Pushing during childbirth should not be done carelessly & bull; hello healthy

Push, or what is also commonly called cool, is one of the important things that need to be done when you are having a normal delivery.

Normal delivery is the process of delivering a baby through the vagina without using any tools. Normal delivery requires three important factors which are often abbreviated as 3Ps: Power, Passage, and Passenger. That is, to give birth normally, you must have strength (power) when pushing; condition of the birth canal (passage) adequate; and the fetus that was born (passenger) not too big to pass through the birth canal.

Don't push immediately when you feel a contraction

Even if you don't intend to push, the urge to push will usually appear as an unconscious reaction to fetal pressure on the pelvic floor. The feeling of pressure or movement of the fetus deep in the pelvis will cause an unbearable urge to push. When they first experience this urge to push, many women feel it like the urge to defecate.

However, when you feel like pushing when the opening of the birth canal isn't perfect, hold it in a relaxed manner, and let all the air out of your lungs. If necessary, exhale quickly to prevent you from straining.

You or your partner can ask the nurse or midwife to check the current openings. If the cervix still has a thick area, you should not squat or push until the cervix has fully opened. If you force it, the cervix will actually swell and slow down the progress of labor.

Although it can be difficult and uncomfortable at times to refrain from pushing when you feel a strong urge, it is better to hold off on pushing until the cervix is completely open.

When to start pushing?

With each contraction, the baby will be pushed further downwards, causing the birth canal to open. The opening is called complete when the birth canal is stretched 10 cm wide, which means that the opening is complete and the baby is ready to come out of the womb.

When you are at this stage, heartburn due to uterine contractions will occur faster and longer, about every 2-3 minutes. The fetal head descends into the pelvic space and presses on the pelvic floor muscles, so that reflexively it will cause a feeling of wanting to push.

This urge to push can be similar to a feeling like having a bowel movement, which is characterized by an open anus. And when you start to push, the fetal head will begin to show, while the vulva (vaginal lips) opens and the perineum stretches.

You will feel a strong pressure in the perineal area. This perineal muscle is elastic, but a doctor or midwife can estimate that cutting of the perineum (also known as an episiotomy procedure) is necessary, then this procedure will be performed, with the aim of preventing forced tearing of your perineum due to baby pressure.

When to stop pushing?

This pushing process is carried out until most of the baby's head is visible, or it is called crowning. You will feel the genital tissue at the bottom stretch and feel hot.

At this point, you should stop pushing, and allow the genitals and perineum (the muscle between the vaginal opening and anus) to slowly stretch around the baby's emerging head. This is important to do, because if you are constantly pushing and pushing, there is a chance that a tearing or birth may occur too soon.

When this stretch occurs, the hot sensation you feel in your genitals is a clear signal that you need to stop pushing immediately. Your doctor or midwife will give you directions and tell you when to push and when to stop.

How to push?

Once the cervix is fully opened, you may feel the urge to immediately push / push along with the onset of the contractions. However, some women feel the urge to arise after a short break from contractions. This difference is influenced by the number and rate of descent of the baby, the position and position of the baby in the pelvis, and your body position.

If you are at the full opening stage, feel free to start pushing whenever you feel the urge and urge to push. Push your baby down by pushing, and once the urge to push is gone, breathe lightly until the next urge to push or until the contractions subside.

You will probably push 3-5 times with each contraction, and each push lasts 5-7 seconds. Take advantage of the opportunity to rest and relax at the intervals of contractions.

This type of suppression is called the "spontaneous urge". This means that you react spontaneously to the urge to push. This type is recommended if the labor is normal and you are not sedated.

The process of pushing will continue with each contraction until the baby's head is almost out. At this time, the doctor or midwife will tell you to stop pushing so that the baby can slowly come out through the genital opening.

If you are using an epidural to anesthetize the pain

Spontaneous squeezing is not possible under anesthesia (eg with an epidural) because it can eliminate the sensation of wanting to push as well as your ability to push effectively.

If you are under anesthesia to reduce pain, your midwife or nurse will tell you when and how to push. This is called "guided encouragement".