5 Myths when it comes to pushing

I know I have talked about pushing a lot recently but I feel like this is just such important information. 

There is so much information about labor out there that isn't accurate. Some of us have a lot of people who love to share their birth stories with us or they share their own experiences in labor, but this can cause a lot of misinformation and make us scared or fearful of something that doesn't need to be scary at all. 

So, I want to share these 5 myths when it comes to pushing that will hopefully give you a different perspective and make you more excited and empowered to go into your birth prepared instead of scared. 

MYTH 1: Pushing is the hardest part. 

“Oh my gosh I am so scared of pushing. What if I tear?”

Pushing does not have to be the hardest part. For a lot of women, pushing is the easiest part because that is the relief and it should pretty much be the shortest part of labor. It doesn’t have to be scary. If you know how to listen to your body then you’ll know when it’s coming. 

Most times, if you listen to your body, then it’s the easiest part. For so many women, including myself, pushing was 10-15 minutes max. Some mamas can push their babies out with one push! It was the easiest part because we knew to listen to my body!

Obviously there is always a risk of tearing, but there are things you can do ahead of time like massages, stretching, dates, and other things that can help soften your cervix. Oh, and learning breathing techniques! 

It doesn't have to be the hardest part. It doesn't have to be the scariest part. For some women, the most relieving part of labor is getting to this pushing stage which is stage 2 of labor. 

If you want the tools to help you feel more confident and prepared during your birth, then book a call with me and let’s figure out how I can best support you. 

MYTH 2: You won’t know when it’s time to push. 

“How am I gonna know when it’s time to push the baby out?”

You. Will. Know! There is this thing called a fetal ejection reflex which basically means if you allow for your body and baby to let you know when it’s time to push then you won’t have control. Your body will push the baby out whether you like it or not and you won’t be able to stop it. 

Our goal here is to WAIT until the fetal ejection reflex happens and your body begins to push. 

If you are confused and wondering, what do I look for or what does it look like? For many women it may feel something similar to feeling like you have to have a bowel movement. Most of the time you might see the people around you scrambling because that could be you mistaking a bowel movement with needing to push the baby. 

You will know if you wait, but if you rush the process you may not be ready to push. You might end up pushing longer because you didn’t wait for your baby or body to let you know. 

MYTH 3: When you are 10 cm, it will be time to push. 

“How dilated do I need to be to push?” 

Just because you are 10 cm does not mean it’s time to push. If you decide to get cervical checks during labor then you may be told you are at 10 cm so let’s get ready to push. 

Let me repeat that. Just because you are 10 cm does not mean it’s time to push. If your body has not told you to start pushing then you don’t need to start pushing. 

The reason is, just because you are 10 cm does not mean our baby is engaged or ready to push. Your baby could be in a negative station or just not in a positive station where we need baby to be when it’s time to push. 

Just because you are 10 cm does not mean your baby's head is ‘right there’ and ready to push out.  If you start pushing when your baby isn't in the right station, then you will push longer than necessary and you’ll get more exhausted. 

Just wait. Wait until the fetal ejection reflex happens. You won't be able to stop it because it is not something that you can control. It is just gonna happen without you trying. So even if you are 10 cm and they say “Let’s get pushing!” You can say,“I want to wait until my body tells me it is time to push.” 

Your body will let you know when it is time to push. Listen to your body. 

MYTH 4: You have to strain and push really hard to get that baby out. 

“How long should I hold my breath when I push?”

That would signify that you are pushing a baby that is not engaged into the pelvis. You are doing more work than necessary. 

Instead of holding your breath and counting to 10 - you should breathe your baby out! If you just wait until the fetal ejection reflex happens then you can breathe your baby out. When you learn the proper breathing techniques then you can easily breath your baby out of your body without even pushing because your breathing will do it for you. 

If you want support during your pregnancy to help you feel prepared and learn things, such as breathing techniques, that will help you have an amazing birthing experience then schedule a consultation with me and let's get you prepared for birth. 

MYTH 5: You won’t know when it is time to push if you have an epidural 

“Will I be able to feel anything if I get an epidural?” 

Just because you received an epidural doesn't mean you won’t feel anything and you won’t have any idea what's going on or know when it is time to push. Just because you receive an epidural doesnt mean youll just sit there watching TV or scrolling the gram and have no idea what is going on. 

Most women who have epidurals still feel the pressure and may even feel more pressure when it is time to push.  

Research shows that women who have an epidural are in the pushing position longer. 

Just because you are 10 cm dilated does not mean it is time to push, especially if you have an epidural. 

The good thing about the fetal ejection reflex is that the baby is gonna be pushed out one way or another. If you wait and allow it to happen. You don’t have to do the unnecessary difficult pushing and straining or odd positions to get your baby out just because you are dilated to a 10 cm and the doctor tells you to push. 

You always have time, there is no rush. I know we don’t want to be in labor for a long time but there is no rush. Wait for the fetal ejection reflex and be in tune with your body. Stop listening to all the myths. Stop listening to all the mamas with scary stories. 

I want to encourage you to remove the fear of pushing from your mind. Get excited. Pushing should be exciting because it is like the final lap of birth. Your next step is meeting your baby! 

Join me in Werk Your Birth and I will help you be prepared from start to finish.