What does "pushing" during labor mean?

With contractions

Until baby comes, they may ask you to stop pushing a do some slower breaths to slow labor

You push when you have contractions. When I delivered my son, the nurses had me push for 10 seconds and rest for 10 seconds 3 times each contraction. The nurses won’t call for a doctor until baby’s head is just past your pelvic bone. And when baby is in position, the doctor will be there for the last couple of contractions until you push out baby. Once I had baby in position, it took me 3 contractions to push him out. I hope this helps you understand it better

As said already, it’s when you begin pushing to make progress to deliver baby.

You may also push when you aren’t 10cm if it’s what feels good to you.

I asked this question to my doula and when we took our birthing classes and found out that for FTM it takes a while for baby to come down the birth canal. It could take 10 mins or 3hrs that’s why you hear the different variations in pushing times.

It’s not like you push once and baby is out. However, the more births you have, the faster baby comes down the canal.

I hope that answers your question because I was curious too!

😂😂👏🏻omg I read this and laughed because I feel so seen!!! I was wondering this exact question too. Loved the “what’s going on?” At the end. 😂 Thank you for asking this! I will read through these answers!

yes this!! I pushed for 4.5 hours my first time 😅 hoping for a faster experience this time!

With my son I pushed with contractions for 5.5 hours until the realized he came down crooked and was stuck. What they thought was his head in my canal was actually a hematoma growing. I think my contractions were about 30 seconds long every 1-2 minutes and they would have me push for 10 seconds and breath for 10 seconds and push for 10 and then rest. I had an epidural but still felt everything. So I could feel when a contractions was coming and it felt like relief to push.

Oh man, no wonder pushing is exhausting. Especially for several hours. I didn't realize that it's basically a non-stop process. For some reason I thought you get an extended break between several pushes, if there's no progress, then resume pushing for a few minutes, then stop again for a few minutes.