In today’s episode of the To Birth and Beyond Podcast, Anita gives us an incredibly thorough rundown for coaches and clinicians to learn how to teach clients and patients about pushing during labour and birth. Anita takes us through: What’s happening during labour? how will people know when they are reading to push? What does a effective, successful pushing in a vaginal birth look like? And so much more! This episode is filled with tips and techniques that you can pass along and give you some great things to think about when you are planning programs and treatments!

If you’re working with pregnant folks, or would like to be working with pregnant folks, this is the episode for you!

Because this is an audio recording of a video class, there are some moments where Jessie and Anita refer to things you can “see” as they are discussing parts of the pelvis, etc. Please look up the phrases we are using in order to discover corresponding images.

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Resources and References 

• For more details on Jessie's Prenatal Fitness Specialist Academy (pregnancy coaching certification course): http://programs.jessiemundell.com/prenatal-cert

Show Notes 

0:55 - Jessie introduces the episode

2:52 - What is labour? Anita breaks down the phases for us

9:34 - Let’s talk about some common misconceptions people still have around pushing!

13:08 - Anita shares how she educates folks around pushing - and it’s not all about pelvic floor strength

17:01 - Does everyone experience that fetal ejection reflex? 

28:19 - What is effective pushing like in these scenarios when the pregnant person and baby are tolerating labour well, and how do people know if they are pushing “successfully”?

34:30 - Let’s talk through a few different body positions people could be in for pushing (with a brief detour into the immediate re: delayed pushing and labouring down)

42:30 - Is there a sweet spot of pushing that is “best” for the pelvic floor?

44:47 - For those of us that are working with pregnant folks but won’t be on-site for the birth, what can we do to help prepare people for pushing in our training and treatment sessions?

47:30 - Jessie brings the episode to a close