I actually think there is a knack to pushing. Yes you push like a number two, but the timing of an effective push - now that is something else. I am convinced that I only was effectively pushing towards the end - like Kelly says I think I was rushed into it a bit early by medical staff. In my experience it was like riding a wave on a body board - there is no point paddling hard when the wave is miles behind you, just like paddling once you are at the crest of the wave is pretty ineffective - both work ok, but just tire you out more than achieve anything real. But if you work with the wave just as it catches you, that's when you get really far.

I think contractions are like this - you can push heaps and tire yourself out at the "wrong" parts (not really wrong, but YKWIM?) and not get as far, but if you push with the contraction its a far more effective use of energy.

I'm not sure if this will be useful for you, Lee but do those who have been there agree?