The Pushy Feeling

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2009

Pressure? Urge to have a BM ? I have never had a baby so I have no idea. I am just guessing.

CEG · Feb 17, 2009

I usually just say "you will know." The closest thing I can come up with is that it is like throwing up- uncontrollable and uncomfortable but not painful and there's nothing you can do but go with it. "throwing down" maybe.

nkochrn, RN · Feb 17, 2009

Yep, "you will know" is what I usually say. I can see how it is like throwing down though;) hmmm.... I wonder what a mom would say if I said, "well it feels like you're throwing up through your lady parts" LOL

MultipNP, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · Feb 17, 2009

Hmmm... I know exactly what it feels like, but don't know how to say it, either. The best way I can describe it is to say it is a lot like the feeling of needing to have a BM -- but the feeling occurs in different muscles in order to work on getting something (like a baby!) out (of the lady parts).

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Feb 17, 2009

You know, I had an epidural, and I still 'knew' when it was time to push. I could feel TONS of pressure in that area. You just know. It does sort of feel like a BM, but not exactly.

cloister · Feb 17, 2009

It's visceral......like the tide rolling in, and it feels GOOD to push, and have your body take over, quite without conscious thought on your part.

It's truly an amazing thing. Glad I got to experience it.

CEG · Feb 18, 2009

Definitely the most intense physical sensation I have ever felt. I had a spinal with my first two kids and had an urge to push but it was nothing compared to the sensation of giving birth naturally with my third. I thought I was screaming and I was afraid I would scare my kids but actually I was told later that I didn't make any noise at all:)

nkochrn, RN · Feb 18, 2009

I do know what it feels like, I had a natural drug free lady partsl delivery. I just have trouble describing it to other people other than saying "you will know when it happens."

shortstuff31117 · Feb 18, 2009

I usually just tell people to tell me when they feel pressure. Almost all our pts. have epidurals so this is usually the best we get out of them.

But...I had an unmedicated birth and never once felt any urge to push. I could've sat there complete for hours. So they wont just always know.

CEG · Feb 18, 2009

I usually just tell people to tell me when they feel pressure. Almost all our pts. have epidurals so this is usually the best we get out of them.
But...I had an unmedicated birth and never once felt any urge to push. I could've sat there complete for hours. So they wont just always know.

The same thing happened to me- I actually did sit there complete for several hours with no urge to push. I finally pushed anyway and when the baby got to a certain point I felt it.

FLmomof5 · Feb 18, 2009

My personal experience....

Child #1. Had epidural after pitocin made contractions too painful. Unfortunately, I was numb only the the right side of my body, so I felt the labor on the left for the whole time! (26 hrs - 10 after pit) The nurse would check every so often and then finally told me that I was 10 cm and 100% effaced....time to push. I had NO urge to push, instead I cried out, "I can't!!!!" She yelled at me for a while and then I pushed through the pain....without the urge. The baby rotated and I was finally numb! At that point, I had no sensation of contractions, pressure, urge to push...nada. I just mentally pushed (couldn't tell if I was pushing or not) and baby came out without a hitch....except for the cord around the neck point....

Child #2. Had arranged for the epidural at the USAFA hospital. In labor at Eglin AFB Hospital. :icon_roll They would NOT give me the epidural. Got demoral (sp) instead. Anyway, this time I 'knew' I was close to needing to push. MD ignored me and went on break. RN palps bladder and then caths me because "that is what is holding the baby back..." She no sooner had the cath out when my son's head appeared. I felt the urge, but the RN refused to catch....held on until another MD got to the bed. Urge felt like having the biggest BM ever...kinda! (Baby ended up in the NICU for aspiration pnemonia.) [Note: birth occurred 8 hrs post pit drip]

Child #3. At 7 cm they administered the epidural. Obviously, no sensations again. This one was a carefree delivery. [6 hrs after pit drip]

Child #4. At 7 cm they called the anesthesiologist in to administer the epidural. (Again, I am on pit....I always got 'stuck' at 5 cm!) I am sitting on the edge of the bed waiting on the doc. Hmmm, what's that? NO! Can't be! They SAID I am 7 cm! Breathe....breathe....breathe..... Whew! Got through that contraction! Doc is now at my back palping where he plans on placing the epidural. Hang on. Another contraction! He backs off..... OMG!!!!! The baby is coming out and I am sitting on the exit! So instinct takes over and I start to get off the bed! Hubby grabs me, lifts me up to lay me on the bed and the baby comes flying out and lands on the bed!!!! Talk about chaos! LOL (And my poor sis-in-law was in the room to observe! LOLOLOLOL) :lol2: From start of pit to exit....1.5 hrs.

Child #5. Hmmm, this one is different!!!! Not only can I FEEL the contractions before 5 cm (I couldn't with the other 4. Felt like little gas pains so many mins apart!) this time the contractions are ALL in my back! Silly me. Thought that since each post-pit time was shorter and shorter, this would be QUICK so no point in arranging for epidural. Wouldn't you know that I would get past 5 cm this time without pit!!!! :madface: I was 5 cm when I showed up at the hospital 6pm New Years Day....child born @ 4:53 am on the 2nd! Argh. Anyway, it was again the 'gotta take a huge BM' type feeling.

BTW....strong abs here so except for 'turning around' baby #1 in 3 pushes....delivery took 1 push!