How to push correctly while pushing. How to push correctly during childbirth

During contractions, the cervix dilates. Then pushing joins the contractions. The muscles of the abdominals, pelvic floor and diaphragm contract. During this period, the outcome of the birth depends on the composure of the woman in labor and her actions. The success and speed of the birth of a child is largely determined by whether the woman knows how to push correctly during childbirth.

What determines the duration of pushing?

Voluntary contraction of the abdominal wall muscles occurs as a result of the movement of the fetus along the birth canal. Unlike contractions, a woman can regulate the strength of pushing. Their duration can vary - from 20 minutes to 2 hours. This depends on the following factors:

  • Pelvic size. For an expectant mother with a narrow pelvis, the period of displacement of the fetus during childbirth is delayed.
  • Child sizes. progresses more slowly.
  • Child's location. The best option is to lower the back of the head. In this case, the baby’s chin lies on the chest, and the head goes along the birth canal. If the baby's head is not pressed to the chin, or he walks face forward, labor will be delayed.
  • That, what are the birth dates?.

Actions that help a woman in labor

The expectant mother cannot influence these factors. But there are actions that help during childbirth.

  1. It is easier for the child to lower himself if the woman squats with her legs wide apart. The heels should not come off the floor. Some are sitting on a chair. The doctor will tell you what position the woman should take. There are women in labor who lie and pull their legs apart.
  2. The woman herself can speed up the birth process. We must learn to breathe correctly. The exhalation should be long, and relaxation in the perineum, vagina, and buttocks should be maximum. The diaphragm presses on the baby, and he goes down. If there is an involuntary desire to push, this is allowed, but it is specifically prohibited.

Second stage of labor

In order to let the baby pass, the cervix opens wide. The woman in labor has the same feeling as when she has a bowel movement, and therefore there is a desire to push. With the right actions, she can successfully cope with the task that nature has predetermined for her.

The birth is supervised by a doctor. He tells when a woman in labor should push. In order to do everything correctly, you need to know simple rules. The strongest contractions last 60-90 seconds. Rest between them is approximately 1 minute. During this time you need to rest. It is necessary to relax all muscles to restore strength.

Scheme of actions of a woman in labor

  1. The expectant mother grabs the arms of the chair during a contraction and pulls them towards herself. At the same time, you must take a deep breath.
  2. All efforts should be directed to the lower area. You can’t push “in the head.”
  3. It is necessary to press your chin to your chest, tighten your abdominal muscles, and help the baby move towards the exit.
  4. You should exhale smoothly so that the baby’s head does not return to its previous position.
  5. After exhaling, relax completely and prepare for the next push.
  6. You need to breathe deeply and calmly so that the child has enough oxygen.
  7. Listen to your body during childbirth.
  8. If the pain gets worse after pushing, it means the baby has moved closer. This means that the woman in labor is doing everything right.
  9. You can't scream and squeeze. When screaming, the mother's blood vessels suffer, and the baby lacks oxygen.
  10. It is recommended to look at the midwife and follow all her instructions.
  11. You need to push for at least 15 seconds. Then take a deep breath and repeat again. Do this 3 times; then - rest. It depends only on the woman how many times this will need to be repeated - 2 or 5.
  12. At the time of childbirth, a woman is obliged to think only about the child, since it is harder for him than for her.

Third stage of labor

The happy moment of the birth of the child comes, and he is placed on the mother’s chest. Then the woman enters the third period - postpartum. After 10-15 minutes the baby's place is born. But women don’t remember this moment. You will have to push a few more times. The placenta weighs 500 grams, and the process is not difficult.

Training for pregnant women

In preparation for childbirth, women are taught exercises that will help them push correctly.

Exercises are performed lying on your back. The knees should be spread apart, pulled towards the chest and clasped with the arms. You should learn to tense your abdominal muscles during childbirth at the moment of expulsion of the fetus. At the same time, the head is pressed with the chin to the chest. There are exercises that are performed with a man only in the presence of a midwife. They are made on a hard mattress. A pillow is placed under the head.

Speaking about the upcoming birth, the woman is taught breathing and how to push correctly. The classes explain how to control muscles and breathing. It is important to know what is strictly forbidden to do.

It is forbidden:

  • push in the face;
  • arch and raise the perineum;
  • move your knees;
  • become hysterical;
  • scream (at this moment the child develops oxygen starvation);

Factors that depend on the doctor

If a woman in labor pushes incorrectly, she only holds the baby. Obstetric chairs in the unfolded state are not suitable for pushing. You can ask your doctor for permission to squat near the chair during the first attempts. A raised table back is considered more correct for childbirth. If medical workers allow a woman to clasp her arms around her spread legs, this only helps during childbirth.

The expectant mother should know what will happen to her during the birth of her child. Not everything depends on the doctor and midwife. Much depends on her correct actions during pushing.

No matter how a woman behaves during childbirth, her every action will certainly affect this important process. The safe birth of a child depends on whether the mother can adapt to several phases of labor. When contractions begin, it is important not to get confused and put into practice all the knowledge you have acquired about proper breathing and methods of relaxation. A little later, in addition to contractions, pushing appears when the muscles of the diaphragm, abdominals and pelvis are in a state of strong tone. It is at this moment that the outcome of childbirth depends solely on the woman’s degree of preparedness. If she knows how to push during labor, the baby will be born quickly and easily.

Attempts are called involuntary contractile activity of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall, due to which a child is born. Attempts appear in the second stage of labor, which begins after the cervix is ​​fully dilated and continues until the baby is born.

The mechanism of pushing development

When the cervix is ​​dilated by more than 10 cm, intense uterine contractions cause the baby's head to gradually move down, squeezing the rectum. Being under pressure, the receptors of the walls of the rectum send a signal to the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall and diaphragm, and they begin to reflexively contract. A woman has an urge to have a bowel movement - these are the so-called pushings.

Duration of pushing

The woman in labor cannot in any way influence the strength of the contractions, but she has the power to control the intensity of the pushing. Attempts last from 20 minutes to 2 hours. The duration of this period of time during childbirth is determined by the following factors:

  1. Parameters of the mother's pelvis. It is much easier for a woman with a wide pelvis to expel the fetus and she can do it faster than a pregnant woman with a narrow pelvis.
  2. Fruit size. It is difficult for a “well-fed” baby to move through the mother’s birth canal.
  3. Position of the baby during childbirth. It’s great if the baby presses his chin to his chest and descends along the birth canal with the back of his head forward. But the position of the child facing forward significantly delays the moment of his birth.
  4. Childbirth goes faster if it is not the first. On average, the period of pushing takes 2 hours for women who give birth for the first time, and 1 hour for multiparous mothers.
  5. Use of epidural analgesia for pain relief. This method increases the duration of the pushing period by an average of 1 hour (3 hours for primiparas and 2 hours for multiparas).


