Pushing Can Feel Like Relief Your baby's head may press on nerves that desensitize the pelvis, and many people report feeling a numb sensation before the "ring of fire" (when the baby's head begins to emerge from the vaginal opening, a stage known as "crowning"). Some even say it feels good, similar to orgasm.
The most common description of the level of pain experienced was extreme menstrual cramps (45 percent), while 16 percent said it was like bad back pain and 15 percent compared it to a broken bone.
Once Baby is finally delivered, with a great rush, you'll likely feel a strong sense of relief and even euphoria – brought on by a big release of the calming hormone oxytocin and also because your baby is finally here and you're mostly done pushing. (You may, however, still need to push out the placenta.
The bottom line: Though you'll be numb to the pain, most women find they're still able to push effectively with coaching. You likely will still have some sensation, but you'll feel removed from it.
Stage 2: The birth of your baby
You'll deliver your baby during the second stage of labor. How long it lasts: It can take from a few minutes to a few hours or more to push your baby into the world. It might take longer for first-time moms and women who've had an epidural.
If you're 4cm dilated and feeling a strong continuous urge to push (very unlikely) - then that's not ideal…often any pushing urge this early passes if you change position. But if you're close to 10 centimeters dilated the research suggests it's not an issue.
Pushing can be one of the most intense and exhausting parts of the labor and delivery process—and it can take anywhere from several minutes, up to a few hours to push your baby out.
The potential for a quicker labor, delivery and recovery – For some people, a natural birth may go more quickly. While it depends on several different factors, like how relaxed you may be, in some cases medications can interfere with contractions and prolong labor.
With epidural anesthesia, pushing can be delayed up to 2 hours for nulliparous women and up to 1 hour for multiparous women (Hansen, Clark, & Foster, 2002; Simpson & James, 2005). There are two phases to the second stage of labor: the initial latent phase and the active pushing phase (Roberts, 2002).
An epidural is a great tool to use during labor if you need rest and/or relief from contractions. But epidurals can make movement slightly more challenging during labor and while pushing.
Both your vagina and your perineum (the area between your vagina and rectum) will feel very tender and sore from the strain of childbirth. If you gave birth vaginally, it'll probably take you a few weeks to heal, especially if your perineum tore or you had an episiotomy.
Ultimately, a natural birth may be more painful than a cesarean section. However, the pain after your cesarean section combined with the heightened risks to you and your baby may outweigh the initial pain of childbirth. Make sure you consult with your doctors to get the best possible advice for you.
For most people, active labor is more painful than pushing because it lasts longer, gets more and more intense as it progresses, and involves many muscles, ligaments, organs, nerves, and skin surfaces.
Many women described pushing during labor as a relief, while others found it painful. "There is a ton of pressure, and once you start pushing it hurts so bad to stop." "My contractions were manageable but the rectal pressure was intense! It was relieving to push and incredibly relieving to push him out."
Lochia is the vaginal discharge you have after giving birth. It contains a mix of blood, mucus and uterine tissue. It has a stale, musty odor like menstrual period discharge and can last several weeks.
Pushing your baby out
You may not feel the urge to push immediately. If you have had an epidural, you may not feel an urge to push at all. If you're having your 1st baby, this pushing stage should last no longer than 3 hours. If you've had a baby before, it should take no more than 2 hours.
When your baby is ready to begin the journey through the birth canal, your cervix dilates from fully closed to 10 centimeters. This process can take hours, days, or even weeks. But once you hit active labor – about 6 cm dilated – it's usually just a matter of hours before you reach full dilation.
Directed pushing, also called “purple pushing,” is when pregnant people are instructed to hold their breath, bear down, and push for approximately 10 seconds at a time.
Giving birth naturally is somewhat of an out of body experience. Hormones surge to a degree that one has never experienced in their life before. These hormones help to create natural contractions and help someone to cope with the intensity of natural labor sensations.
Benefits of laboring in water
A positive birth experience: Women who have labored or given birth in water say they had less pain and a greater sense of control. Less pain medication: Some studies show that women who labor in water need less pain medication and may have a shorter first stage of labor.
Squatting is a great way to give birth, as it enlarges the pelvic opening and gives gravity an opportunity to help the process. In order to squat during childbirth, keep your knees wide and feet flat and parallel to each other. Use your partner, care team, doula or a birthing bar to support you as you push.
Dr Han How Chuan, an obstetrician and gynaecologist from Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, said decapitation can happen during breech deliveries, especially when the baby's head is “too big - bigger than the maternal pelvic bone”.
Steady, slow, relaxed rhythmic breathing helps to calm your body and mind. It may give you a sense of control or a feeling of letting go. Breathing patterns can help you, your baby, your support person and your health care providers during labour by: helping your body stay relaxed.