How To Push While Giving Birth
3 Ways Following Your Body Supports an Empowering Birth Experience
Learning how to push while giving birth is often taught as a set of instructions to follow rather than a conversation with your body. But birth is not something you perform on command.
It is a physiologic process guided by instinct, sensation, and trust.
When you follow your body instead of fighting it, pushing becomes more effective, more empowering, and often more gentle than you might expect.
This post will walk you through three powerful ways listening to your body supports a confident, connected birth experience.
If You Are Worried About Pushing, You Are Not Weak or Unprepared
Many pregnant moms tell me they feel anxious about pushing.
They worry they will not know what to do, that they will do it wrong, or that they will not be strong enough when the moment comes. Or even that they will push incorrectly and cause more tearing! These fears make sense, especially if most of what you have heard about pushing sounds intense, forceful, or overwhelming.
Here is the reassurance I want you to hold onto. Your body already knows how to birth your baby. Learning how to push while giving birth is not about memorizing techniques. It is about trusting the signals your body gives you when the time is right.
1. Your Body Leads the Timing of Pushing
One of the most important parts of understanding how to push while giving birth is knowing that pushing is not something you need to rush.
When pushing begins naturally, your body often gives you clear signs, such as:
A strong urge to bear down
Pressure that feels different from contractions earlier in labor
A sense that your body is taking over
When you wait for these cues, pushing tends to be more effective and less exhausting. You are working with your contractions instead of against them.
Pushing is most powerful when it is led by instinct, not a clock.
2. Following Your Body Encourages Better Positions
Your body is incredibly wise when it comes to positioning. When you tune in to sensation, you may naturally move into positions that open your pelvis and help your baby descend.
Common instinctive pushing positions include:
Hands and knees
Side lying
Squatting or supported standing
Kneeling or leaning forward
These positions can help reduce pressure on your back, encourage progress, and support comfort. They also allow your pelvis to move freely, which can make a big difference in how pushing feels.
Understanding how to push while giving birth means giving yourself permission to move, shift, and adjust until your body finds what works best.
3. Trusting Your Body Protects Your Energy and Confidence
Coached pushing often asks you to push in a way that feels forced or disconnected. While this approach can sometimes be necessary, many birthing people find that intuitive pushing feels more sustainable and empowering.
When you follow your body, you may notice:
Shorter, more effective pushes
Better breath control
Less tension in your jaw and shoulders
A stronger sense of control and confidence
Pushing does not have to feel like something happening to you. When you trust your body, it becomes something you actively participate in with clarity and strength.
Confidence grows when you trust what your body is telling you.
My Perspective as a Midwife
I have watched many births unfold, and the moments that feel most empowering are often the quiet ones. The moments when a birthing parent stops looking around for direction and turns inward. When they move instinctively. When they push because their body tells them to, not because someone counted to ten.
Learning how to push while giving birth is less about instruction and more about permission.
Permission to listen. Permission to move. Permission to trust yourself.
Of course you want labor to go as smoothly as possible...
In Episode 18 of Your Birth Bestie podcast, I dive into my top recommended positions for labor and delivery, how to effectively push despite what your nurse may recommend, and tips to reduce perineal tearing.
Support Makes Following Your Body Easier
Following your body is much easier when you feel safe, supported, and respected.
A calm environment, a supportive provider, and informed preparation all help create space for intuitive pushing.
Education before birth can help you recognize normal sensations, understand your options, and feel confident advocating for movement and physiologic pushing when possible.
Ready to Feel More Confident About Pushing and Birth?
If you are preparing for birth and want guidance that honors your body, your instincts, and your autonomy, I would love to support you.
Together, we can help you feel informed, grounded, and empowered as you prepare for labor and pushing.
An empowering birth experience begins with trust.
Trust in your body. Trust in your instincts. Trust in your strength.
What is one question you still have about how to push while giving birth?