How can a woman in labor stimulate labor?

As a result of centuries-old obstetric practice, today every doctor and woman in labor under his guidance know how to facilitate the process of childbirth:

  1. In order for the baby to lower himself faster, his mother needs to spread her legs wide and sit down. At the same time, it is important to lift your heels off the floor surface. Everything, of course, depends on the specific situation. So, for some women it is more convenient to sit on a chair at this moment, while others lie on the floor and pull their spread legs as close to them as possible.
  2. A woman’s ability to breathe and push will help speed up labor. You need to rehearse a very long and leisurely exhalation in advance. It is important to relax the perineum, vagina and buttocks. At this time, the diaphragm will press on the fetus and it will begin to descend. You cannot push on purpose; this is allowed only in cases where it is impossible to cope with the involuntary desire.


What happens in the second stage of labor

When the cervix opens wide to allow the fetus to pass through, the woman feels the same sensations as when she wants to empty her bowels. That's why she finds the strength to push. If a woman in labor listens carefully and does everything the doctor tells her, she will successfully complete her natural mission.

To do everything right, without five minutes, the mother must know by heart a few simple but very important rules. Contractions that have reached their peak strength last from 60 to 90 seconds, and the interval between them is on average 1 minute. During this short period, a woman should try to restore her strength: if possible, completely relax her muscles and rest.


How to push correctly during the second stage of labor

Here, which covers all the important points that a woman giving birth needs to remember:

  1. During the next contraction, the expectant mother should grab the arms of the chair and pull them towards herself. At the same time, you need to take a deep breath, drawing in full lungs of air.
  2. Now you need to hold your breath, as if conserving the air inside. All efforts should be aimed at the lower region. It is wrong to push “in the face” (“in the head”) during childbirth. To support the baby in his progress towards the exit, the mother presses her chin to her chest and tenses her abdominal muscles. In this case, the hips and buttocks should be in a relaxed state.
  3. The exhalation must be smooth, otherwise the baby's head will return to its original position. And if you exhale forcefully (with a jerk), the child can even get a traumatic brain injury. On the contrary, the deep and calm breathing of a woman in labor provides the baby with a sufficient amount of oxygen.
  4. After exhaling, you cannot relax and rest. You need to take a deep breath and push again. During the time that the full effort lasts, inhalation and exhalation according to the principle described above must be repeated 3 times. The woman in labor should purposefully push for at least 15 seconds, then inhale deeply and push again. She should repeat this 3 times, and then rest a little. For some women, it is enough to push 2 times, for others – at least 5. Everything is very individual. In any case, you need to carefully listen to the advice of the midwife.
  5. During childbirth, a woman must be very attentive to the signals that her body gives. If the pain caused by the next push intensifies, this is a good sign. Mom does everything right and the baby moves closer and closer.
  6. You should not scream while pushing. In this case, the valuable oxygen that the baby so needs is spent by his mother screaming.
  7. After completing the push, the woman restores measured, even breathing, rests and prepares for the next push.


Childbirth can bring many unpleasant moments to a woman. However, at this time she needs to think about her baby, who is several times heavier.

It is important! When the baby's head comes out, you can't push. At this moment you need to breathe like a dog.

What happens in the third stage of labor

Finally, the baby overcomes all obstacles and is born, after which he is immediately placed on the chest of an exhausted but happy mother. At the same time, the third, postpartum, period begins. After about a quarter of an hour, you will need to push one more time so that the uterus can expel the so-called baby's place. This process is not painful, since the placenta weighs only 500 g.

How to learn to push during childbirth

At special courses, a pregnant woman will be shown exercises that will help her understand and remember how to push correctly. During the classes, expectant mothers will be taught how to control their muscles and breathing.

The starting position for most exercises is lying on your back. At the same time, the woman spreads her knees wide, pulls them to her chest and fixes them with her hands. You need to tilt your head forward and press your chin to your chest. Next, the instructor will explain how to properly tense your stomach in order to push the fetus towards the exit. Some exercises can only be performed with the support of a man in the presence of a midwife. They are performed while lying on a hard surface with a pillow under the head.


During the classes, the woman will also learn what actions during the delivery process are strictly prohibited. It is forbidden:

  • push not into the lower part of the body, but “into the head”;
  • arch your back, lifting your pelvis and perineum;
  • bring your knees together;
  • give in to panic;
  • scream;
  • sit on a hard surface.

When a woman pushes incorrectly for any reason, she only prevents the baby from moving forward. Here is one important point that you need to pay attention to during childbirth: it is uncomfortable to push on an unfolded maternity chair, so with the doctor’s permission it is better to meet the first attempts near it.

When to start pushing during labor

Every expectant mother should not only inquire in advance about how to push during childbirth, but also know when to begin this important mission. First, the doctor must decide on which segment of the birth canal the fetal head is located. You can start pushing only if the fetus has already passed most of the birth canal and its head is located on the pelvic floor. If a woman begins to strain ahead of time, she will quickly use up her strength, so she will be completely unprepared to push when it is really needed. In addition, such a rush can disrupt the uteroplacental circulation and lead to oxygen deficiency for the baby.

The need to direct all your strength to pushing properly appears in all women at different times. If such a desire arises when the baby’s head is low, but the cervix has not yet fully dilated, you should not push, otherwise this may lead to rupture of the cervix.


How to push properly during childbirth and avoid tearing

A pregnant woman should know how to breathe and push correctly during labor, not only to help her baby be born easily, but also to avoid harming herself.

You need to worry about the safety of the perineum from the moment when the little man begins to confidently erupt forward and does not return to his previous position. At this time, the midwife inserts three fingers of her right hand into the vagina - this prevents the baby’s head from quickly moving forward under the influence of pushing and helps the skin of the perineum gradually stretch and the risk of ruptures, accordingly, decreases.

The most correct position for the baby's head is when the chin is pressed tightly to the chest, since in this case the head passes through the birth canal with the least energy consumption. To protect the woman in labor from ruptures, the midwife holds the baby by the head with two fingers of her left hand and controls her correct progress.

