Panhandle Birth Center

Panhandle Birth Center Birth Center owned and operated by Sandra Elkins - TX Licensed Midwife.

Providing compassionate care for a supportive and empowering birth experience in the Texas Panhandle.

At full dilation, clinical guidance often includes instructing the patient to tuck the chin, draw the knees back, and pu...
12/13/2025

At full dilation, clinical guidance often includes instructing the patient to tuck the chin, draw the knees back, and push with a deep breath while the staff counts to ten. This approach is typically repeated with each contraction.
Coached pushing (Valsalva pushing) is sometimes used when a first-time mom has a heavy epidural and can’t feel anything below the waist. This may help speed up delivery or assist an OP baby needing extra effort to rotate. Sometimes, a woman reaches full dilation, but her contractions ease, and the uterus rests before the second stage moves the baby down steadily.
But must this happen to every mother? Multiparas sometimes arrive at the hospital with a baby at +2, no epidural, and doing well, yet staff still coach them. What happened to letting the head ease out? It seems women aren’t trusted to know how or when to push.
Coached pushing vs. passive pushing or laboring down is at the heart of my argument. When pushing occurs for 10 seconds, it reduces oxygen flow to the mother, the placenta, the baby, and the tissue. In addition, coached pushing can cause micro-damage to the tissues of the pelvic floor that is cumulative, resulting in a greater degree of pelvic floor prolapse and urinary incontinence. Letting your baby labor down and pushing when you feel the urge may be the best alternative. My main point is that a one-size-fits-all approach to pushing does not serve every mother or baby well, and individual needs should guide the process.
I only skimmed the research; I didn't have the time or patience to study it closely. Still, I found there is no clear consensus.
Babies are less stressed when women listen to their bodies and push as it feels natural. Women know how to birth without instruction.
This approach highlights an area of ongoing professional debate.
As a midwife, Valsalva pushing is a last resort. Most women can and will labor down until there is an urge to push. Waiting is the physiologic approach. A physiological approach to natural labor & delivery most often yields the best outcomes.



How many times have we heard, “Oh, I had to have my baby by C-section because the cord was wrapped around my baby’s neck...
12/13/2025

How many times have we heard, “Oh, I had to have my baby by C-section because the cord was wrapped around my baby’s neck, foot, chest, or some combination thereof”? It’s important to know that cords are wrapped around babies about 30% of the time. In fact, having a cord around the body can be safer than the cord being in the va**na, which may serve as nature’s way to provide protection. Cords are surrounded by a substance called Wharton’s jelly that protects the vein and arteries running through the cord. If the cord were not around the neck or body, it could potentially fall in front of the baby’s head before labor, which would cause issues once labor begins. Once the baby enters the birth canal, the cord can become pinched—and that’s where actual concerns may arise. So, if your OB explains, “Your baby’s cord was wrapped around their neck, and that’s why they were stressed,” keep in mind that while stress from a nuchal cord is possible, it may be less common than often implied. Sometimes, other factors, namely pitocin, failure to wait, or any combination of interventions during labor, could contribute to the baby’s condition.

This too
11/21/2025

This too

11/21/2025

journey through motherhood is uniquely yours, and you deserve the confidence to embrace it fully! 🤰❤️ Remember, you shouldn't have to become a mini midwife to advocate for your choices.
Let's shatter the myths and stand united! Every woman has the right to feel safe, respected, and cherished during such a pivotal moment in her life. đź’Şđź’–
Join me in celebrating informed choices, trust, and empowerment in birth! Share your experiences and let’s uplift one another. You are powerful! 💖

Address

1200 SW 15th Avenue
Amarillo, TX
79102

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+18067726431

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