Your gentle labor and delivery guide
I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about pushing in labor, specifically whether it’s truly necessary to push or if the body can do the work naturally.
If you’re practicing Hypnobirthing or learning about instinctive birth, you might have heard the idea of “breathing your baby down” instead of forcefully pushing. This topic often confuses, especially when it conflicts with traditional medical practices. Many doctors believe that active pushing is always necessary. But just because something hasn’t been commonly seen or practiced doesn’t mean it’s not real or effective.
How to Push During Labor: Is It Always Necessary?
Yes, many women do push their babies out—but others have found that with relaxed breathing and proper support, their baby can descend gently during the second stage of labor. This is the phase after full dilation when your baby moves down the birth canal.
When you let your uterus do the work through gentle surges and stay relaxed, you conserve energy, maintain a steady oxygen flow to your baby, and reduce the risk of broken blood vessels or tearing. The stages of labor are beautifully designed, and when you allow your body to follow its natural rhythm, the perineum can stretch gradually, giving your baby a gentle, calm entrance into the world.
Signs It’s Time to Push
Rather than pushing on command, tune into your body. The signs it’s time to push are often very clear: you feel a strong, involuntary urge to bear down. This natural urge is your body’s way of telling you that your baby is in position and ready.
Some situations may require more active pushing—like when the baby’s position isn’t ideal—but even then, it’s important to push with an exhale, not by holding your breath. This protects both you and your baby.
What to Expect During Labor: Trusting Your Body
Here’s a powerful example of instinctive birth. This Hypnobirthing mom gave birth in a calm, supportive setting. She used her breath to help her baby descend, without forceful pushing. The midwife encouraged her to trust her body and let her surges do the work:
📺 Watch the video here
I hope you find it as inspiring as I did. May it encourage you to breathe your baby into the world with peace, strength, and grace.
The Research Behind Laboring Down
This idea isn’t just intuitive, it’s supported by research. Multiple studies show that “laboring down”—waiting until the baby is low in the birth canal before encouraging pushing- leads to better outcomes for moms and babies. When you wait for your body to naturally guide you, both you and your baby are less likely to get exhausted.
You can even discuss this approach with your provider. Here’s some insight you might want to share.
The Piskacheck Technique and Classical Midwifery
Classical midwifery, particularly in Russia, divides the second stage of labor into two phases: descent and expulsion. Midwives there don’t rush the process. Once a woman is 10 cm dilated, they wait until the baby is on the perineum before encouraging pushing.
This results in shorter pushing times, often just 10 minutes.
One technique used to assess readiness is called the Piskacheck. A midwife uses a cloth to press gently on the outer labia. If she feels something firm, the baby’s head is low and ready. If not, the mom is encouraged to rest and continue breathing.
“If nothing is felt, then the patient is encouraged to rest and breathe until the baby is lower in the vagina.”
– Sharon Craig, Kabul, Afghanistan
(Excerpted from “Tricks of the Trade,” Midwifery Today, Issue 78)
A Word from the Founder of Hypnobirthing
Mickey Mongan, founder of Hypnobirthing, shared:
“If the mom is in the relaxed state that she is meant to be in, she should, indeed, just relax and wait. The baby will soon be on the vaginal outlet with no effort on her part.”
She added that many moms report giving birth with just two breaths once their baby reached the outlet. Some even had surprise births in unexpected places—like on a Southwest airplane, where the baby was born quickly with minimal pushing.
Whether you’re following a medical model or a more instinctive one, the key is to stay informed and empowered. Trust your body. Pay attention to your signs; it’s time to push, understand the stages of labor, and learn how to push during labor in a way that supports both you and your baby.
Birth is not something you need to control; it’s something you can allow.
Let your breath lead the way. 💗
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One thought on “To Push or Not to Push: What to Know About Pushing in Labor”
The whole principle of hypnobirthing is that you go with your body. The breathing and visualisation that you learn in class is a very effective way of birthing your baby which, as you say, can confuse midwives because it appears as if the mother is doing nothing. However, if you fell the urge to bear down, you go with it. It would plainly be creating tension in the body to go against it, and that’s the last thing you want to do.
Katharine Graves
Katharine Graves is a hypnobirthing teacher in London