First, the back of the baby's head comes out, then the crown appears, then the baby's chin comes off the chest and the face emerges. When the baby's head begins to change its position and straighten, but the face has not yet appeared, the woman in labor can no longer push. Let us note that it primarily depends on the woman whether she will experience ruptures during childbirth or not. So, with the help of dog breathing, you can significantly reduce the force of pressure when pushing. Most often, the baby's emerging head is turned face down, then the baby turns to the mother's left or right hip. Immediately with the turn of the head, the shoulders that have not yet come out turn, after which the front shoulder appears, which is located near the pubic symphysis, and then the back shoulder, which is located at the sacrum. And finally, without much effort on the part of mother and child, its torso and legs slide out.


How to push correctly during childbirth: the nuances

When a baby makes its way to the world through a woman's birth canal, its body puts a lot of pressure on the organs that surround it. Let's add to this the mother's tension, which she purposefully builds up in order to push correctly. Naturally, the bladder and intestines may empty themselves involuntarily at this time. Despite the fact that a woman, taking an active part in childbirth, may not pay any attention to what happened, such an “embarrassment” is replayed with horror in the heads of all expectant mothers before giving birth. Do you know what doctors will tell you about this?

This is the last thing you should worry about on the eve of giving birth. Firstly, this is a natural and natural reaction of the body of a woman who is going through the process of childbirth. In addition, such phenomena are not new for medical staff. Secondly, all sudden and unwanted discharge will be immediately eliminated by the midwife, so their contact with the medical staff and the woman herself is minimal.

Instead of worrying about such trifles, a woman who has almost become a new mother should focus on her feelings and carefully listen to the doctor’s recommendations. Then very little time will pass and the two closest people in the world will finally meet!


How to push during childbirth. Video

A very exciting moment is approaching - childbirth. Every expectant mother thinks about how she will pass this test that nature has prepared for her. And if the contractions are more or less clear, then what is pushing during childbirth and how to determine what it is is a very interesting question.

Contractions and pushing - what's the difference?

If you don’t go into too much medical terms, childbirth can be divided into three periods: contractions, pushing and the postpartum period. To understand the difference between the first two periods, you need to understand the terminology. Contractions are so that the baby can leave the mother, and pushing is the expulsion of the fetus from the uterine cavity. In this regard, the woman in labor will not only experience painful changes in the body, but will also easily understand the difference between contractions and pushing by her behavior.

Feelings when pushing

You can understand that pushing has begun both by the fact that the woman in labor has broken her water, and by the fact that she wants to evacuate. This is due to the fact that the baby's head presses on the rectum, thereby causing the pregnant woman to want to go to the toilet. This is the main signal that you need to give birth. If we describe what sensations a woman experiences when pushing, then this is the active work of the abdominal muscles and diaphragm, as well as the desire to push with every contraction. And if we talk about the psychological state, then nature made sure that consciousness turns off at the moment of pushing, and the woman in labor acts on an instinctive level, although doctors, of course, control this process and tell her what to do.

The duration of the attempts depends on how many times the woman has become a mother. Everyone knows that during childbirth without pathologies, mothers who gave birth not for the first time took their baby in their arms faster than those who encountered this for the first time. How long labor usually lasts for first-time mothers is also of concern to expectant mothers. The second stage of labor lasts no more than two hours. If during this time a woman does not give birth, this is a signal that something is going wrong.

Pain during contractions and pushing

Many people are interested in the question of what hurts more: or pushing, and here there is only one answer - contractions. This is due to the fact that severe pain during childbirth is the work of muscles that are actively working to open the cervix, and when pushing, the birth canal is open and some women in labor have no pain at all, while in others it changes its character: it becomes less painful, but larger, covering the torso below the chest. This is one of the main signs that explains the difference between pushing and contractions, and how soon it will be possible to pick up the baby.

Every woman who has given birth at least once will answer that the body itself will tell you when you need to push, because childbirth is a physiological process and if it happens naturally, then you shouldn’t worry about the fact that you won’t understand that pushing has begun.

The final stage of bearing a child has arrived - childbirth. The contractions are joined by pushing. Our article will help you understand what pushing during pregnancy is, what is its nature and role in childbirth, and how the woman in labor participates in adjusting pushing.

Attempts during childbirth

The birth process is divided into two periods. At the first stage (dilation of the cervix), the only “character” is contractions; at the second stage (expulsion of the fetus), they are joined by pushing. This term refers to the process of contraction of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. It provokes an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. Together with the increase in pressure inside the uterus due to contractions, pushing helps the baby move through the birth canal.

How to breathe correctly when pushing?

One of the most important points during childbirth is providing the baby with enough oxygen. Otherwise, hypoxia (oxygen starvation) may occur, which is fraught with serious consequences. Correct breathing of the woman in labor during pushing plays a very important role in preventing this phenomenon, so it is necessary to familiarize yourself with its technique even before the onset of labor.

The first thing every pregnant woman should learn is to relax and get rid of tightness.

The next stage is mastering proper breathing techniques during the period of contractions and pushing. Here are some recommendations for breathing techniques when pushing:

  1. Before you start pushing, you need to inhale as much air as possible. You need to push on the perineum, not on the head or face. Otherwise, you will not provide any help to the child, but it is quite possible for small blood vessels to rupture.
  2. One breath should be enough for three attempts.

When the baby's head has already appeared, you should temporarily stop pushing until the midwife commands. During this period, you should breathe frequently and shallowly, with your mouth slightly open. That is, doing something similar to a dog breathing in the heat. Don't be afraid to look funny. When pushing, you need to breathe and behave in the way that is best for the child and yourself.

What is the difference between pushing and contractions?

Contractions are usually called periodic contractions of the uterine muscles. If these periods become frequent and regular, it means that the first stage of labor has arrived. Their main task during childbirth is to open the cervix to a certain size so that the baby’s body can pass through it. During delivery without pathologies, contractions in the firstborn can last up to twelve hours. This period is reduced to 7-8 hours during subsequent births.

Attempts are contractions of the muscles of the diaphragm and the press, which occur involuntarily, reflexively. The function of pushing is to push the baby out of the mother's womb. An important difference between contractions and pushing is that contractions are a completely uncontrollable process. The woman in labor cannot influence either their intensity or duration.

When pushing, the participation of the expectant mother is very important: they can be skipped, or they can be intensified. You just need to do it correctly, listen carefully to the doctor’s instructions. Otherwise, you will not only not help the baby be born quickly and without problems, but you will also do harm. And the answer to the question of what hurts more, pushing or contractions, is given to each woman in labor herself. The pain caused by contractions comes and goes on its own. But the woman in labor can control and adjust the intensity of pain when she pushes.

It all depends on her priorities, on what is more important to her during childbirth - her own (albeit relative) comfort or the life and health of her unborn baby.

How to understand that attempts have begun?

