Pushing in Labor; Running a Race

This is going to be a very short post just to write out my thoughts on the experience of pushing in labor (which I did for ~2 hours with Lucy!)

We've all heard it said that labor is like running a marathon. Labors are so different, this statement certainly doesn't apply to everyone, but I would generally agree that my overall experience of labor (for 31 hours) required some of the mental processes I imagine would be involved in marathoning. I've never run a marathon (and never intend to, ha!) but I was a high school track athlete. My main events were the 800 and 400 m races and associated relays. Training for these was so intense. It wreaked all kind of hormonal havoc on my already-school-stressed teenage self. Looking back at that time in life, I really wish I had done some more low-key activities, but I certainly learned a lot about myself through the whole running/sprinting experience.

As it relates to labor, track races taught me that I am capable of physically pushing myself when it feels like there is just nothing left. The final 200 meters of both the 400 and the 800 is incredibly intense - I remember the feeling of my entire body burning, but summoning the strength to keep moving at AT LEAST the same pace, if not faster, drawing close to the finish line. The finish line...always such an incredibly sweet relief.

I found pushing in labor to be INTENSE in the same way that running the final stretch of a sprint race is...Except you can't see the finish line! (I couldn't...maybe more advanced laborers can!...There were so many points during pushing when I wanted to ask how much longer...I never did though, I knew it wouldn't help me mentally). It demands you give your everything; lay it all out there and reach for strength from the bottom of your heart. The finish line in labor is an infinitely more blissful relief and reward than the finish line of any race... :)

Here's a great post on the associated idea about why exercise is a great way to prepare for labor:
http://walkingwithdancers.blogspot.com/2013/05/in-my-opinion-best-way-to-prepare-for.html