How to Use Spontaneous Pushing in Labor
- 1). Take a natural childbirth class. Learning about the natural ways to cope with labor and delivery, including pushing positions, will help you to understand the mechanisms and benefits of spontaneous pushing. It will also teach you that pushing can sometimes be a long phase.
- 2). Learn to trust your body. If you are going to listen to your body during labor, you must learn to listen to it before. Pay attention to how you deal with physical pain or emotional upset. Trust that you can make the right decisions for you and for your baby. Develop your intuition and be available to do what is necessary to learn to trust yourself and what you feel.
- 3). Talk with your healthcare provider. In most states, spontaneous pushing is a deviation from the normal directed pushing. Some healthcare providers are very uncomfortable with spontaneous pushing because they learned differently or they don't want to change their methods. It is very important that you discuss your options with your healthcare provider before labor begins.
- 4). Make a birth plan. If your healthcare provider agrees with your wishes to use spontaneous pushing, write out a birth plan. Have your doctor sign off on the birth plan and place it on your door when in labor. This will remind your nurses and other providers that you discussed this with your doctor. However, be flexible. If a situation presents that doesn't allow spontaneous pushing, you may have to deviate from your plan.
- 5). Hire birth help. Hiring a doula to attend your birth is a smart idea. Doulas know which positions can help Mom the most, depending on what is going on in her labor. Doulas can also help support you during spontaneous pushing by reminding you to relax and let your body do the work. Also, doulas are very comfortable and knowledgeable in birth and can reassure you that everything is going the way it should.
- 6). Talk to mothers who had natural birth experiences. Mothers who have had these experiences can tell you what it generally feels like and what is good to do. They can also tell you certain things that you shouldn't do. These stories and tips can be very empowering, especially for a first-time mother.
- 7). Plan a natural birth. Spontaneous pushing works best with an unmedicated birth. When a mother has labor drugs such as an epidural or a spinal, it lessens her ability to feel and be in control. It can also be extremely hard to push while numb. A natural birth allows the mother to feel all of the sensations and push with the contractions.
- 8). Trust your baby. Your baby knows his way out. A slower descent allows your vaginal tissues to stretch easier and slower, which results in less tearing. It is also a more gentle birth for your baby, who is working extremely hard to get out. Trust that your baby will bring the contractions that are needed in order to birth in perfect timing.
Source...