Theoretically, you are now savvy: you know what pushing is, what they are needed for, and how to direct them in the right direction. Now it remains to find out what sensations a woman in labor experiences when pushing occurs. All this is quite prosaic: when contractions reach their climax, you simply have an irresistible desire to immediately empty your bowels. There is no need to worry if you don’t have this feeling: your obstetrician will tell you when to start pushing.

How long do the attempts last?

If labor begins on time, there are no complications or other unfavorable indicators; in first-time mothers, labor can last a maximum of two hours in total.

The duration of the second stage of labor for those who have already given birth to one, two or more babies is usually reduced to a quarter of an hour. They occur every two to three minutes. The duration of each attempt is ten to fifteen seconds.

Pushing is the most important period of childbirth, when the baby is born. This is also the time of greatest activity for the expectant mother. After all, how quickly and easily the baby is born directly depends on your actions. We'll show you how to make this process as safe as possible for both of you.

Attempts are reflexive
contractions of the uterus, abdominals and diaphragm, helping the baby move through the birth canal and out. They begin when contractions cause the cervix to fully dilate. It seems that the pain either decreases or takes on a different character compared to contractions. Many women even get inspired, because the beginning of pushing means that the long-awaited meeting with the little one is already close.

Position
Most women give birth in the “standard” position - lying on their back with their legs bent. While pushing, increasing the contractions of the abdominal muscles, bend forward and take a semi-sitting position. Many people, even if they have the opportunity to choose a pose, prefer it. Here, the mother’s body seems to follow the shape of the birth canal through which the baby will pass, which facilitates its movement. At the same time, there is an opinion that the most comfortable position for childbirth is a sitting position.
squatting. In addition to the force of pushing, the baby is also affected by the force of gravity, the direction of which coincides with the movement of the baby. But vertical birth also has a drawback - doctors cannot fully control the process.

Breath
At the moment of pushing, the child suffers more than ever from a lack of oxygen. If you breathe incorrectly, its flow will be interrupted, and the baby will have a hard time. Proper breathing also helps conserve strength and push more effectively. When pushing begins, take as deep a breath as possible. Hold your breath for a long time (try slowly counting to 20) and push, then exhale the air very smoothly. Imagine that you dived, swam underwater, admiring the beauty of the underwater world, and emerged. Do not try to push continuously: during pushing you need to take 3 inhalations and 3 exhalations, otherwise you will only lose precious strength, and the child will suffer from a lack of oxygen. It is very important to act smoothly. One push lasts 45–50 seconds with an interval of 1–2 minutes.

Direction of effort
It would seem that everything is simple: you need to make every effort and push hard in order to quickly push the baby into the world. Many unenlightened girls do this, ignoring the commands of the doctor and midwife delivering the baby. The result is painful ruptures of the birth canal and even injuries to the child. Let's list the most common errors.

Mistake #1
Misdirection of effort

Since the pushing itself feels similar to the natural urges of the body, the efforts that must be made are similar to the efforts during constipation. It is important to direct your forces correctly and not overdo it. It happens that a woman pushes with all her might, puffs out her cheeks, but the child does not move forward, because all the forces are directed towards the face. Such actions are fraught with headaches and ruptures of small vessels on the face. You need to direct your efforts downwards, into the pelvis - where the baby is.

Mistake #2
Excessive force

When you start pushing, it may seem to you that the harder you push, the faster everything will be resolved successfully. It will be resolved, but whether it will be resolved safely is another question. The biomechanism of childbirth is inherent in nature, and amateur activities can cause harm. With each new attempt, the walls of the vagina and genital slit are stretched, and from excessive
sudden efforts may cause them to break.

Mistake #3
Premature Efforts

Here it is, it has begun! It seems that in just a little while you will give birth. You want to push, but for some reason the midwife won’t allow you to. This can happen in several cases.

The head is high. She has not yet reached the pelvic floor, so you cannot push - there is a risk of tearing the vaginal walls. You just need to push while the baby
will not drop to the desired level. You need to breathe often, often, like a dog, inhaling and exhaling deeply. This way you won't have to push and will allow your head to drop. When she reaches the pelvic floor, the midwife will give the command to push.

Clinically narrow pelvis. This does not mean that it is narrow by nature. It’s just that during childbirth it turned out that the child will not be able to pass through it: either your child is too large, or the insertion of the head is incorrect. And pushing in this case also makes no sense. Most likely, the question of surgical delivery will arise.

Differences between pushing and contractions
✔Attempts occur involuntarily, but, unlike contractions, the mother can control them. Active work requires a lot of energy. With each attempt, the head (or pelvic end) of the baby appears more and more in the genital slit, stretching the vaginal tissue. After some time, with another push, it comes out, the child gradually turns, the lower shoulder comes out, the upper one, and then the whole baby. The process is completed quickly after the appearance of the head - the largest part of the body. After cutting the umbilical cord, the last efforts remain: a few pushes and the placenta and the membrane in which the baby lived for all 9 months are born.
✔ The most painful process is contractions. The pain during the pushing period is different - bursting. Moving along the birth canal towards the exit, the child puts pressure on adjacent organs - the rectum and bladder, so during pushing the woman feels like she wants to go to the toilet. Before giving birth, a cleansing enema is always done to empty the rectum, but despite this, involuntary bowel movements occur quite often. This is a completely natural process that you should not be ashamed of.
✔ Contractions can last for many hours. The period of pushing is much shorter in time. For primiparous women it lasts 1–2 hours, for multiparous women it lasts from 5–10 minutes to one hour (depending on the number of previous births, the interval between pregnancies and the characteristics of the woman herself), on average about 30 minutes. During this period, contractions become stronger, their duration increases, and the intervals between them decrease.

If there is no pushing
It happens that the contractions are over, the cervix is ​​dilated, you need to start pushing, but there is no pushing, or there is, but it is so weak that the woman does not feel them. In medical parlance, this is called “pushing period weakness.” What then do they do?
- Sometimes the doctor asks you to push on your own, without expecting any pushing. In rare cases, this can move the child from his place and begin pushing.
- Oxytocin is usually administered intravenously. This substance, harmless to the child, causes contractions of the uterus and, accordingly, labor.
- In extreme cases, you have to apply forceps to the head and remove the child with their help. This operation is carried out, of course, with pain relief.

Possibility of episiotomy
Perineal tears are a fairly common, but not necessary, consequence of pushing. Whether they appear or not depends both on the course of labor and on the individual characteristics of the woman - the elasticity of the perineal tissue, previous diseases of the urogenital tract, the natural narrowness of the perineum or vagina. But the reason may also be the mother’s incorrect behavior during childbirth: if you push too hard, the tissues do not have time to stretch. If the perineum is a significant obstacle to the nascent head, then it is better to dissect it (episio or perineotomy). After all, a stitched incision heals better than a laceration. As a rule, a woman who is consumed by the pain of pushing will not even feel a small incision.

