Are you scared you will have to do it again? If you have more than one, did you push less the second time?
I pushed for three hours with my first. My MW had me start pushing when he was still at -2 or something because he wasn't descending because of his position. I'm so scared I will have another labor like that!
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
no; it all kind of blurred together, honestly. I had an amazing labor nurse, tho. i think crossfit kept me in really good shape to push, LOL! plus maybe her taking so long to get out kept me from tearing real bad?...
honeydew / 7303 posts
I pushed for an hour and 52 minutes. It seemed like forever and yes! I'm scared. I'd really like to not have an epidural next time because I could not tell when I was supposed to be pushing.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
I pushed an hour and 45 minutes and that seemed VERY long and it hurt like heck I wanted to give up. I remember saying "I'm done, just take her out" lol...so yes, I worry about going through that again!
eggplant / 11716 posts
I didn't push long at all because I was completely effaced while I was still only about 3 cm dilated. BUT it took me a loooong time to dilate and my labor was about....27 hours total, which sucks. So, I'm glad that by the end I only had to push about 20 minutes.
I think it's all just the position of the baby, so hopefully next time will be different for you!
apricot / 391 posts
I pushed for five hours with #1 and then had to have forceps.
#2 came out in like two pushes!!
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6581 posts
I pushed for 3 miserable hours and ended up with a c-section because she was stuck. The thought of that happening again terrifies me to the point that I will probably have an elective c section next time.
cherry / 215 posts
I pushed for 4 hours with my first (and only so far). I really hope it doesn't take as long next time (especially knowing some people only push for like 15 minutes - seems crazy to me after what I went through!) However, it wasn't horrible. I had an epidural, and while that might have contributed to the long time, it wasn't a very painful experience.
I did feel like I had an unreasonable amount of hip pain for months and months and months after giving birth, and do think it probably had to do with pushing for so long, and also being in the same position for so long. THAT - I don't want to go through again.
pear / 1895 posts
@AprilK: This is so encouraging! I pushed for 4 hours, and I would REALLY like to decrease that time some, next go-round. I'm hoping for a slightly smaller baby, a shorter labor, and better positioning! Here's hoping...
apricot / 391 posts
@Bao: @yellowbird: yeah the five hours was wretched. At triage when I was in labor with my second, the nurse was like "tell me about your first labor" and I was thinking that I shouldn't tell her so they didn't dilly dally getting me a room. She checked me and was like "OH. You're eight centimeters." DD was born about 15 min later!!
apricot / 431 posts
I was terrified of this, too! LO #1 I pushed for just over 2 hours. With #2 it was only 5 pushes and about 10-15 mins. Not even close to the same experience!
apricot / 391 posts
@yellowbird: I couldn't really feel to push with my first either with the epi, so I didn't want one with my second. Turned out I went so fast I wouldn't have had time for one but it was sooooo much easier to push without one. It was literally primal- my body took over and just got it done!!
pear / 1699 posts
@AprilK: this gives me hope!
I pushed for 3 hours too and ended up with a crazy lateral episiotomy with vacuum assistance since he was posterior/stuck. #2 is due March 1 and I'm hoping she is in better position.
pomegranate / 3113 posts
I pushed for 2 hours but had no idea it was that long until my MW told me afterward. I was in the zone and would have said I was pushing for maybe an hour or so. Doesn't mean it wasn't crazy hard work, though! Oh, and I didn't have an epi.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
Im terrified. I pished for two hours w epi that wore off before and baby was almost 9 lbs and 14 inch head.
Terrified of it again....
grapefruit / 4291 posts
I pushed for around two hours and eventually my midwife made the call to give me an episiotomy and use the ventouse to get baby out when a she started to get stressed.
honeydew / 7444 posts
@AprilK: 5???
I pushed for 3.5 hours. At 3 they told me they were going to use forceps. Had to wait 30 minutes for my doctor and push in the meantime. I am terrified i will have to push that long with my second.
nectarine / 2667 posts
I pushed for 4 hours with no epidural. They needed to vacuum him out at the end. I'm not scared for a future labor. A) I think labors can all be different. B) I've heard the 2nd time is faster - my midwife said now I've "paved the road". C) I know I can do it if I have to!
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
I pushed for 3 hrs and he never crowned.. They had to go in and put the vacuum on his head to get him out. With my second, I pushed her out in 15 mins! She slipped out easily and I only had one tiny tear (lots of upwards tearing with my first). So for me the second time was cake compared to the first!
papaya / 10473 posts
I pushed for 3.5, almost 4 hours and ended up with some crazy tears, a mediolateral episiotomy, and a vacuum assist for my very crooked posterior baby. In the moment I was fairly certain I was going to die lol... I'm scared of this happening again!
pomelo / 5789 posts
@Bookish: ditto, 3 hours of pushing then a c section. torn between elective and vbac for 2
honeydew / 7235 posts
I really hope not! I am betting it will be faster the second time - I pushed for 5 hours with my first!!!
