To ask which position

[HowDidYouDo]

You gave birth in?

I’m still 20 odd weeks away from giving birth but really starting to think about it.

I’ve watched copious amounts of one born every minute and they all seem to give birth laying on their backs. Is this the default position?

How did you give birth?

No way, so uncomfortable. I had three home births and gave birth on my knees each time.

I had to be monitored constantly and then had an epidural so very little choice but to labour on my back. I didn't like it and much preferred being mobile and this help with pain management. Providing you don't need monitoring you can give birth in whichever position you feel comfortable. Some hospitals even do epidurals where you can walk around a bit.

Can I suggest you read up on the positions but don't plan absolutely? I wouldn't have a birth plan again as I felt I'd let myself down when I didn't/ couldn't stick to my plan: In the end I was on my back because of epidural and baby monitoring

DC1 - on my back on a bed. Horrible experience made worse due to unwanted epidural which meant I couldn’t move around. No choice in the end as it was a forceps birth but wish it had never got that far. My back seized during labour and aggravated an old injury - could have been avoided if I’d been able to move around - effects lasted 6-8 weeks post birth.

DC2 - standing holding on to a bed which was hastily raised to a good height for me to lean on.
Very fast birth and no time to even get on the bed (baby crowned in carpark) - brilliant birth with no short-term let alone long-term effects. (After pains were worse than actual labour)

DTs - emcs so on my back on a theatre bed.

My birth plan for a few weeks' time (EEK) is to use birthing stool or be on all fours if possible. My midwife said being active and mobile is best, if you're able. But obviously if I need to be on back for monitoring or pain management reasons then so be it. Gravity is your friend, though!

Thanks! I’m definitely thinking all fours is the way I want to go but obviously I won’t know until I’m in there.

I’m very much a see what happens kind of person normally but, I seem to be really focusing on position for some reason?!

I ended up being told to get on my back for the last few pushes. Nobody ever explained why and I was too out of it to argue! I did tear badly though so if there's a next time I'm going with gravity!

First any was on my back and was awful experience - baby born by ventouse.

2nd baby was on all fours and was soooo much better. I could actually feel the baby when I pushed which made it so much easier.

Also - when I was pregnant second time I had been reading about how women give birth in the third world etc. Women in the Amazon jungle just squat by a tree! If it’s good enough for them!

On my back...got into the pool as I planned and absolutely HATED it, just wanted to get the hell out of there. I think because birth felt so out of my control the feeling of floating made it worse- I wanted a solid base. Not what I thought I’d want, you can’t plan.

On my side. I managed to do this weird micro nap in between contractions and needed to cuddle into a pillow to do it!!
*except ds who arrived ten mins after booking in! Fully clothed and sat up for that birth!!

I'd really recommend the Positive Birth Company's digital pack on hypnobirthing. There's some good stuff there about positions and the whole mechanics of birth that I've found really useful. Even if you don't think you'll use any of the relaxation techniques, the science/biology stuff is really worth it alone I think. It's really helped me to know what my body is trying to achieve and how I can help it wherever possible. Well worth the money.

1st on back due to to constant monitoring/epudural
2nd on all fours which was fantastic
3rd was induced so again monitored but was on side kind of pushing myself up on to my front

Definitely recommend all fours if poss, no tear and total control, baby out in 2 pushes.

However, keep an open mind as you never know how things will go

On my back due to the epidural. I had visions of being nice and active in labour and giving birth in any position other than on my back but I started begging for the epidural not long after after getting to hospital...

I tried on all fours but pethidine combined with zero sleep for 38 hours left me woozy as hell. I ended up on my back with legs in stirrups. Would not recommend - pushed for hours and then tore badly. It was really hard work! I think active labour and all fours or upright is definitely better. I would be careful with what pain relief you opt for because I'm fairly sure without the pethidine I'd have been a bit more with it /able to move and labour would have been shorter (obviously may be totally wrong but that's my opinion).

First birth was assisted so I had to be laying down, but my whole labour I wanted to be upright, despite the fact they wanted me laying down on the bed I kept sitting myself up.
Second and third babies (homebirths) were both laboured standing up/walking round, then on my knees for the birth. I always felt I should be upright but it was like instinct to get lower to the ground just before they were born. Laying down just feels wrong to me.

Thanks Celebelly I will definitely look into that.

I’m hoping for no pain relief, she says having no idea what labour will be like So I’m very interested in hypnobirthing.

Both on my back.

1st I laboured on all fours for most of it, then on my side after the diamorphine so I could nap between contractions then I had the urge to push so sat up and a couple of pushes later she was out, needed 2 stitches.

2nd I laboured at home in the bath then once at the hospital I sat on the bed took off my dressing gown to be examined, adjusted how I was sitting and it felt like he just shot round the 'U' bend and the midwife caught him 😂

Water birth for me which I a million times recommend.

Not exactly sure what position I was in when she came out, but think it was semi on my back, partly twisted onto one side. Def with a foot or feet braced against the opposite end. Part of the joy of the birth pool is the ability to float around

DC1 started on the loo then in a bed on my back
DC2 started on the loo then stood up, down on the floor on my knees leaning over the bed
Apart from the fact I had about 3/4 people around the bottom end, I much preferred birth 2.

1&2 on my back, I was being monitored and couldn't really move.

3rd, I was stood up leaning over bed, midwife who delivered passed baby straight up to me and was most amazing experience. No pain relief, straight forward and only pushed a couple of times.

Would like to mention, one ds was back to back and labour was long. They had me on my side with a monitor when ds became distressed momentarily, I heard the mention of a csection, asked if I could alter my position to the side I slept on, and he was much happier there!! Don't be afraid to question /suggest things you may want to do during the birth. If I hadn't spoken out I may have been whisked away!
Don't be afraid to take advice either - birth plan is something of an ideal at times.

All fours for me. I hadn't planned much as I can't see how you can plan for these things. I had an epidural which came out, too late to re-site, was on my back but got the overwhelming urge to get on all fours. Pushed for 24 mins et voila!
Midwife said my epidural must've been pretty pants for me to be able to flip over and get on all fours 😂

I had constant monitoring & epidural for my first, and I was on my back - but they got the stirrups out which meant I had something to push 'against' IYKWIM?

Second time was a water birth and was on all fours.

Same amount of damage with both (2nd degree tear), second birth was much faster than the first - as is fairly normal.

Eater birth is the way forward cuts labour down to half !!