The incision is also used in case of suffering of the child in order to speed up the birth process. The baby's condition is assessed by his heart rate. If the doctor sees abnormalities that require quick delivery, then in order to speed up the birth of the baby, he performs a dissection of the perineum.
- The child may also suffer due to entanglement in the umbilical cord. With each attempt, it tightens around the baby's neck, risking suffocation. If the baby is still in the uterus at this time,
then the woman is taken for a caesarean section, if he has already entered the birth canal, then, again, to speed up the process, the doctor makes an incision.

Anesthesia
Today, epidural analgesia is widely used during childbirth. They do it during contractions. Pushing themselves does not relieve pain. Any anesthesia removes sensitivity, and therefore the effectiveness of pushing. Most often, after the start of pushing, the woman’s mental state improves - from a “passive observer” she turns into an active participant, helping the baby to be born.

The child receives oxygen from the mother's blood, which is enriched with this gas during the woman's breathing. If breathing becomes difficult or delayed for a long time, the child may develop, which is a very dangerous condition. It is recommended for every woman to prepare for childbirth. To do this, you can attend special courses or read below how to behave correctly during labor and childbirth so as not to harm the baby. Proper breathing technique will not only make the birth process easier for the baby, but will also help reduce pain for the mother.

Now let's look at this in more detail.

The importance of proper breathing during childbirth

During childbirth, every woman experiences pain of varying intensity. Many doctors associate this with the behavior of the woman in labor, in particular with breathing. The pain is caused by muscle spasm, which can be controlled with proper breathing.

Many techniques have been developed to help relieve muscle tension during contractions and while pushing. In addition to sufficient oxygen supply, muscle spasms can be influenced by sound.

The purpose of breathing techniques is to ensure sufficient oxygen supply to the baby, as well as muscle relaxation. Knowing how to breathe correctly during different periods of labor, you can achieve the following results:

  • Prevent all serious complications to which it leads.
  • Reduce pain even during strong contractions.
  • Cope with stress, calm down and add physical strength.
  • Improve your own well-being, prevent dizziness, numbness of the limbs and fear.

The doctor and midwife constantly remind the mother to breathe. This is really very important and is the key to a successful birth of the baby. The respiratory process is associated with the functioning of the nervous system. It is known that with a deep breath, its excitability decreases, which makes it possible to relax the muscles and stabilize the psycho-emotional state.

So much attention is paid to breathing not only because the supply of oxygen is important for the child. The respiratory system undergoes serious changes during pregnancy, so in the last weeks a woman feels severe shortness of breath and may experience a lack of oxygen herself. This happens for the following reasons:

  • The size of the uterus and fetus grows, causing the diaphragm to move upward and reduce lung capacity.
  • The movement of the diaphragm becomes more rapid.
  • The need for oxygen is constantly increasing, which forces the respiratory system to work at its maximum capacity. A pregnant woman's oxygen consumption is almost 2 times the amount that was needed before pregnancy.

Proper breathing is necessary for the following reasons:

  • It helps prevent tissue ischemia.
  • Some techniques significantly reduce the severity of pain.
  • Special exercises promote full opening of the birth canal.
  • The likelihood of complications and birth pathologies is reduced.

Doctors distinguish three types of breathing during childbirth: relaxing, shallow, and pushing breathing.

Preparing for childbirth

There are many courses to prepare pregnant women for childbirth. Here you can not only learn the theory, but also practically practice proper breathing. The only disadvantage of such classes is that during childbirth, as in other stressful situations, a woman forgets all theoretical knowledge.

It is not recommended to master complex techniques at home on your own. You can do the exercises incorrectly and only harm yourself and your child. Experienced trainers in special courses will be able to take into account the individual characteristics of each pregnant woman and select the most suitable breathing techniques. They will also help you practice and get used to the chosen method.

You need to start preparing as early as possible. The more time you take to breathe properly, the more likely it is that everything will be done correctly during the difficult birth process.

Breathing techniques

Below are several breathing techniques from which the pregnant woman chooses the one she likes best and then applies it during childbirth. There are quite a large number of similar techniques, but we will consider the simplest and most popular:

  • Check. As you inhale, count to four, and as you exhale, do the same. The numerical value can vary in one direction or the other, as can the counting speed. The convenience of the technique lies in its ease of implementation. A woman just needs to remember one number, and then inhale and exhale until she reaches it. Such monotonous actions help to sufficiently saturate the body with oxygen, calm down and overcome fear.
  • Pronouncing words. It consists of slowly rhythmically pronouncing words syllable by syllable. The technique helps relieve stress, focus and focus on proper breathing. A woman needs to remember a couple of simple words. As she inhales, stretching out the vowel sounds, she should pronounce them syllable by syllable, like singing. As you exhale, do the same. It is recommended to focus carefully on this process and not be distracted by extraneous things. Thus, the body will exclude the influence of external factors and will use all its strength for childbirth and providing the body with oxygen. By performing this exercise correctly, a woman may notice that the muscles relax and pain decreases. Breathing while speaking should be deep and slow.
  • Nose-mouth technique. Most doctors consider this technique to be the most effective and correct. A woman in labor should inhale air through her nose and exhale through her mouth. In this case, the muscles of the lips and shoulder girdle should be as relaxed as possible. This can be achieved by pronouncing vowel sounds. This type of breathing ensures sufficient oxygen supply and calms the woman. The only drawback is the feeling of dry mouth when repeating the exercise frequently.
  • Breathing with a partner. The technique is popular because it requires the presence of a partner who can support the woman during childbirth. Each subsequent contraction is usually stronger than the previous one, which makes it more difficult for a woman to control herself and remember the recommendations that a doctor or trainer gave her during the course. The partner holds the expectant mother's hands and shows her exercises that she must repeat exactly. The breathing technique can be chosen in a variety of ways. The partner can also help the pregnant woman relieve her condition with the help of correct posture. For example, the knee-elbow position reduces pressure on the lower back and reduces pain in this area. You can also calmly walk around the delivery room and breathe in rhythm.

How to breathe correctly during contractions

When the contractions become strong enough, the woman’s brain practically turns off. She performs breathing and all other movements almost unconsciously, thinking only about when the pain will go away. If the correct breathing technique has been worked out before, the child will not experience oxygen deficiency.

