https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 12:57:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-does-laboring-down-mean#post-121722 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:46:17 +0000 winniebee 121722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: thx for clarifying ; ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-does-laboring-down-mean#post-121709 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:36:07 +0000 skibobrown 121709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like artbee, I also felt an uncontrollable urge to push... even through my epidural. There was no way that laboring down would have worked for me. Of course I paid the price in some pretty major tears. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-does-laboring-down-mean#post-121705 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:34:15 +0000 BSB 121705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I always wondered what that term really meant. Thanks for asking! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-does-laboring-down-mean#post-121701 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:29:36 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 121701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here is my preferred definition. A process in which the healthcare team allows a laboring woman that has an epidural to wait to push until she is feeling the urge to push or showing other signs of being ready, other than typical cervical dilation. This allows the woman's body to push the baby out on its own, rather than forcing the baby out with forceful pushing.</p> <p>You shouldn't hold back from an uncontrollable urge to push. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-does-laboring-down-mean#post-121622 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:41:26 +0000 heffalump 121622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I dont know how people do it. When i wanted to push it didnt seem like a choice, it was a need! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-does-laboring-down-mean#post-121619 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:38:54 +0000 808love 121619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That is great advice. Wish my doctors and nurses thought so too. I had 3 hours of pushing...yikes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-does-laboring-down-mean#post-121550 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:16:01 +0000 winniebee 121550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ooooh thanks! That makes sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-does-laboring-down-mean#post-121537 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:09:29 +0000 Mrsbells 121537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it means resisting the urge to push, and just allow the baby to drop down even further and thus reduce risk of tears. But I could be confusing it with another term </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-does-laboring-down-mean#post-121536 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:09:28 +0000 Honeybee 121536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It basically means waiting to push even after you are fully dilated. "Laboring down" allows the baby to move down on it's own, without the mother actively pushing, and it's believed to make pushing take less time and (potentially) reduce damage like tears. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-does-laboring-down-mean#post-121500 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:55:04 +0000 winniebee 121500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I read this a lot in birth stories....what does it mean?! </p>