My LO still fits into NB!! At 5 months

Natural Unmedicated Childbirth

Join group

Group Detail

Public Group
25,656 members
26,420 posts
Created: 06/05/2008

Group Owners

All Members ()

Report this group

do you always feel the urge to push at 10cm?

Posted 01/11/2013
I have a question for btdt moms ....once you hit the 10cm do you automatically feel the urge to push? I have read that you can dilate even past 10cm but what are your experiences? I talked to my dr and told her I want to try and push myself (I am ftm) and she said I won't know when to push so shell have to tell me, so I'm scared that I'm gonna be 10 cm and not feel that urge and she's gonna tell me I have to push?? what Should I do? does the urge come at 10cm or should I wait until I really feel the urge even after 10? and will the urge definately come?? helppp! please explain your experience???

Comments (35)

1 2 3 4
Posted 01/11/2013

I've seen lots of mammals have babies. No one ever told any of them when to push, they just did it when they felt the need and it all worked out. Admittedly, the human pelvis complicates things but we still feel the urge to push when the time is right. Unless something is wrong, you don't need someone else to tell you when to push. She'll just tell when you're at 10 cm, not necessarily when you're ready to push.

I was told to push when I was at 10 cm with my first three children. I never felt the actual urge and I pushed myself into exhaustion by the time I got the baby out. With my youngest, the midwife didn't get there until five minutes after she was born. I'd had transition symptoms for 45 minutes before the birth and I'm sure I was complete at that time. But no one told me to push and I was waiting for the midwife. Then a contraction turned into a push and I was just pushing. Since I was ready to have her, I didn't try to fight it. She was born in two pushes.

If I ever do it again, I'm going to ignore anyone telling me when to push and do it when it feels right.

Maybe you could refuse all cervical checks. After all if they don't know you're at 10 cm, they can't pressure you to push if you don't feel like it. Or you could just not push when they tell you to. Though if you do that, it's better to have a care provider who is completely on board with you rather than one you have to fight.




Questioning Circumcision?

Posted 01/11/2013
For me I always got the urge to push after my water broke. I have no clue if I was 10 cm or not because I dont let anybody touch me at that point
Posted 01/11/2013
The only time I was ever told to push was with my first because I had an epidural. The other 3 I just pushed once my body gave me the ok
Posted 01/11/2013

The urge does not automatically come the second you hit 10 cm but it will come eventually.  It will make things much easier if you just wait for the urge to push.  The easiest way to do this is to decline cervical checks then you don't have to worry about someone pressuring you to push before your ready. 

Posted 01/11/2013
Also, in some labors a woman will get an urge to push before she's at 1cm. Usually that urge is what completes dilation and starts moving the baby down, and is, I think, another good reason to keep people's hands out of your cervix. Your body will know what to do to birth the baby it just spent 9 months growing, and unless there's a problem, the best route is generally to push when your body says to.

I'd be pretty concerned about a doctor who says she'll have to tell you when to push - is she expecting that you'll be too drugged too know? Has she ever attended a natural birth or know how to support one? Because all you have to do is read some birth stories to know that for most women, the 'urge' to push is as strong, obvious, and unstoppable as the tide.
Posted 01/12/2013
Does pushing with your body's cues (rather than coached pushing) reduce the risk of tearing?
Posted 01/12/2013
My body HAD to push. (Not me voluntarily making a choice, it determined when I would push regardless of what I wanted to do.) That's how my daughter was born after 2 hours 22 minutes of labor in the car en route to the hospital. Your body knows what to do if you don't fight it. Baby was coming despite me not wanting to push. My body just took over.

Expat work from home mama to
DS (4/10) didn't BF until 3 months old
DD (4/12) born in the car


Posted 01/12/2013

I have had 3 babies all positioned differently.  The first was sunny side up and I really never felt the urge to push even during 3 hours of pushing.  My second was in perfect position.  I was at 6cm 2 minutes before and I told everyone I had to push, the nurse just shook her head and said its not time yet.  Well it was and by the time she realized I almost had him on the floor.  She hit the panic button and tons of people came in as I delivered him by myself.  I could not have stopped for anything it was crazy. My third was rotated to the side.  Also didn't feel the urge to push at all again.  Her heartrate kept dropping though so I pushed without feeling like I had to.  Had her in 8 minutes because I was scared so pushed with all I had.  Point is I think it can vary, just go with it.  I think the best way to have a NUCB is to be educated, have a good plan and relax, because things never go as planned.  But in the end you get an amazing prize.

Posted 01/12/2013
Thats a ridiculous statement. If you are not drugged, your body will absolutely tell you when to push!!!! Now, for some women its not the exact second they hit 10cm, but thats ok! Ask any midwife and they will tell you that its better for mom and baby to push when the mom is ready (unless mom is drugged, or if baby is in distress and.they need to get them out asap). Easier on the body, you are less likely to tire out, less likely to tear, etc. If you dont feel the urge to push right at 10 cm, it could be because your lo is in an awkward position and your body wants to give itself a break so lo can reposition, or perhaps lo is big and your body wants a chance to work the baby down before havinf you huff and puff to finish the job......trust your body!
Lol believe me, when its time to push, you know it! As pp said, its totally involuntary. When I started pushing, I didnt even notice at first, and didnt know I was fully dilated. It was my doula who noticed me starting to grunt and bear down and told the nurse to get the midwife!


PLATINUM boobies x2 !

Posted 01/12/2013
Not true, I waited several hours unmediated with a head sticking out and never felt the urge to push. Baby was positioned properly too. Finally I started bearing down with directed pushing, because otherwise we would have been there for days waiting for my body to naturally push the baby out on It's own. Basically I was under the impression that involuntary pushing occurred with no work or thought on my part, due to "down and out like a slide" from hypnobabies, when in reality YOU habeas to use every muscle to push, and it takes active participation and work.
1 2 3 4
first page | last page
< Browse more posts

What's on your mind?

Create a new post

Please sign in

This field is required.
This field is required.