me, if I can help it.