Its good as they all work they in the research department so they aren't even guest speakers, we're really lucky, also Fiona Dykes-breastfeeding extrodinaire, Victoria -Hall-Moran, b/feeding and nutrition expert, Tina Lavender and Grace Edwards, Soo Downes book is really good, great chapter on the pushing debate in there, also leaving the cord pulsating/nuchal cord too x

Generally we are taught to look for signs of 2nd stage such as involuntary pushing, anal dilatation ,purple line, grunting, going into her self, PP visable, heavy show. We dont necessarily need to do a VE unless it is clinically indicated.

Most women are in tune with their bodies and do what the feel is right for them. I do not agre with the Amercian way of holding your breath with chin to chest and count to 10, I think it does more harm than good. We try to get 3 pushes out of one good contraction.

I have seen a odematous cx however as with others it was OP with fetal tachy.

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Ugh, no, I agree with this. I'm right now a doula, and sometimes I have a really hard time in the hospital stepping back and not getting over the top angry at the "way they do things" in the hospital. Generally it seems that everyone just freaks out when it's time to push, and wants the baby NOW which I think is bad in so many ways. Ah, I'm still learning and I'm looking forward to being able to practice. There are some wonderful midwives here who are just amazing and I spend a lot of time pouring over the articles and so on that they write!

It is quite good for us as the 2nd stage limit used to be 1hour but its now been increased to 2hours (obviously with limitations) as long as all is well, and if you have epidural I think you get 3 weeks lol x

must have changed a bit then!

I'm allowed to say that - I was born there (well at Beverley Westwood hospital, then lived in Hull for the 23 years after that)

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Love Dory xxx
Just keep swimmin', just keep swimmin'....

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3rd year Student Midwife

I tend, particularly with multips, to tell them that if they're thinking they might want to push, then it's too early. When they NNNEEEEEEDDD to push it's probably time.

But then there was the time I had a multip pushing on a 3cm cervix, and was told by the co-ordinator that "that should teach me that I should always do a VE to confirm fully prior to 'letting her push' ". I don't let women do anything, I support, inform, and enable, thank you very much.

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Love Dory xxx
Just keep swimmin', just keep swimmin'....

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I like it x

I dont think it is necesarry to DO a VE to confirm 2nd stage, there are other signs that can guide you in this direction. It is done far too often in hospital so things can GET GOING, so to speak but who is this for the woman or for the midwife?

Generally we hvae a 2 hour limit to pushing in 2nd stage, however this can be extended if everything going well maternally and with a reassuring trace or fetal heart. However you have to be aware that if it is taking this long, what is going on - malposition, asynclitic etc etc.

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Yes your right of course, I have known midwives to tell "tall tales" to keep the dr at bay from the door as long as you say that all is going well, but lets be honest I wouldn't want to push for more than 2 hours, I pushed for over an hour with my little un and I looked like someone had smeared corned beef all over my face cos I'd burst all blood vessels-good job I shut my eyes eh?? heehee Buttt I think some of that was due to her being OP and rotating in 2nd stage-which was nice and hard work x