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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask which position

54 replies

HowDidYouDo · 06/01/2019 12:52

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?

OP posts:

Stillwishihadabs · 06/01/2019 14:16

I laboured on all fours then crouched to give birth (2 uncomplicated natural births with gas and air in the first stage).

RoryGillmoresEvilTwin · 06/01/2019 14:18

Dc1 on my back, legs in stirrups...not a wonderful experience.
Dc2 hands and knees in a birthing pool. much quicker and all round lovely experience.

PurpleWithRed · 06/01/2019 14:19

One on back with epidural, one on all fours, face in husband's lap, he nearly lost his Crown Jewels when I felt the need to bite down hard....

GobblersKnob · 06/01/2019 14:23

1st on back, emergency spinal so not a lot of choice, but was pretty active though the rest of labour.

2nd squatting, which felt right until I tried to stand up afterwards

I hated all fours both times, it hurt like hell, but both mine were op, which may have affected it.

Snowflake01 · 06/01/2019 14:32

I gave birth on my back, propped up by pillows. Ds was out after 15 minutes of pushing, no tears and came straight to me. It felt like the comfiest position but perhaps I was in too much pain to change into a better one. He was back to back but turned just before pushing.

IncyWincyGrownUp · 06/01/2019 14:32

1: back, horrible but necessary die to monitoring.

2: I’d been stood up or on a gym ball for most of it, was on a bed to be checked when they told me to go for it, so was half up half down.

3: on my side, very unwell.

happytobemrsg · 06/01/2019 14:34

On my back, one leg in a stirrup. Was literally the only way I could figure out how I was supposed to push

riddles26 · 06/01/2019 14:36

In the pool on my knees for the delivery part for both births. Did a lot of walking, bouncing on ball, positions on all 4s and my knees throughout labour though.

CmdrIvanova · 06/01/2019 14:37

When I got to the pushing stage with DD they laid me down, then I remembered I wanted to be upright, so they helped me up. I almost managed to deliver her up on my knees holding on to the hospital bed headboard but she got stuck at the last moment, so I had to lie down for forceps. Disappointing.

MaybeMaybeNotJ · 06/01/2019 14:39

First: sitting position water birth (difficult, but in sack with her hand on her face)
Second: Home birth, standing the entire time then on my knees leaning over a chair for the last 10 minutes. 2 hours start to finish, ejection reflex with minor conscious pushing.

I felt like standing was using gravity to help and once I left that position with my first it all slowed down.

mrsm12 · 06/01/2019 14:40

On my back for dc 1 and 2 as had an epidural.
Dc3 I didn't have time for an epidural, was being monitored so on my back but was so uncomfortable so asked to move, on my knees leaning over back of bed and it was much easier to push, gravity definitely helped!

TheSubtleKnifeAndFork · 06/01/2019 14:41

I started pushing on my knees on the bed, but then I was asked to get onto my back. I think they were struggling to monitor baby (induction). I'm not sure how long I was on my knees. But I finally pushed baby out on my back after 1.5 hrs of pushing. I needed an episiotomy.

I remember thinking that being on my back was not optimal position for pushing a baby out (as NCT instructor kept saying), but honestly I just went with it as I was exhausted and wanted baby out!!

Original poster

HowDidYouDo · 06/01/2019 14:42

I’m really terrified of tearing

I think this is why I’m so focused on position. This is all very helpful information. Thank-you!

OP posts:

FatandSassy · 06/01/2019 14:50

Haven't read all replies but having had 6 vaginal deliveries I'd recommend moving if you feel like it. I've had 3 on my back (1 strapped into stirrups and unable to move ) and the other 3 I was either on all fours or in a squatting position. It definitely helps not to be on your back because of gravity and the shape of the birth canal but in some cases I really didn't feel like moving!
Best advice I ever got was imagine that with deep breathing every in and out for your body is it opening like a flower... it's a bit hippy dippy but it worked so much for me with my last baby the midwife made me go for a walk to try and hurry up transition turns out there was a cervical lip stopping baby from dropping so once she'd pushed that up and over he was fine to come on out
Good luck, whatever you choose. Just don't be rigid with anything and mind you're flexible with ideas and you'll be absolutely fine.

Nottheduchessofcambridge · 06/01/2019 14:52

Dc1 water birth, DC2 on my knees on the bed, leaning against the raised head part. No way I was going on my back, seemed for too impractical!

Nottheduchessofcambridge · 06/01/2019 14:54

I was actually standing up for most of it but the midwife made me get on the bed as she didn’t fancy her baby catching skills, kneeling was a compromise and it was the first kneeling north the trainee had witnessed so I was pleased to help

Nottheduchessofcambridge · 06/01/2019 14:55

north?

Lloyd1993 · 06/01/2019 14:58

I labored for 33 hours standing/kneeling at the side of the bed, sitting even on a birthing ball was sooo uncomfortable. Gave birth kneeling on hospital bed and used gas and air with pethadine towards the very very end, small 2nd degree tear. Let gravity help :)

mikado1 · 06/01/2019 14:58

All fours, constantly rotating hips for some relief and child's pose between contractions.

randomsabreuse · 06/01/2019 14:59

Most of labour kneeling leaning on end of bed. Actual delivery on back because needed ventouse/epesiotomy.

Lloyd1993 · 06/01/2019 15:00

I will add, I only pushed twice. I thought you'd have to actually force yourself to push but it's like an involuntary push 😯

Etino · 06/01/2019 15:03

SItting up.

mikado1 · 06/01/2019 15:05

If you're interested, I'd highly recommend Ina May Gaskin's book, or even Google her quotes.

Imalittleelf · 06/01/2019 15:08

On back legs in stirrups. Ended up with full spinal. Spent most my time prior on my back as I just wanted to sleep (4 days of contractions I was exhausted) i almost slept through the birth I was that tired midwife had to wake me up for each contraction. She was amazing, doc was shouting as I wanted to sleep and she just looked at him and said... it's ok she knows what she is doing..... loved my midwife, wanted to take her home.

Someone said about birth plan. I had one for things I would agree to like injections etc however was fully written knowing my biggest desire may not come true (water birth) and it didn't.

Make sure you and your birthing partner know what you want in a worst case. Birthing partner may be the one speaking for you.

Good luck. It is truly and amazing experience.

Oh and take Lots of extra thick and long pads in with you and big comfy knickers. Also my biggest win was those Andrex wipes for after... much nicer on your foof than tissue!

Galvantula · 06/01/2019 15:09

One CS after being stuck on my back.
One on my back as I had to get forceps/episiotomy.
Then one standing up! Nottheduchess they had to catch mine

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