06/12/2026
Maybe it’s felt like an uphill battle to get to this moment🧗♀️ or maybe it unfolded like a roller coaster faster than you ever expected🎢… the moment you’re body changed from transition into pushing out your baby…& the moment you realized this is really happening- you’re meeting your baby!💫
💪🏽The pushing phase of birth can last between and up to 1-3 hrs. The cervix is fully dilated + effaced (although being a 10 doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to push and even if you’re not at 10 yet you can still feel those “pushy urges” & the cervix can dilate in seconds!), and the uterus begins pushing the baby down into the pelvis. You may feel the “urge to push” & work with contractions to push baby out. Contractions may space out a little and you may even drift off and rest a few minutes in-between contractions. You may even experience a surge of adrenaline that will help you have enough energy to birth your baby. After so much time having to let the contractions wash over you, you may be surprised it actually might feel good to be able to finally do something!
🐣Once your baby actually begins crowing (the head is visible and remains visible in between contractions), the rest of their body will often follow in just a few pushes. Baby’s head may move forward with a push and then actually move back- this is a good thing and doesn’t mean you are going backwards. Baby is making their way & may need to change position. The actual birth is the fastest part of the entire process and typically lasts around 1-10 minutes.
During pushing we can help you find a position that YOU feel most comfortable & confident in, educate in the moment, manning your playlist, holding your leg (or your hand or your head & wiping your brow), or giving your partner that look that you’re doing incredible! Whether you need some coaching, the whole team cheering you on or you’d rather have more silence so you can go inward, your doula is watching you, mirroring you & helping the room follow your lead! 🤍
There’s soo much more info & nuances when it comes to pushing & that’s just one of the reasons why we love our prenatal meetings with our families!
↪️next up the delivery of the placenta!