Pushing for First-Time Moms

[CookAMH]

Oh, how I wish I had read this article before my son's birth last year! It is a gem, and worth reading. And for those who are going to have a VBAC with no prior vaginal birth, it seems like we should approach pushing as if we are a first time mom. Our labor may progress like a multiparous, but pushing and actually giving birth will be a first.

http://midwiferytoday.com/articles/pushing.asp

Thoughts? Experience?

[CoBabyMaker]

Thanks for sharing! What a great article. I pushed for 3 hours with DD but was so numb from the epidural that I couldn't really feel anything. Even though I labored, dilated and pushed I still feel like a first timer.

[MNHall]

I'm gonna bookmark the article to read when I have more time...thanks!

My c/s baby was actually a c/s because i "pushed for so long"....only accoding to my OB though, it was only 2 hours!

My VBAC though, I pushed for 2 1/2 hours...so, I'd say yes, I was still pushing like a first timer.

I have it in my head that I just push a long time and that's just me...but I can't help but hope next this time will be a little bit, just a little bit easier! Fingers crossed right!?!?!

Oh, and my c/s pushing phase was with and epi...my vbac was not (until 90 minutes into the pushing) and BOY OH BOY do I now know exactly why I want to go natural again....pushing without an epi, I felt in control and like my body knew what to do...pushing with the epi, i felt so helpless...I didn't know how to make my body push, especially after the incredible feeling of my body telling me what to do prior to getting the epi! It's amazing how your body just knows!!

[Baby~Braatens~Mama]

Wow. Thank you for posting that link! I have read the article and will probably spend a good amount of time drifting through many more at midwifery.com.

[AustinMom]

OMG I love this! I want this for my birth, and I'm sure my MW and Doula are supportive of this. Thanks so much for posting!

[hapi2help]

I am off to read it but wanted to say that my OB just told me last appt that it is very common for a VBAC labor to progress quickly but that pushing may be more like a first time moms.

I pushed for 4 hours with my DS w/an epi. I do think if Dr had let me move around and I had not had an epi, I may have had a better chance of puching him out. Sigh.........

New DR! New Birth!

[CookAMH]

Glad you like the article. I pushed too soon, before I was really ready, and things didn't go too far before we had c/s. I can't wait to have that urge to push, like that one woman in the article (and I'm also a pastor's wife like her lol) and I will be rejoicing when I give birth!

[corban's mum]

that was a great post, thanks! im reading the mongan method hypnobirthing book at the moment and this article really reinforces the general "let nature do it's job" ethos, i believe a lot of mommas who've had a cs would've naturally birthed their healthy babies if they were tampered with a lot less during labour, you wouldn't break open the egg to hurry the chick up would you, just let them make their own way into the world