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

Lying on your back is definitely the worst way to give birth. With DC2&3 I was kneeling on the bed and both were quite easy births (even with DC3 being a 2 day induction the actual birth was fine). DC1 I had an epidural, wasnt told I’d to stay on my back (my midwife had told me about mobile epidurals beforehand so I stupidly assumed that would be the type id have). Ended up needing forceps as she moved and twisted round during labour (she’d been in the perfect position beforehand). I’m sure it was due to lying on my back and the midwife I had with DC2 agreed and encouraged me to labour kneeling or on all fours.

Well, yes, hence all the old birthing stools etc. that women used to use. Do read ‘The American Way of Birth’ (about the history and recent medicalisation of childbirth). It’s fascinating!

YANBU but honestly I thought this was obvious! Of course gravity is going to help.

I gave birth to my second standing (outside!)

I read about this with baby 3, decided to squat. Oh my God, it didn't work for me, I was in agony and had to lie down sharpish. Walking was good but couldn't do it for 36 hrs straight.

With baby 2 midwife suggested a nice warm bath, that was good as well as it completely stopped labour.

I’m surprised you’re surprised, it’s seems obvious to me - but that might just be the benefit of having done it 4 times. I had my first, 20 years ago, kneeling in a birthing pool!

I am a midwife in a birth centre. I encourage every position but being on your back. Some women do feel more comfortable on a bed but even then I encourage on their side with lots of pillows between legs or a peanut ball. It should never be about making our lives easier!

I had my eldest 27 years ago and all the prenatal classes talked about moving around, walking and keeping mobile. I don't think the advice is to lay on your back anymore.

I was so bloody uncomfortable during labour, I was perfectly happy to lie down.

I was actively encouraged to try and walk around or get on all fours by the midwives but I preferred lying on my back, I was in pain and couldn't see how getting in a less comfortable position would help! This was 14 years ago with my first and the same 9 years ago with my last

If you want an epidural laying on your back is prob all you can do, you want to try standing, kneeling or whatever when you have no feeling below your waist. Women give birth all the time all over the world, some have good births some have horrendous births, you can choose how you would like to give birth but it can change in seconds. There’s always someone complaining about giving women control at their births but it’s not as easy as that.

I was encouraged to move around for all four of my births. I wanted to (and did) lay down for them all. That was most comfortable for me and I felt more in control.

Bleugh, couldn't stay upright during birth, was happier on my back... Did try upright but hated it...

Ds1 was an on my back birth, ds2 was leaning against the bed.
I have no idea what the midwives thought of me standing up, I was 13 days late, only able to use gas and air and wanted ds2 out.
Although when my waters broke there was meconium so everything changed.
If I got pregnant again, I would do the same as I did with ds2, unless there was time for an epidural.

I have never been told anything about positions or had anything suggested to me regarding position when giving birth.

A bed has never been involved in the giving birth process for me.

I have only ever given birth standing up.

My long labour with a back-to-back baby ended in an emergency c-section, so although I’ve never pushed a baby out, I know what strong contractions feel like.

I was really surprised to find that my contractions were much more painful when I was lying on my back. Worst of all, if I was lying down when a contraction came, I physically couldn’t stand up until it was over. I was much more comfortable kneeling in the birthing pool or pacing around the room.

How do people give birth on their side? Do you have a to have one leg raised up? I can't even imagine it...

I loved giving birth on my back. I tried all the other positions first and just couldn't relax. It seemed to go to fast when I was squatting and was so much more painful on my hands and knees.
Weirdly enough... I like sex best in a missionary position so I'm wondering if it has something to do with the position of my womb or something similar..? I've never put the connection together before now..

I was encouraged both labours to move around and spent some time walking and on birthing ball, however, when the pain got too severe, i just wanted to lie on the bed and sook gas and air. I had two very quick and easy labours

If you want an epidural laying on your back is prob all you can do, you want to try standing, kneeling or whatever when you have no feeling below your waist.

walking epidurals are a thing. I was able to walk around, sit, stand and bounce on the ball without any issues.

You are absolutely not unreasonable to be shocked to realise this.

See Dr Jean Sutton's work on Optimal Fetal Positioning

Women have choices... although the ability for them to come to fruition depends on variables such as how critically understaffed the labour ward is, if mythical equipment can be found, how obliging your MW is that day, and how your body feels/ is doing.

I ended up beached up on my back and loathing it with DS1 because there was nothing on offer to make it viable to get my exhausted, SPD ridden body into another position. Pain relief had long worn off and I felt on fire from my ribs to my knees, but it still felt wrong to be on my back. I failed to push out my back to back baby after 2 hours and it ended in an EMCS. I was left with an instinct that my position had not helped towards a difficult outcome (whether that's correct or not)

Birth 2 was better and while it did result in theatre and rough forceps, the MW did facilitate a more active position over a birthing ball with a mat, and moved furniture to make it work. The mythical mobile monitoring was as always unavaliable (I've never heard of it being found and in use at that hospital!)

Autonomy and being informed are a large factor in whether a birth is traumatic or not. Birth 2 resulted in more significant physical injury, but was mentally far better for having that practical support, being listened to and being told what was happening next when things hit the fan.

Had a walking epidural over 23 years ago. Walking around with no feeling in your legs is weird, but v v nice after hours and hours of labour.

And the answer basically is because it helps the medical staff see what's going on

But the medical staff aren't wanting to see what's going on for their own entertainment- they presumably need to see what's going on for the safety of the baby and the mother.

I tried different positions during both births and none seemed to make any difference to pain levels. Lying down was good because I was bloody exhausted!