11/11/2025
✨Pushing Tips!
For some people, the pushing stage is instinctual & feels like the best part of their birth. For others, the experience can be a bit confusing & overwhelming. So here are tips you may find helpful!
Alternative birthing positions:
❤️The lithotomy (flat-on-back) or “C” position (resting on your tailbone with the body curled in the shape of a C), are the most common birthing positions. Unfortunately the common use of these positions has little to do with their effectiveness, but instead the fact that many care providers see them as the easier way for them to manage the birth.
Being on the back reduces space in the pelvic outlet, which makes it a tighter fit for the baby. The sacrum gets pushed into the birth canal and prevents the re**al space from stretching, giving the baby less room to navigate. In this position, the baby has to work against gravity as it heads upwards over the tailbone then under the p***c bone. If these positions work for you and your baby, great! But if not, experiment with other positions (like side lying, all 4’s, semi-squatting or squatting). With the help of your birth team, these positions can be useful even with an epidural.
❤️No “purple pushing”:
An alternative to valsalva breathing (aka “purple pushing”) is to push on a slow exhale while keeping your face, jaw, and shoulders relaxed. This can help you engage your core muscles and help the uterus work to push your baby out. If you’re like me and need a little bit of a held breath, continue making an effort to keep your eyes, jaw, mouth, and shoulders relaxed.
❤️Relax between contractions:
Pushing can feel like a lot of effort. So between contractions, do your best to release any unnecessary tension. Try massaging your jaw, releasing your shoulders, or fluttering your lips. In this way, you can approach the next contraction from a more relaxed and ready space!
➡️Alright PYC community - what pushing tip do you want to offer?
Learn about the 2nd stage of labor and more in our ON DEMAND or IN PERSON Childbirth Education classes!