shocked that giving birth lying down is for doctor's benefit?

[Pepsipepsi]

I've not given it too much thought before now but just came across a video saying that giving birth kneeling/standing/squatting are better birth positions than laying on back, as it opens up the hips and gravity helps.

So I Google why reclining is such a common childbirth position. And the answer basically is because it helps the medical staff see what's going on but can contribute to more pain, contractions stopping, and a longer labour. (Also some theories about how Kings used to want watch childbirth and lying down then became popular if it was seen good enough for the Royals. Could be a urban legend!)

I've read a few women's experiences agreeing with the above theory, and it's just made me feel upset and angry. Why are women suffering for medical staff convenience?
Why are we not giving women more birthing options?

Voting = YANBU giving birth using gravity makes more sense
YABU = modern medical science has come a long way and lying down is fine

I think women are encouraged more often to move into more effective birthing positions

I’ve given birth 6 times
1and 2- was told to lay on my back and get on with it-jesus,I can still feel it
no3-gave birth at home,(by mistake) stood up on the landing-I didn’t even push
no4,5 and 6 where on a bed,laid on my side (was told to get on my back by a horrid midwife with no6,but I told her,in no uncertain terms,that it was not going to happen)
laid on your back is a horrid way to give birth

I’ve got a large age gap between babies and things have definitely changed in that time - women are encouraged to move around / squat / do what they like now. With my first baby I was practically shown the bed and told to lie on it! Horrendously long painful labour, not helped by a back to back baby.

This is what I heard too.

You used to have to give birth on your back. Now you’re encouraged to move around.

With dd, I gave birth on my knees with my arms hanging off the end of the bed which was raised up.

With ds, I wanted to do the same but he kept laying on my sciatic nerve and I couldn’t support my weight so ended up on my back

Our entire society was run on what was best for men.

The recumbent position started with the king wanting to see his child being born as you say but then all the other ladies of the court followed suit because if the queen gave birth that way ..,,

Women are encouraged to move around in labour these days and give birth in different positions. Instrumental deliveries are still performed in the semi recumbent position to allow the practitioner to see what they're doing.

However a lot of women choose to give birth laying down.

I was put on my back, was too tired to argue and had lost the ability to talk. I’m still annoyed 12 years later!

If you get an epidural you have to lie down unfortunately.

When I was giving birth, the midwife was brilliant and more than happy for me to get into whatever position felt most comfortable. I was kneeling and a nurse manager came into the room and I heard her whisper to the midwife "you can tell her to turn around and lie down if you like, it'll be much easier for you" but the midwife said "no it's fine I've delivered lots of babies from this position" I was so glad to hear her say that!

It may surprise you to hear this, but women can be doctors too.

Yup most even mainstream/NHS resources about this will now tell you that staying mobile, changing positions etc is much better and provides much better birthing positions. I am annoyed because when it came to it I gave birth on my back 3 times but with my second, despite having an epidural, insisted on being put onto my knees and this literally avoided a crash section as he was born 2 mins later.

OP have you given birth before? If not try and imagine doing a massive poo lying in bed on your back instead of sitting up over a toilet...

I was encouraged to move around or use a ball, but after 16 hours was too knackered to stand so gave birth on my back.

I was always encouraged to move in what ever position I felt best for me. Only time I led on my back was when I needed forceps, so it makes sense they wanted me on my back if it meant they had better visibility.

Both times I have given birth the midwives have said get into whatever position you feel most comfortable and we promise we will catch the baby, and they did.

You can have a mobile epidural now.

www.babycentre.co.uk/a542575/mobile-epidural

I was told other positions are more effective and I was encouraged to try them and move around more - on my side, standing, kneeling. I gave birth abroad though so maybe different here.

That's good to know things are changing. I think I read a lot of USA centric comments where on back in foot stirrups is still the norm. I just read on NHS website that different positions are encouraged during labour.

I would definitely support women to advocate for themselves and have a vocal birthing partner who is you've practiced techniques with.

I honestly had no idea that laying on back was sort of just a tradition perpetuated by TV shows!

Not really at a time when this advice was originally issued. It really is about convenience for the (usually male) doctors than comfort and efficacy for the (always female) mother giving birth.

I was encouraged to move, squat etc

My eldest is 12 and was definitely NOT told to lie down at all, but actively encourage to move around, squat etc, only told to lie on my back when his heart rate dropped and they need to help him come out.

In mediaeval times they used birthing ‘stools’ which put the mother in a squatting position. I think it’s been a ‘blip’ when birth became ‘medical led’ rather than ‘women led’ but thankfully we seem to be out the other side and back to encouraging women to do whatever their bodies are telling them and only steeping in when needed.

YANBU but surely this is very old news?

I had my first child 25 years ago and refused to lie down to give birth.

My mother squatted when she had my siblings and me in the 1960s.

I suspect that many women end up on their backs because they have epidurals.

OP growing up I watched a lot of MTV's 16 and pregnant and I was shocked to see that even in the mid 2000's in the USA they were (still are??) using guided pushing instead of self directed pushing. And basically all the girls had epidurals from pretty early on.

I had epidurals myself but it does all seem very backwards and not focused on what is best for the parents and babies

My midwife actively encouraged me up and into an upright position to try and get me progressing- I promptly vomited all over her and me. Back to back baby, absolute agony. I wanted to be on my back because that felt the most comfortable for me at the time, my sister was the same.

If you look at birthing stools etc you’ll see it’s been known a long time that gravity can be of great assistance!

Six years ago but told to move to however it was comfortable,....

I saw some 1950s leaflets about giving birth at the Wellcome Collection which encouraged walking around and bending over the arm of a chair on tiptoes when going through a contraction and recommended squatting on the bed to give birth.

When I had mine in early 2000s the midwives brought a birthing stool into the room. It was probably the most comfortable way to give birth.