Pushing Tips for Labor with Liz Wade and Shaina Brickner – A Revisit

Pushing is one of the most anticipated and often most misunderstood stages of labor. In this episode, we sit down with Liz Wade and Shaina Brickner, The Birth Nurses, to break down what effective pushing actually looks like, what...

Sep 2, 2026 - 21:16

0 15

Pushing Tips for Labor with Liz Wade and Shaina Brickner – A Revisit

Pushing is one of the most anticipated and often most misunderstood stages of labor. In this episode, we sit down with Liz Wade and Shaina Brickner, The Birth Nurses, to break down what effective pushing actually looks like, what tends to go wrong, and how positioning can make all the difference in how labor unfolds.

Liz and Shaina share what they commonly see in the delivery room that isn’t always working in a birthing person’s favor, and they explain the real risks of ineffective pushing so you know what to watch for and why technique matters. They also demystify a phrase many people hear from their care provider: that you can push in any position, but may need to shift for delivery, and offer practical language for how to advocate for the birthing positions and breathing techniques (including moving away from valsalva breathing) that feel right for your body.

To bring it all together, they share their own pushing-stage birth stories, offering an honest, relatable look at how different the experience can be from what you might expect.

In this episode, we discuss:

What effective (and ineffective) pushing looks like in practice The potential risks of ineffective pushing How to interpret care provider guidance around birthing positions How to talk to your provider about alternatives to valsalva breathing Liz and Shaina’s own pushing-stage birth stories Their top piece of advice for new and expectant parents

**Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links,
resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com **

About Liz & Shaina:

We are the Birth Nurses— 2 labor and delivery nurses with a combined 40 years of experience, working in Los Angeles, CA. We’re both moms, nurses, and birth educators and are passionate about helping others have smooth hospital birth experiences.

Connect With Liz & Shaina:

Liz Wade :
www.birthandbeyond.net
@birthnurseliz

Shaina Brickner :
www.preparented.com
@preparented

This episode is brought to you by beYogi offering professional liability insurance designed specifically for yoga teachers and wellness professionals. Whether you’re already teaching or just beginning your teacher training, beYogi helps protect you so you can focus on supporting your students. Yoga Birth Babies listeners receive $20 off an exclusive professional insurance membership. Visit beYogi.com/yogabirthbabies (https://beyogi.com/yogabirthbabies) to claim your discount.

Check out similar Yoga| Birth| Babies episodes: