Disclosure :: There are many questions about birth, including “what does pushing feel like?” Our friends at Nola Nesting have sponsored this post and we love that it features several different birth perspectives.
Birth In New Orleans – What Does Pushing Feel Like?
What does birth feel like – the question every pregnant mother wants to know. Because regardless of what type of birth you are planning, planning for the unknown is tough. As a Nola Nesting birth doula in New Orleans, I always say if I could tell you when and how you’d have your baby I’d own an island by now! I can’t tell you what it will feel like or what birth is best for you – what I can tell you is that sometimes the unknown just isn’t as scary as might seem. You just keep moving forward and cross the bridges as you come to them.
Remember when you were a kid and there was a monster under your bed? Although everything was fine, you had to find a way through it to understand and feel safe so you could sleep. Maybe you needed a light, a hug from a parent or someone to sit with you and rub your back. Labor and birth are just that – I have no question that you can do this and that this is as normal a process as falling asleep – but sometimes you just need someone to care for you, turn on a light (or dim them), rub your back and remind you you’re safe, that’s what a Nola Nesting doula can do for you.
But still you wonder … what does it feel like? What is pushing like? Here are some women’s descriptions – not super women, not special women – just birthing women no different than you, facing their unknowns and moving forward, bringing their babies to arms.
Hailie {Breech Baby}
Hailie, on pushing out her breech baby: “With my last, I was feeling pushy
Melissa {Pushing is the Best Part of Birth}
Melissa, “Pushing is my favorite time in birth. Things seem to slow down. Time seems to stop. The room is silent. You and your baby are actively working together in the process. It’s the last moments you are pregnant. I was savoring it, enjoying the moment. Gently breathing my baby out. Ahhh……”
Kim {Pushing is Uncontrollable}
Kim, on how pushing felt: “Uncontrollable. With my first hospital birth the nurses were holding my daughters head
Andrea {Pushing Differs Each Time}
Andrea W, “With my first un-medicated birth (in a hospital, pushing in a semi-reclined position), I remember announcing that I was feeling “pushy” … But I was then directed to push with everyone counting and me holding my breath and bearing down as hard as I could, for a long as I could. She came out pretty quickly; only a few minutes and a couple contractions. But I also remember it being SUPER intense and definitely felt a lot of stinging and burning. With my second, a home birth in the water, I pushed in the position I felt most comfortable in (which happened to be upright, on my knees, leaning against the side of the tub). Her head came out on it’s own, with no extra assistance from me. And then one little push, and her body was out. It was a very relaxed and calm moment, nobody told me what to do or how to do it, and then my husband caught her and passed her up to me. Both times it happened very quickly, but it was a completely different experience!”
Jillian {Pushing in the Water}
Jillian, on pushing out her baby in the water: “Pushing was a relief. I was so close to being done. My husband said, “His eyes are o
Andrea {Four Pushing Experiences}
Andrea, “With my third, I had no clue I was pushing. I was grunting through the contractions and all I knew was it was the best feeling in the world and there was no way I was going to be able to breathe through them. My midwife was on the phone telling me to breathe through them and not push. I had crazy leg labor and the only way that I could get comfortable was on hands and knees. With my fourth, it was the hardest thing ever. I was freaking out in my head and he was coming super fast. I just wanted him out and wanted it to be done. I remember trying really hard to get in a comfortable position and couldn’t. That made pushing even harder.”
Amy {Pushing During VBA2C}
Amy, “My first vba2c (vaginal birth after two cesareans) pushing was on my back, I felt the ring of fire and was told
Ashlea {Natural Homebirth}
Ashlea, “The journey to pushing was a cake walk … I couldn’t get comfortable in my birth tub to push so I had to hop out after about 20 minutes. This was m
Each of these women’s birth stories were written as they unfolded. So too will yours. You can best prepare for your birth reading about and choosing a great doctor or midwife, taking a childbirth class and hiring a doula. I don’t know how or when you will have your baby, but I don’t question for a second that you can have an amazing birth and bring your baby to your arms!
Learn more about Amanda and her company Nola Nesting on their website, Facebook, Instagram or follow along on Twitter.
Amanda Devereux is a New Orleans doula, founder of Nola Nesting, the New Orleans Chapter leader of Louisiana Constituents for Safe Childbirth, New Orleans Birth Boot Camp Instructor, Founder of Latch Clinic and New Orleans Lactation Support, Organizer of 2020 Moms Postpartum Mom to Mom Support Group, Program Developer and Trainer of Birth Boot Camp Doula, administrator of Love What You DOULA and a mother of three.
Nice article! I recently wrote about my second natural child birth in new orleans. Check out my story thanks.
https://www.gumbohair.com/2014/12/my-second-natural-child-birth.html