How much noise did you make while pushing?

[amitymama]

Just curious how much noise you made while you pushed if you had a vaginal birth and particularly if you had no pain relief. I knew I would be grunting and making some noise but I was surprised at just how much I needed to vocalise at the end of transition and throughout pushing. I wasn't screaming but was saying 'Aahh!" very loudly, almost like I was singing, and then would yell and grunt with each push. I don't know if I made more noise because I had no pain relief this time (had Demerol with first child) or I was just more informed on vocalisation as a way to help me cope with the pain. It really did seem to help met get through it.

What was your experience?

[dpoupore]

lots of noise with each push, including roaring and a very loud, "i want this baby ooooouuut!" near the end.

[mags]

I was screaming my head off. Everyone in the room was shocked. I'm normally a very soft spoken person. Even I surprised myself with how loudly I screamed. My ob did tell me afterwards that my birth was a, "fun" one to participate in. However, I think that had less to do with the screaming and more to do with the fact that barely anyone in our area has a vaginal birth w/o an epidural.

[amis2girls]

Enough noise for my OB to ask me if I wanted an epidural.

[nova22]

I yelled pretty loudly during some of my pushes. When I was in the hospital, I specifically remember yelling louder than I needed to, because I felt like people expected me to be loud. At home, I was more relaxed and quiet.

[Turquesa]

Lots. I screamed lots. It was cathartic.

Thankfully, my doula was there to remind me swap the high-pitched screams for lower-toned yelling. It helped helped relax things so much that I didn't mind that I sounded like an injured cow.

[luckymamato2]

I screamed a lot.

[fuzzypeach]

Hmm, some grunting from sheer effort and maybe pain too (possibly some whimpering )... I'm quiet by nature, and good at handling pain on my own.

Didn't make noise during the rest of labor, either, fwiw.

[deditus]

I thought I was very vocal, mostly grunting, but when I watched the tape of dd's birth, I wasn't that loud. I think I was the loudest when trying not to push as she crowned, that was difficult.

[artgoddess]

Lots of low tonal guttural moaning and roaring. low tone meaning deep, but still very loud. I had a hospital birth and the nurse that I was moved to after the birth said, "oh you were the one we heard moaning OPEN, OPEN, OPEN down the hall." Hey it worked, I had a completely unmedicated birth.

[purplemoon]

During transition I started saying "OHHHHHHHHH!" and it just felt better. It wan't a scream, just felt nice to do. During pushing I screamed from effort, but I was at a hospital so they told me to stop. During the ring of fire I screamed that it burns and I wasn't going to push anymore. And I didn't, my body did.

[amydidit]

I was very loud. I have NO problems vocalizing when I'm in pain. I would scream, cry, etc. No shame.

[nannymom]

I was very quiet. Just some low moaning. I used hypnobabies and my labor wasn't painful. I did push for 2 1/2 hours so it wasn't comfortable but i didn't feel like screaming or anything.

[hunterofkyle]

With one of mine, I was VERY loud - or at least I seemed to remember it that way. When I watch the video, it is more like two or three REALLY loud screamy sounds and a few whiney cries. I remember apologizing to everyone when it was over. One nurse said, "Don't worry, we kept the door closed." With my other unmedicated delivery, I actually stayed pretty quiet.

I really remember being a LOT more vocal during transition with both births. I moaned constantly through all the final contractions. It really helped me stay focused.

edited for typo

[dogmom327]

I groaned and talked a lot (mainly asking if he was moving down and begging for him to come out). I really needed encouragement. For some reason I got it in my head that I'd push a few times and he'd come out. Instead it took an hour and a half.

[Vancouver Mommy]

I had a homebirth in an apartment building, at midnight and didn't get any complaints from the neighbours. So it couldn't have been too bad. I only pushed for about 20 minutes and most of my vocalizations were low pitch.

[_betsy_]

I have no recollection. I was totally in Lalalaborland and totally in my own head. Some grunting I assume.

[Peony]

I screamed with DD1, I didn't make a sound with DD2.

[Sparks*]

I screamed really loud. I'll never forget my husband saying "ggrrrrr you're a tiger!...be a mean mad tiger!" I guess I sounded like I was roaring

[blind_otter]

I was in active labor for 13 hours - I moaned during the contractions as they got closer together. After transition I would groan and scream whenever I pushed. My DP's mother was my midwife - when I got to the birth center I was complete and pushing, and I remember her saying "chin to chest, and go low" so I went from a more high pitched scream to a low, gutteral growl.

I pushed for 3 hours...