Birthing Positions

[wattle]

Hi. I'm wondering what positions people have used to deliver, and what they found comfortable.

My obstetrician said he only delivered babies if the mother was on her back or side. I really wanted to be standing, squatting or on fours. It was really difficult on my back, and I'm thinking about finding a different obstetrician for my next one.

[Lallas' Mum]

Hi Wattle,

I spent most of my labour with my first son on my back. Toward the end of the proceedings however my midwife said I really needed to get upright if possible. So she raised the bedhead and I turned around with my chest against the bedhead in a kneeling position. It worked brilliantly. It helped relieve pressure off my back and gravity helped moved bub along a bit too. It was great when it came to pushing as I could push downward and outward. I managed to push out a 4.77kg baby with only mild shoulder distorcia (which is where the baby's shoulders get stuck - this was only because of his size and not the position I was in.)
That's probably other point to my posting as well - It was a midwife that actually delivered my baby. The doctors came in right at the end but really only to assist and "mop up" so to speak.

I hope you find a position that works for you (and an obstetrician!). In the end do what feels comfortable - I'm sure that if you got up on all fours during labour that the obstetrician wouldn't just say well that's it then I'm not doing this now!". He would have to deliver your baby whether he liked the position you were in or not.

Good luck to you in your pregnancy and birth of your bub.

Tracey
Mum to Alec and Zak

[Rell]

Hi There
Like Lalla's mum I also gave birth kneeling holding on to the bed head and found this great. My first birth I was on my back and I definently found kneeling much easyer. Its your decision don't let any of the Drs or midwifes try to tell you wich position you should birth in. Good luck

[pebblemuncher]

Hey, I gave birth standing up and it was fantastic. I piled up pillows on the bed and just kind of bent over the bed into them and the midwife sat behind me and caught Ben when he came out! Would definately reccommend standing!
In our antenatal classes they told us the WORST position for giving birth is lying on our backs, so I don't understand why Dr's and midwives continue to try and tell us this is how we need to have our babies. They were trying to get me to get on the bed when I was in labour with Ben but I just physically could not move so had to give birth standing where I was! but I don't regret it at all. Will be telling them thats how I intend on having #2 as well!

[Chickadee]

I had to have a caesar but had planned as active a birth as possible and always thought i'd be at least sitting up if not actually squatting or leaning on something. A word of warning, if you want actually squat be sure to get your body ready for it by practicing ahead of time - it's hard on the legs and knees. Variations where you get some support from behind would also be an option.

[polony]

I delivered on my back but spent most of the labour on all fours. I found this to be the least painful position (although is any position least painful?!).

I would recommend on all fours and wish I had of but I had exhausted myself by the time it came to pushing and had also taken a sleeping pill to calm me down that I really didn't have the strength to be on all fours. I think the positioning of everything when you are on fours helps with the delivery. The gravity, positioning of the pelvis etc.

You doctor should respect your wishes for your delivery. I wish you all the luck and have a good birth! Enjoy!

Love Brooke

[BJelly]

Hi,

I gave bith standing upright in the shower (the water was turned off before bub arrived). I hated lying on my back for any length of time - it really made my pain level go through the roof.

The mind boggles at why doctors insist on women birthing in one of the least comfortable positions (ie on their backs) - it shows an extreme lack of knowledge of women's anatomy - our pelvis's can expand so much more to give baby more room to come out if we aren't forced to birth on our backs.

Good luck with getting your Doctor to get with the times and coming out of the "dark ages"

[Kassiasmum]

I gave birth leaning over a bean bag and laboured on an optiball, wouldn't do it any other way. Being active as much as possible is the best. I can't believe your ob won't deliver unless you are on your back, he is definetly living in the dark ages, hasn't he heard of gravity. I also did pregnancy yoga and found this to be fantastic, I learnt so much and it gave me confidence in my birthing choices. I would definately look for another ob if you don't want to give birth on your back, it's your choice how you birth not the doctors or midwives.
good luck
Tracey

[bubhub]

I've given birth in different positions for each of my three - I'd say that lying down was most definitely the most difficult (this was the first). For the second is was on all fours and for the third I was standing up (mainly because the need to push caught me off-guard and I had no time to move to any other position).


I found sitting or lying down far more difficult during contractions and found standing up - leaning over the bed the best position for both contractions and the birth.

Hilary

[shellbell]

hi everyone,

i've given birth lying on the bed twice - not flat on my back, but sort of semi-reclining. both of my babies were posterior and with my first, i was in too much pain to get up and move around - stupid huh ? i know it was the worst possible position for a posterior bub, but i just couldn't get up. anyway, 2 hrs of pushing, feet in stirrups and a ventouse extraction made me determined to do it differently the next time around. i had a very active labour with # 2 but he was still posterior when the time came to push. i tried on all fours and leaning over a beanbag but found that i just couldn't push too well. my midwife suggested "the stranded beetle" as she called it, on the bed and pulling my legs right backwith each push. it was a pretty effective method and i could actually feel archer moving through the birth canal with each push. i would have loved to try standing up, but i trusted my midwife and managed to have a natural birth with no intervention.

so the bed worked for me