The objectives of this mixed-methods study were: a) to investigate
midwives’ approaches to early pushing urge (EPU); and b) to explore
midwives’ perspectives and experiences of helping women cope
with EPU. A quantitative observational methodology was adopted to
investigate midwives’ approaches to EPU in 60 cases. A qualitative
phenomenological approach was carried out in order to gain more
in-depth understanding of midwives’ views and experiences of EPU
management strategies. It was found that midwives mainly adopt two
approaches in the case of EPU: letting the woman do what she feels,
and a stop-pushing technique. The findings are presented as four main
domains: a) midwives’ approaches to EPU; b) drivers guiding midwives’
approaches to EPU; c) influencing factors in helping women cope with
EPU; d) variation of midwives’ approaches to EPU over time.
Keywords: Early pushing urge, Push, Labour, Management, Approaches