Do I *have* to actually push, can’t I just concentrate on screaming?

[Epacris]

With DD I screamed and screamed and swore (I was very rude apparently, according to DH). I remember my body just pushing and squeezing her out. It was completely involuntary, totally out of my control. The midwives fairly insistently suggested I should be pushing during a contraction and that I was "wasting" the scream, I should use it to push. Do I have to, TBH I was happy just hanging on and screaming. Won’t my body just do it all for me?

[skybie]

DD came out by u screaming didnt she??

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

LOL, I understand what you're saying I wonder if focussing some of your screaming energy to help your body push would make it go faster?

[Trillian]

Yep, it will do it all for you. If you have a really strong urge to push, then you don't need to make it any faster or more efficient by pushing yourself. If anything, you risk bubs being born too quickly. When I had DD1, they told me not to push and to breathe her out and while it was one of the hardest things I have ever done (because the urge to push was so strong that you can't help but feel like you want to push kwim?) it showed me that my body could get her out on its own. if I had of pushed as well, then she would have come way to fast -as it was it was only 18minutes for her to be born without me pushing at all.

[Epacris]

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah they said that too, don’t push just pant, and I was like “umm I’m not, I’m just hanging on to the edge of the bed screaming here ok?”.

[hannanat]

When my fourth child was born, I was standing next to the bed making a kind of groany noise. The MW asked me if I was pushing or just groaning and I wailed that I didn't know. It turned out I was pushing

[Fleur]

Ha. I had the opposite - 'push, push!' while I screamed I AM!!!!!! Didnt' think I could push any harder if I tried.
Epacris, I think you go (to a certain extent) with what your body tells you. If you want to hang there & scream, do it screaming has always worked well for me.

ETA - I should add, I was being a bit tongue in cheek. I can see the benefits in directing some of that screaming energy into pushing, like Keiki said, and I realise there are times when it's best not to push - you can't always just do what you feel. But I just hate the whole feeling of being directed, instead of encouraged or coached, at that time. Working with what you feel would be so much nicer, if you can, I think.

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I was completely the opposite. I didn't scream at all when i was pushing i focused all my energy and thoughts on pushing out my baby, i just wanted to meet her!!

Though i did hear many women screaming until the moment their babies came out. But DP said i just groaned and panted when i was pushing (i had no idea what i was doing as i was so focused on the pushing)

[Astrolady]

hahaha. Lachlan watched his birth video the other day and he said "mum why are you screaming" They were telling me to push cause he had to be born in a hurry.

[Snacks]

TBH I was happy just hanging on and screaming

If that was effective, go with it
Is there anything about 2nd stage of your last births that you wanted to change? Are you worried about being rude? Are you wanting things to go faster or slower?
If not, then just roll with it. It's a third baby and will therefore probably just slip out while you are having a cup of tea. PMSL! Of course I'm joking, but I think the mw's will likely just tell you to do whatever the heck you want (within reason, LOL. No hair-pulling or name-calling ok? Keep it moderately clean please, Rach) because your body is pretty darn good at this now.

[~Lashes~]

if screaming worked for you, and you were comfy with it, go for it!!
i remember trying to push thinking it would happen faster with my first 3, only to be told off and not to push till they said, pfft whatever, ill push when i feel the need to, ok!!

[Marlene]

My body pushed Grace out all on it's own...in ONE push!!!! I was on my knees hanging onto the back of the bed and the nurse started telling me to stop pushing and start panting so I wouldn't tear. I wasn't even pushing, LOL, and out she popped. Pushing stage of labour....6 minutes!

[*TripleJ*]

i was the same as marlene but it took 2 pushes when i got to the pushing stage the middie told me i had to go to the other room i told her f off b**** lol but yeah if it works i would do it

[Feijoa Mum]

With DD I didnt push at all! In fact I was so busy concentrating on my moaning and contractions that I didnt even feel her come out!
In hindsight it was great but in saying that I think my giving her a helping hand would have sped the process up a bit.

[Catherine]

my first (water birth) the 'erge to push' was overwhelming, and my body just did it (no conciousness on my part), I concisously didn't add to my bodies natural push...i didn't want to rush and tear.
My second (on my knees on a bed), I wasn't conciously pushing...and it turned out I needed too. Two very different births. Both wonderful in their own way.

You may find hanging on and screaming works for you again, you may find you need (or just do) something else. You do as you need to do...

xo

[~clover~]

Yep. DD3 came out all by herself!
I couldn't scream when my body started pushing though... cept the 'holy ****!' at the start & the crowning

[onthefly]

What about singing?

[Roryrory]

With DS1 I endured directed pushing. With DS2 I was told if I didn't push I'd "never have this baby". With DD I didn't push at all - she was just "there". I would much rather not push and just let my body "expel" the baby. Muuuuuuch more comfortable!!