Harder to push underwater???

[mLeroux]

Hello ladies,

I am PG with my 4th and planning my first waterbirth. I had my other three at home with a MW. The part I dread most of my labors is pushing then the crowning. Although I know most women like this part this is the worst one for me. I rather have 1/2 more of killer contractions than to go through pushing. And I dont push for that long maybe 15 and I have never torn either so I dont know what it is.

Anyway I was looking up some water birth stories and came across one where a woman was having her first waterbirth after 5 dry briths and she mentions that when it came time to push it was harder under water and that she was prepared for this because the books she had read on water birth said the same thing.

I thought that water birth would make the pushing easier. Please someone say it isnt so!!! Comment?

Michelle

[milk4two]

I had 4 hospital births with epidural followed by a home waterbirth. I think the pushing was easier this last time around.

[BusyMommy]

I have no comparison b/c both of mine were water births. But, I do remember hearing my mwives saying water pushing was much easier.

[MamaTT]

I had the opposite experience. First was way hard pushing, and I tore (though a shorter pushing stage by a few minutes) Second in water was not as hard, though still super intense, minor tear.

I really liked the H2O.

[watermamma]

My first birth was on dry land, but w/an epidural and on my back, though the epi had worn off. Pushed 1 1/2 hours.

Second birth in water, unmedicated. I "pushed" for less than 10 minutes, it was more like trying to hold baby's head in with my hand than pushing, she came flying right out and I was trying to slow her down. Don't know how long I was at 10cm before pushing, no vag check, so I could have been there awhile, but it was about 10 minutes from first strong urge to push to birth.

I would think due to ease of mom's positioning in the water it might be a little easier to push in the water, upright positions might be more comfortable. However, my midwives did mention that the water puts a nice counterpressure on the head as it crowns, allowing the head to ease out a little slower. I however, did not find this to be true for me I do know I would never birth on dry land again!

[cottonwood]

Among my two spontaneous labors (that is, no one telling me when to push,) I had one waterbirth and one on dry land. I really didn't notice a difference in difficulty.

[pamamidwife]

Also, remember that maternal efforts during pushing only make up about 30% of getting the baby out. I've had many women in the water slightly pushing at the peak of every contraction until the baby is very low on the pelvic floor, ready to come under the pubic bone. Then, they start pushing in earnest, helping their body.

I feel like pushing in water allows you to assume a variety of positions, lets your support person/partner support you easier and also makes it easier for YOUR hands to be on your baby's head as it emerges.

[Peppamint]

I found it way, way harder to push on my back in the lithomy position on dry land with my first baby than it was to push kneeling and then sitting in the birth pool with my second baby.

Water all the way baby!

[mLeroux]

Thanks for all the replies. I will post when I give birth again and let you all know how it went.

Michelle

[Lisalee2]

I had my first on dry land, and second in water. It didn't make pushing any more difficult under the water, it just felt reeeaallllyyyy good to get into that tub during the contrax.

I think pushing underwater may have been more comfortable also because I didn't get that 'ring of fire' feeling as I did with my first.

Good luck, here's to a safe & enjoyable birth!