Oh dear, I have done this and answered them back when they said this, although in my defence we were trying to save her from one of the horrible doc's (not a generalisation, this one really is not very nice) I am hoping you can teach me something as I have not seen or caught many babies without this method.

I had a bad experience once, and the day after was feeling a bit sick, upset and terrified of another delivery. The midwife I worked with though was the first I had seen then to say nothing as the woman pushed, she was doing the notes quietly in the corner, whilst the baby's head crowned! She was fabulous and taught me show much in one late shift and since the nI try to keep as quiet as poss.

Though this is making me think (anecdotal again, sorry) though. I was quietly 'coached' when pushing out my own babies and as I had my eyes shut and was 'entonoxed' ALOT! the quiet, but constant vocal encouragement was something i won't forget. And it really helped me believe I could do it and was doing it well!

Trouble is it is so difficult to know the right balance and know what is needed for each woman, something I feel is a long way off for me as I know so little. It is also influenced by your mentor and others in the room, and what is needed i.e after epidural, long first stage, lots of pain etc...

I would love to see normality more, and perhaps be able to keep quiet. I realy do think alot of women are not educated enough antenatally and really have little idea what they are going to have to do, when the time comes, there is little discussion antenatally regarding them pooing during pushing (which so far (IME) has been a real worry for alot of women. But then perhaps if they were at home or at birthing centre, with their known midwife, none of this would be necessary, as hospital interferes with so many complex aspects of birth.

Answer, I don't really know!

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