pear / 1799 posts
I'm the opposite: I pushed for 17 minutes... This is only because baby's position was conducive to a very fast labor. I'm terrified that it'll take hours next time, and it's almost enough for me to declare one & done. You ladies are super heroes!!!!
grapefruit / 4049 posts
I pushed for 54 mins with my first (with epidural)... Not too long compared to others, but I came here to say that pushing the 2nd time is *usually* faster, I think, all factors being equal (but how often is that?). My case is more of an extreme example, but my second baby came out after two pushes (I got to the hospital at 9.5cm, so she was ready!).
pomelo / 5326 posts
I pushed for 2 hours and it seemed like forever! I could feel everything with my epi so I don't know what I was doing wrong. When I first started pushing my nurse said "you're doing great, baby will be here soon!" Ugh! I still look back on my L&D as a very positive experience but next time I do not want to push for 2 hours. The haemorrhoids were the worst "damage", I only had a small tear otherwise.
cantaloupe / 6885 posts
I pushed for 3 hours and it seemed to go by quickly until the last hour when I thought OMG I can't do this anymore. My whole labor was 28 hours and I was exhausted and hungry. They finally used the vacuum and got her out.
I'm a bit worried for the second but the Dr told me if the baby wouldn't have been sunny side up it would have only been a few pushes because I was pushing effectively so that made me feel better!
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
okay i *wasn't* freaked out until i started reading all the resposnes. good god.
pomelo / 5720 posts
I pushed for an hour and 45 mins without medication. It was brutal but I ended up having only minor tears. The hemorrhoids were the worst part. I plan on pushing a lot harder next time. Lol.
pomegranate / 3212 posts
I never get it when people know how long they pushed. It was definitely hours PLURAL. i'm hoping to God that the second time is faster!
watermelon / 14206 posts
I don't know how long I pushed out S, but her head was so big, and her shoulders got stuck, and I'm terrified of that happening again. I felt like I had been run over by a truck several times by the time I went home.
watermelon / 14206 posts
@knittylady: I don't get it, either...I am definitely not watching the clock while I'm pushing...everything seems to stand still!
cantaloupe / 6800 posts
I pushed for just over 2 hours! It didn't seem that long because the pain was so crazy, my epidural wore off way before I started pushing so I was delirious with pain and had no clue what was going on except that my midwife was being a little bitch.. I remember that part, ha!
honeydew / 7917 posts
I pushed for 2 (or was it 3... I forget) hours with my first and was scared I would have to do the same with my second. I didn't have much doctor care, and I think that's partially the reason why I was allowed to push for so long without much intervention. With my second labor was quick, and the baby was out very fast (can't recall how long -- maybe 15 minutes?).
grapefruit / 4862 posts
I pushed for a few hours... 2-3 I think? To the point where I pushed so much but she was still higher up and they wanted her to drop more so they left me for an hour in a weird upright position to help her move down.. They told me to sleep but even with the epi I could feel the contractions- not happening! It was all kind of a blur because I had been in labor all night long and not slept.
Even with the epi it was definitely painful. I have a narrow (more oblong) pelvic opening so I figured it would be hard. She kept almost crowning but then going back up after the pushes. It was so difficult I was just waiting for them to tell me I'd need a c-section. We had a nurse shift change and the last hour we had an AMAZING nurse and I know she was the difference for me. Still had 2nd degree tears interior and exterior though. That was the worst part of recovery. I could barely walk for a week or so.
I'm not optimistic that #2 will be different because I knew before labor how my pelvis was and I doubt that changes. I just hope SOME part of it is improved!
grapefruit / 4066 posts
Dear lord I hope not. I pushed for over 2 hours with LO. Little did we know, the cord was around her neck and wasn't allowing her to descend any further. At one point I just remember screaming to get her out any way they can, I couldn't do it anymore. My epi had worn off and all I felt was this immense amount of pressure. It honestly felt like a truck was coming out of my butt, no joke. I remember telling the nurse that I was afraid if I pushed any harder or longer my a**hole was going to explode lol. My doctors were amazing though, they kept reassuring me monItoring LO, and when they saw her crown with the cord they cut it while she was still inside me, then she came out quickly after that. No forvepts, vacuum, or episiotomy needed. So yea, really hoping next time is shorter! I'm always amazed when I hear stories of women pushing their babies out in 2 or 3 pushes!!
grapefruit / 4862 posts
@Bookish: that's what happened to my SIL and it was my biggest fear. So proud of you for handling that. Having to recover from a vaginal almost-birth and a c-section has got to be the absolute worst. No advice since SIL hasn't had #2 yet, but just sending support!
honeydew / 7235 posts
!@Dandelion: @knittylady: we know the exact time because when I starts pushing at 10:30 my husband and I naively thought we were going to (shortly) meet our son, so he texted family & friends to let them know - and then it wasn't till 3:30 that he finally arrived!
Prob makes a difference with the epi too, it was a very calm, OK, you will start pushing now 
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