Still, contractions are a special period in childbirth. They are accompanied by very strong muscle spasms, which are also transmitted to blood vessels and nerve endings. Thus, women feel pain, nutrients and oxygen cease to flow into the placenta and uterus, and unpleasant sensations negatively affect their psycho-emotional state. The midwife or doctor will tell the woman in labor how to breathe correctly. Techniques may vary slightly depending on the stage of labor and the strength of contractions.

The first few hours of contractions are practically painless and very short-lived. You can relieve discomfort with regular slow breathing. To do this, a woman is recommended to take a deep breath and exhale slowly. This method promotes a stable and calm heartbeat, a complete supply of oxygen to the body, and saving energy costs. Between contractions, a woman is recommended to rest in order to conserve strength for subsequent more difficult periods.

When contractions become more frequent, and it is already quite difficult to endure them, you can begin to perform the technique that the pregnant woman practiced in the courses. Any of the chosen techniques should be performed so that the breathing is calm, slow and deep. This will saturate the body of the woman and the fetus with oxygen sufficiently.

At the end of the first period, contractions become almost unbearable. In this case, the woman’s self-control is lost, and her psycho-emotional state worsens, which also negatively affects the baby’s health. Stress and anxiety, combined with strong muscle and vascular spasms, can provoke serious pain, which will lead to complications during childbirth.

One of the most effective breathing during strong contractions is dog breathing. The technique is performed in any position, and you need to breathe at maximum speed, for example 1-2 inhalations and exhalations per second. If the oral cavity dries out at this rate, you can rinse it with water; drinking a lot of liquid is not recommended. This breathing rate will help get more oxygen and deliver the right amount to the placenta.

It is not recommended to scream during contractions, as this does not reduce pain, but instead increases vascular spasm. In the initial stages, deep diaphragmatic breathing can bring relief. If you feel that it is becoming ineffective, you should start taking shallow breaths like “dog” and “blowing out a candle.” As the contraction intensifies, take a slow, deep breath, and at its peak, breathe shallowly several times. You can accompany this with vowel sounds, but do not shout. After rapid breathing movements, it is imperative to return to diaphragmatic breathing in order to restore the heart rhythm and avoid oversaturation of the brain with oxygen.

How to breathe properly between contractions

Gradually, contractions become more intense, and the period between them becomes shorter. A woman has less and less time to rest and breathe fully during the period of absence of pain. Quite often, when the intervals between contractions are already short, the woman in labor is very exhausted and does not have the strength to perform any techniques. However, it is during this period that you can make up for the oxygen deficiency that arose during contractions and try to saturate the body with it.

Breathing between contractions should be deep and slow. You need to perform one of the techniques that the woman chose earlier and which were described above. As a contraction approaches, the breathing rate may increase, for example, doggy style breathing can often help relieve pain.

Thus, the purpose of breathing in the period between contractions is to give the woman the opportunity to rest and calm down, as well as to replenish the oxygen deficiency after severe muscle and vascular spasm.

How to breathe correctly while pushing

Breathing during pushing should be aimed not only at providing the body with oxygen, but also at pushing the baby out of the uterus. To do this, it is recommended to do the following:

  • When the gynecologist puts you on the delivery table and thinks it’s time to start pushing, listen carefully to his recommendations. At this stage, the “count” breathing technique, which was described above, is well suited. A partner can help a woman concentrate and perform breathing exercises correctly if he is present at the birth.
  • Try to breathe as deeply as possible and swallow air as you inhale. This will create additional pressure on the fundus of the uterus and on the diaphragm, which will help the baby move better through the birth canal and push off the uterus with its legs. When you feel that there is no longer enough air, release the remaining air from your lungs and take in a new large portion.
  • You need to hold your breath as long as possible to make it easier for the baby to enter the light and speed up the period of pushing. The correct technique of pushing breathing is taught by the trainer during the courses. Holding the air and filling the chest full, the woman should push not into the head, but down the abdomen. The purpose of this movement is to help the uterus push out the baby using the abdominal muscles and diaphragm. All efforts and pressure that a woman creates during this period should be aimed down the abdomen. If the strength goes into the head, the face begins to turn red and the blood vessels burst. In addition to the fact that this can lead to complications and an aesthetic appearance after childbirth, such attempts do not help the baby and turn out to be absolutely ineffective for childbirth. In any case, you need to listen carefully to the doctor who is monitoring the process of dilation of the cervix and the progress of the child. The gynecologist will give a command when you need to start pushing and suggest the correct technique.

What are correct attempts?

Correct pushing requires a comfortable position for the woman in labor, timely straining and the correct direction of pressure. In most maternity hospitals, this process takes place on a special maternity chair, in which the woman is positioned horizontally, and her legs can even be slightly elevated. In this position, pushing the baby out is quite difficult, and the baby's head puts strong pressure on the pelvic floor.

Modern methods include birthing in water, squatting, or on a special chair. One of the advantages of such positions is the natural gravity of the earth, which will help the baby move down from the uterus. It is important to correctly determine the beginning of the effort, so that at this moment the woman begins to make efforts and takes in a full chest of air. This once again proves the importance of the presence of medical personnel during the birth process and makes childbirth at home questionable.

Proper breathing is also the basis for the birth of a healthy baby. As a rule, the doctor reminds the woman in labor about the need to breathe in order to prevent possible complications. During pushing, the woman no longer experiences pain, so she can quite accurately follow the doctor’s recommendations.

How to push correctly during childbirth

When the cervix is ​​fully dilated and the body is ready for the birth of the baby, the doctor gives the command to push. This period feels radically different from the previous one, as the pain practically goes away and a feeling of fullness appears. It is very important to follow the instructions of the doctor and midwife. Due to the fact that the child is trying to pass through the birth canal, the desire to push may arise constantly. If this is not done in a timely manner, there is a high probability of tissue ruptures, sprained ligaments and difficulties for the child.

Pushing is the process of pushing the fetus out of the uterus. The duration of one friend can be up to a minute, while the woman will be able to take up to 3 deep breaths, alternating them with a strong breath-hold.

The sensations during pushing are usually compared to the urge that occurs when you want to go to the toilet in a big way. However, this requires much more effort. During pushing, the woman lies on her back, draws in a full chest of air, holds her breath and tilts her head forward. Such manipulations lead to the fact that the filled lungs put pressure on the diaphragm, and it, in turn, helps the uterus push the baby out. Additionally, you need to tense your abdominal muscles. All efforts are directed precisely down the abdomen and are carried out with the help of muscles, and not air pressure. If a woman tries to press air on her stomach and pushes on her face, then all the force goes into the upper body and does not help the baby to be born. In this case, the pelvic muscles should be relaxed, and approaches of pushing the child out with attempts last about 15 seconds. After this, the woman repeats a full inhalation and continues pushing until the end of the attempt (about 3 repetitions occur per minute).

