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The Big Push

Does Coaching Help Labor Progress?

By Alexandria Powell

"I don't think a lot of people, even people in the medical field, know that there are options [besides coached pushing]," Lindemann says.

Lindemann says the key thing is education. "It's really on the expectant parent to do the research, find out about as much as they possibly can about the whole birth experience, then interview birth practitioners and find someone you have confidence in, and that you feel you have a good working relationship with," she says.

Heather Cook is a mom of two who experienced coached pushing with her first birth and uncoached pushing with her second. Both births took place in a hospital. In her first, Cook, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, pushed for two hours. In her second, she pushed for an hour and a half.

"[During my first birth experience], I had a very wise nurse with me who helped me maintain my energy levels, did perineum compresses and generally supported me during the labor," Cook says. "I did have coached pushing for part of it because I was physically very tired and needed the encouragement. I'm a structured kind of person and I really hung on to that during labor."

Cook's second experience was with a midwife. During her second stage, she was told only to do what her body wanted. "Amazingly, I felt much more in control," Cook says. It wasn't that I felt out of control the first time, but this time I felt as thought everyone in the room had confidence in my ability and so I had confidence in my ability."

The verdict is still out on coached pushing. Overall, opinions among moms seem to be similar to Cook's. "Both times I felt very satisfied with the experience," Cook says. "My second birth I felt even more competent and able – it had been all me – no coaching, just encouragement and support."

Want to see more?

• Coach, Cheerleader or Spectator? Dad's Role in the Delivery Room
• Powerful Pushing: New Method Promises Safer, More Efficient Delivery
• Push Presents: An Extra Thank You from Dad
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!

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