Helpful positions during CFM?

[JetLi]

I was happily active initially with DD, on my feet, birthing ball & rocking chair. But went my waters broke there was meconium so I went straight on a bed & on a monitor - a non-mobile monitor. Flat on my back I couldn't cope.
So heaven forbid the same thing happens 2nd time around, what's a good/helpful position that I can get into on the bed - would I have been better off kneeling up or something?
Thanks

Ask for a mobile monitor and if on bed dont be afraid to move around, i was exactly the smae and too soft to want to trouble the midwife by unhooking me and moving.

I spent labour with continuous monitoring on all fours on the bed, I don't know if this is an option with every type of monitor though. It definitely worked better for me as I found it excruciating when I had to be on my back.

Hopefully you'll be able to have an active birth throughout 2nd time and it won't be something you'll need to worry about.

Thanks both. Have already asked the labour ward - they have zero mobile monitors, unhappily. So that isn't an option.

You should be able to move on the bed if the captors for the monitoring stay in place. Could you be standing up if the cables would allow - much better as you can use your legs to get into the best position for an easy birth imho

Thanks dessen - will give that a try if I fall unlucky this time

I realise the answers in the name so this is probably a silly question, but what's the difference between a mobile monitor and a non-mobile monitor? I'm facing have continual EFM when I give birth in May as it's a VBAC, the consultant said I'd be able to move around as far as the leads go - but didn't say how much that is. Does that sound like a mobile or a non-mobile monitor?

yeah, you'll get a couple of yards movement with CEFM if you're lucky.

The difference between a mobile CEFM and a static one IME is that with one a midwife encourages and facilitates movement, and in the other she can't really be bothered so says she can't!

Make enough fuss and say you're getting up no matter, and am sure they'll suddently find a way to make it work, is my advice!

Agree. Lying down was unbearable for me too and there's plenty of research out there that concludes it's an unnatural and unhelpful position to give birth in.

Hope this helps a little, and with any luck you won't need to ever think about any of this again!

Thank you all

Insist on trying the CTG sitting on a ball. It can be done but some MWs are not confident about it so would say no.

At the very least you can lie on your left side.

Thank you japh - good info