It is very important to listen to the doctor while pushing. You can't push at the wrong time. Between attempts you need to give your body as much rest as possible. When the baby's head appears, it is recommended to switch to shallow and calm breathing. After the baby is born, it will take a couple more efforts to deliver the placenta. This process is already completely painless.

In some cases, pushing needs to be stopped. This is done at the doctor’s command, for example, when the baby’s head appears, and you need to wait for the torso to be pulled up. You can stop the pushing and the process of the baby passing through shallow breathing. In this case, the woman does not need to strain her abdominal muscles, nor does she need to hold in air. The process is resumed when the gynecologist allows it.

The second stage of labor begins after the cervix opens 10 cm and the fetal head descends into the pelvic cavity. The main moment that ends the pushing period is the actual birth of the child. And the speed and success of his birth depend on how correctly the expectant mother will push during childbirth. We will try to consider the features of the second stage of labor, the difference between contractions and pushing, and how to push correctly during childbirth.

What are attempts during childbirth and how to distinguish them from contractions?

These are voluntary contractions of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall, which occur in response to the advancement of the fetal head along the birth canal. With the full opening of the cervix and the advancement of the fetus, the woman in labor begins to notice a feeling of pressure on the anus (similar to a desire to recover), as irritation of the receptors of the rectum occurs. In response to this irritation, the woman in labor has an involuntary desire to empty her bowels. As a result, the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall and the diaphragm contract. This is the mechanism for the formation of attempts during childbirth.

A push differs from a contraction in that a woman herself can regulate the strength and duration of the push, while a contraction is an involuntary muscle contraction, the strength and duration of which a woman cannot influence.

When and how should you push during childbirth?

When a woman begins to feel pressure on the anus and a desire to recover, the doctor must perform an internal obstetric examination and determine how much the cervix has opened and how much the fetal head has descended. If the cervix has not yet fully opened, then the woman is prohibited from pushing, as this can lead to the appearance of soft tissue, including the cervix. In addition, the woman's early active participation in the pushing period can significantly weaken the laboring woman's strength and lead to weak pushing.

Now let's talk about how to push correctly during childbirth.

  1. It is necessary, at the doctor’s command, to take a deep breath deeply.
  2. Then you need to tense the muscles of the abdomen, buttocks and thighs, helping your baby move towards the exit. At the same time, make sure that the facial muscles are relaxed.
  3. Exhale smoothly and gradually so that the baby’s head does not return to its original position.
  4. After exhaling, you should inhale sharply again and continue pushing. During one such contraction you should push three times.
  5. After pushing, you need to take a deep breath and exhale, while trying to relax all the muscles and restore strength before the next push.
  6. During the push, the woman should press her chin to her chest as much as possible, and with her hands either grasp the handrails of the Rachmaninoff chair or clasp her knees with them and spread them as far apart as possible. During pushing, all your strength should be directed to the place of maximum pain. If after pushing the pain intensifies, this means that the woman is doing everything correctly and the baby is moving along the birth canal.

How long does labor continue?

The duration of pushing varies between primiparous and multiparous women. Thus, in first-born women the second stage of labor lasts up to 2 hours, and in multiparous women up to 1 hour. The second factor is the strength of the abdominal muscles. In physically fit, slender women, the period of pushing lasts less than in obese, inactive women.

Thus, 80% of the successful outcome of childbirth depends on the woman herself, how correct her behavior is during childbirth. You can practice pushing correctly in conscious parenting courses for expectant mothers and fathers. Have an easy and quick birth and healthy babies!

Despite the fact that contractions come unexpectedly, the expectant mother should be as prepared as possible for them. It is also necessary to know in advance how to properly push during childbirth, because this determines how quickly and painlessly the baby will be born. Incorrect actions by a woman in labor can lead to serious consequences, for example, hypoxia of the child and rupture of the birth canal in the mother.

Why you need to push correctly

To make pushing go faster and easier, a woman giving birth needs to know , how to breathe correctly during childbirth - this can be learned in special classes for pregnant women. But, unfortunately, many mothers do not strive to take courses, hoping that everything will be easy, and in vain. Severe pain, fear and anxiety during childbirth can put a girl into a stupor, as a result of which her labor behavior will be incorrect. Both mother and baby can suffer from this.

Proper breathing will reduce pain during contractions.

Breathing technique is very important: with correct labor behavior, the cervix opens faster, the woman does not feel much pain, pushing is stronger, and the baby does not suffer from a lack of oxygen.

If a woman screams and tenses during labor, the cervix becomes “stone-like,” but the contraction expands it from above. The sensations of pain intensify, and the neck is injured in the places where the head passes. With proper breathing, the muscle tissue relaxes, and the neck opens freely and without tears.

During screaming, the level of stress hormones and blood pressure increase, and blockage of blood vessels occurs. All this can lead to fetal hypoxia and blood loss. Proper breathing enriches the blood flow with oxygen and relaxes the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow through the placenta faster. And although it is impossible to eliminate painful sensations, distraction by the number of exhalations and inhalations reduces pain.

Important! When the baby's head drops, it puts a lot of pressure on the sphincter, which causes a great desire to push. You can't restrain yourself– this can lead to conjunctivitis and rupture of small capillaries in the chest and face.

When to push

There are three stages of labor: cervical dilatation, pushing, and delivery of the placenta. The most painful and difficult stage is pushing.


It is important to remember that you cannot push while exhaling.

After the cervix has dilated 10 cm, the baby's head gradually lowers, putting pressure on the rectum - this signal is transmitted to the abdominal muscles and diaphragm, which begin to contract tensely. Thus, pushing begins with full stretching of the cervix (up to 10 cm) and ends when the baby is born. At this time, the woman in labor needs to remember how to push during childbirth so that the baby is born healthy and unharmed.

Efforts should be made only on orders from a doctor or midwife, when the cervix is ​​stretched and the baby is on the way out.

Important! It is strictly forbidden to make efforts prematurely - the woman will quickly get tired and will not be able to push with all her might when it really becomes necessary, and the attempts themselves will become weaker. Incorrect behavior of the expectant mother threatens disruptions in the uteroplacental circulation and fetal hypoxia.

Also, you should not push while exhaling; it is better to inhale again. The push lasts one minute - during this time the girl should have time to make 4-6 pushing movements.


The midwife controls the correctness of the attempts.

