What position did you give birth in?

[ArizonaLeone]

Sorry for the odd question. Pregnant with my first and have heard lots of talk about which are the best and worst positions to give birth in. I know it all just happens on the day but curious to know other peoples' experiences!

[Bobbiepin]

Thought I wanted to be on all fours, got to the day and I was sat up on a bed with feet in stirrups. I know its not the best position in terms of the birth canal but I could grip on to the bed handles and really push. DD was born after 45 mins of pushing so it worked fine.

[Flowersonthewall]

Once on my back, twice on all fours.

Being on all fours was the best position imo! Most natural position I wanted to be in

[ArizonaLeone]

@Bobbiepin 45 mins of pushing, is that normal? I'm totally clueless! It's amazing how little we know about pregnancy and childbirth until it actually happens!

@Flowersonthewall thanks for your answer. My friend gave birth to both of hers on all fours. Aren't women amazing 😃

[Findingdotty]

Once on my back - terrible position and birth.
Once going from all fours (head delivered) to standing up (rest of him)
Once on my knees leaning over side of the birthing pool.

[Steeley113]

Left lateral both times as they both had heart decells during labour and that’s how I was laid to ease the pressure for them.

[ArizonaLeone]

@Steeley113 can I ask what decells are?

[Maryann1975]

On my back, for all 3. Dc1, I was too tired to be in any other position. With dc2 I wanted to be kneeling up over the sofa, but the midwife couldn’t see properly and got me to move. Dc3, it was a little bit complicated, so was on my back because that’s how the me told me to be.

[himalayansalt]

Unconscious. Fully clothed. On an operating table.

You can't predict what's going to happen.

[CauliflowerBalti]

Sitting up in stirrups. Ridiculous. My birth was full of interventions though. I felt happiest sitting on my ball and resting my upper body on the bed. If my labour had progressed better, I reckon I’d have been there but squatting.

[BunloafAndCrumpets]

On my back with legs in stirrups and forceps up my whatsit

[CAAKE]

DS1 - walked and walked through most of labour, on all fours for most of the pushing bit then on my back for the very last hey ho.

DS2 - walked and walked once again then into the pool just as I started to push. Gave birth kneeling with my arms resting on the side of the pool. Birthing in the pool was really so wonderful. If you think it's for you then definitely try for it.

[ArizonaLeone]

@Maryann1975 power to you for having 3 babies. Amazing! People tell me I'm crazy for looking forward to childbirth. Probably won't feel the same on the day 🙈

@Findingdotty lots of people advise against birthing on back! Same as above, awesome you've given birth to three babies!

[BrutusMcDogface]

Heart decelerations, Arizona. Lowered heartbeat. Same happened to me with baby number two.

I was propped up in bed for all three of mine; first required intervention but others didn't. It was fine; I'd been labouring either in the water or standing up leaning against the bed for most of the other time.

[Steeley113]

@ArizonaLeone heart decelerations, so the heart was slowing at each contractions. It’s very common and laying on your left side takes the pressure off and allows baby to get a bit more oxygen.

[ArizonaLeone]

@CAAKE I love the idea of a birthing pool! I know you can't plan what happens on the day but would absolutely love to give it a try.

[BexleyRae]

On my knees leaning over the edge of the birthing pool and I laboured mainly on all fours as DD was back to back and it seemed to help with the pain in my back. I didn't really push though, she shot out like she was in a fluke, and still in the sack

[ArizonaLeone]

@BrutusMcDogface @Steeley113 thanks for explaining. That's really interesting. So many benefits to laying on your left, even when not pregnant!

Sorry can't reply to everyone's posts but really appreciate all answers

[ImogenTubbs]

I was on all fours until moments before stage 2 labour (pushing stage) when the midwife told me to get on my back (sort of sitting up with knees bent) so they could get access. It was fine and pushing stage only lasted about 5 minutes, I think! DD was born pretty quickly.

[HairyToity]

On my back for both at the end.

[PasstheStarmix]

On my back strapped to bed through entire long labour and for birth (not by choice but medically necessary)

[LBOCS2]

DD1 I was on my back with DH and MW holding one leg up each so I could really push (hugely dignified, obviously 😁). I'd had an epidural so was a bit limited in my options.

DD2 I was leaning on the edge of the birth pool, almost on my hands and knees.

An hour of pushing for no1, 12 minutes for no2. I knew what to do the second time around!

[Thistledew]

At home in a very slow, drawn out "pre" labour I mostly sat on a birthing ball or propped up on a pile of cushions.

Once admitted to the delivery wall I sat on the edge of the bed and stood in a crouching/squatting position for each contraction. For the actual delivery I knelt on the bed and leant on the raised head of the bed. DS's shoulders then got a bit stuck and the midwife told me to lie on my back. The action of rolling over freed him and he came out.

I didn't need to take any pain relief for my labour, but there were a couple of contractions I had to endure whilst lying on my back and I found it excruciating. I definitely would have had to have pain relief if I had laboured on my back.

[PasstheStarmix]

I was gutted as wanted the birthing pool but was just grateful for my beautiful baby.

[ArizonaLeone]

@ImogenTubbs pushing for 5 minuted! That's more like it!

Thanks for everyone's answers. I find childbirth fascinating, have watched so many videos and am really excited to go through it myself. Thanks for sharing your experiences with me x