2 Types Of Pushing For Birth Prep & Their Benefits and Drawbacks
There is no right or wrong way to push during birth, but there are benefits and drawbacks associated with each method. This post will dive into the two types of pushing and what you should know about each!
The first type is the closed glottis push and the second is the open glottis push.
Let’s talk about the closed glottis push first. This is the one folks are most familiar with, also known as purple pushing. This is when you take a big deep breath in, hold your breath and bear down, hard.
The benefits of the closed glottis push are that it’s a strong, effective push. The drawbacks are that this form of pushing can be energy depleting and can place a lot of stress of your pelvic floor. Now this may not be a problem if you’re not pushing for extended periods of time, but if you ar, it can be helpful to have a second set of tools in your toolbox. That’s where the second type of pushing comes in.
The second type of pushing is the open glottis push. The open glottis push is when you take a big breath in and exhale through your push.
The benefits and drawbacks of the open glottis push are flip flopped with the closed glottis. The open glottis push is less energy depleting and less stressful on your pelvic floor but the drawback is that it’s a less effective push. This may not be the tool you use when you need a strong, effective push, but is a beneficial option to conserve energy.
Both are useful tools and can be beneficial at different points in your labor. In our prenatal and birth prep sessions, we evaluate your ability to coordinate both the open and closed glottis push and give you tools and tips so you can practice before it’s go time!
Want to learn more about push prep? Watch our 10 minute guide to push prep here.
And if you watch this video and pushing continues to feel challenging for you, consider working with a pelvic floor physical therapist prenatally to help train your body for birth and postpartum recovery. Coordinating your pelvic floor can be a big challenge, particularly if you’ve never considered these muscles before becoming pregnant!
Pelvic floor muscle tension, abdominal weakness and paradoxical breathing patterns can all impede your ability to coordinate an effective push. Working with a pelvic floor PT can help you address any underlying tissue impairments during pregnancy to optimize your birth and postpartum recovery!
Send us a message to learn more about working with our pelvic floor physical therapists, today!
This post was written by Dr. Rebecca Maidansky, PT, DPT, owner and founder of Lady Bird Physical Therapy. Rebecca is a pelvic floor physical therapist in Austin, TX and founded Lady Bird Physical Therapy in 2019. She is the creator of Birth Preparation and Postpartum Planning, Baby Steps Fitness and the head writer and editor of The Pelvic Press.
Rebecca is a passionate writer and vocal advocate for pelvic health and the importance of improving access to perinatal care. She believes strongly that many common pregnancy pains and postpartum symptoms can be eased or even prevented with basic education and care.
She created this blog to help all birthing people manage common pregnancy pains, prepare for birth and recover postpartum.