If the baby's head is already low, the doctor will forbid pushing to avoid ruptures. Particular care should be taken if the cervix has not had time to stretch. The “doggy style” breathing technique will help reduce pressure during childbirth. But you will still have to strain a little when the hangers come out. If the woman in labor strictly follows all the doctor’s recommendations, ruptures will not occur.

Correct breathing

Breathing techniques


There are several breathing techniques used during childbirth.

In order for childbirth to go easily and quickly, how will you breathe correctly? Much depends on the period of labor. The following breathing techniques exist:

  • 4 short breaths and 6 exhalations - the method is used during the onset of contractions. If a woman is distracted by the number of counts, giving birth is not so painful.
  • "Locomotive". To do this, you need to quickly inhale air through your nose, and then quickly exhale through your curled lips. During a contraction, the pain intensifies with every second, and you also need to speed up your breathing - to “breathe” the contraction. During breaks, breathing should also become smoother so that the “train can rest.”
  • "Candle". This method works well for severe pain. You need to quickly inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Breathing should be shallow, as if a woman is trying to blow out a candle. Repeat the technique quickly and often until the contraction ends. After 20 seconds, you may feel dizzy due to the large amount of endorphin released. Thanks to this hormone, pain will decrease.
  • "Big Candle" The method is similar to the previous one, only breathing is performed with greater effort. The girl should breathe air through her nose, as if it were blocked, and she is trying to “break through” it; when exhaling, her mouth remains practically closed. This type of breathing is recommended if the pain becomes unbearable.
  • "Like a dog". When the head begins to appear, breathe like a dog - open your mouth slightly and press your tongue to the roof of your mouth, then inhale and exhale, they should be fast.

To stabilize your condition, relax and gain strength after a contraction, you need to inhale deeply through your nose and exhale through your lips.

Breathing algorithm for pushing

To breathe and push correctly, you must adhere to the following instructions:


While the baby is passing through the birth canal, sharp inhalations and exhalations are prohibited - due to changes in intra-abdominal pressure, the baby's head may be pulled back.

Basic Rules

Basic rules on how to breathe and behave correctly during labor:

  • If you strain your eyes, your vision may subsequently deteriorate and intraocular pressure may increase.
  • Pressure on the rectum is fraught with hemorrhoids and ruptures. Unfortunately, this happens very often.
  • Directing forces into the head often leads to migraines and blood pressure problems.

How to Avoid Breaks

To give birth to a baby without rupture, the cervix and vulvar ring must be stretched as much as possible. The most important thing at this moment is to listen carefully to the doctor and follow all his commands. If the tension is not applied at the right time, the birth canal may rupture. On the contrary, a slight push at the right moment tightens the head, and the child begins to choke.

When the baby has already moved towards the exit and is no longer coming back, the midwife inserts three fingers into the woman’s vagina to make it easier for the baby to be born. The most painful moment for the expectant mother is the emergence of the baby’s head and shoulders. When the head appears, pushing is contraindicated. The best technique now is to breathe “like a dog” - it will reduce pressure on the birth canal and eliminate the likelihood of ruptures.

Let's sum it up

Thanks to proper breathing during childbirth, the cervix opens faster, uterine contractions intensify, and the baby receives full oxygen and easily passes through the birth canal. If a woman strictly follows the doctor’s commands, childbirth will take place without ruptures and much pain. It is better to learn how to push correctly during childbirth in advance, for example, in courses for pregnant women.

Pushing is an integral part of childbirth. If a woman pushes incorrectly, this leads to various complications. To avoid such situations, you need to push correctly during childbirth.

Algorithm of actions

To understand how to push and give birth correctly, you need to understand what pushing is. As the fetal head begins to move down the fallopian tubes, the walls of the rectum are compressed, causing the diaphragm to contract. At this time, attempts begin - the desire to empty the intestines.

The pain caused by each subsequent push indicates that the baby is moving closer to the uterus. It is not recommended to scream while pushing, as this takes away excess oxygen from the baby. At the end of each push, you should rest, gain strength, and continue pushing again.

When you need to push during childbirth is best determined by your doctor. First, he will find out where the baby's head is. If you start pushing ahead of time, this will quickly lead to exhaustion of the woman in labor, but if there is inaction on the part of the mother, this leads to various kinds of complications.

How to push and breathe correctly during childbirth:

  1. the first thing you need to do is take a comfortable position with your knees bent;
  2. during contractions you need to inhale deeply while holding the arms of the chair;
  3. breaths should be deep and slow;
  4. you need to push only with the maximum urge;
  5. you should not strain your face and eyes so that the efforts are directed towards the abdominal organs;
  6. then it is recommended to hold your breath, tensing the lower abdominal muscles. In this case, the hips should be relaxed;
  7. with each push it is necessary to push the baby forward;
  8. it takes at least 15 seconds to push, then take a deep breath and strain again;
  9. you need to inhale evenly and rhythmically, and exhale smoothly so as not to damage the baby’s head;
  10. One contraction should take at least 3 attempts.

What does it mean to push during childbirth? This means contracting your lower abdomen while maintaining proper breathing technique. During childbirth, the main thing is to breathe correctly and perform actions on time. Some women in labor begin to push when the baby is ready to be born and is almost out, while others - when the fetal head has not yet reached the pelvic floor.

A midwife must be present at the birth, who will tell you how the fetus is progressing and indicate the mother’s further actions. You should push by tensing the abdominal muscles, not the intestines. If you ignore the advice, there is a possibility of acquiring hemorrhoidal seals.

Complications

If after childbirth there is pressure on the anus, you need to see your doctor, who will determine the cause and make an accurate diagnosis.

Why does the anus hurt after childbirth:

  • constipation;
  • haemorrhoids;
  • helminths;
  • anal fissure;
  • exacerbation of chronic diseases;
  • inflammation of the rectum.

If it shoots in the anus, this indicates intestinal diseases, possibly a manifestation of colitis. A doctor who will prescribe the necessary examination will help you verify this.

To reduce pain in the anus, doctors give the following recommendations:

  • use non-steroidal pain-relieving ointments;
  • use ointments that contain heparin, glycerin or troxevasin;
  • make antiseptic baths;
  • follow a diet;
  • use laxatives or antihemorrhoidal suppositories;
  • engage in physical exercise.

Attempts in the anus appear due to various diseases of the rectum. To avoid postpartum complications, you need to push and breathe correctly, using the recommendations of your midwife. It is best if the expectant mother familiarizes herself with breathing techniques in advance on the Internet or at special courses for women in labor. You should not rely only on the doctor; much depends on the woman in labor herself.