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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Has anyone had a hospital birth and not laboured or delivered on the bed?

41 replies

hollyw · 22/07/2011 00:18

I've been hoping for a homebirth but its looking like I might have to go into hospital. I've had 2 vbacs but with both I ended up on the bed to give birth. Has anyone actually managed to give birth in hospital on the floor/squatting, anywhere other than the bed? Last time in particular I remember feeling pushed into getting onto the bed as it was more convenient for the midwives to see what was going on.

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woopsidaisy · 26/07/2011 15:22

DS1 standing,hands on the bed. Stayed upright and active all through labour,back-to-back labour too!

DS2 stayed upright and active,but couldn't walk around as pressure was so intense that I felt knees would buckle under me! Got onto bed just as was crowning as was near fainting. Managed to get him out naturally. Think my body was in shock a bit,as very quick labour and he was 10lbs 11oz.

Was induced both times too.

Hope all goes well!

Glitterybits · 26/07/2011 16:38

DS was born in the water. I laboured and gave birth to him in the water and it was wonderful.

I'm due to give birth to DD on Friday and praying that they have a pool free when I go into labour. I think being in the water - and remaining as active as possible in early labour - is what enabled me to do it without pain relief.

Lying down on a bed seems totally counter productive to me, particularly since I could only get comfortable on all fours in the early stages.

hester · 26/07/2011 16:41

I laboured mainly on a huge beanbag. Also spent some time hanging out the window howling at the moon.

Sadly, delivered in theatre...

Ormirian · 26/07/2011 16:43

Only time I laboured on the bed was the first time - gave birth in a stool thing. The other 2 I walked around and lent on chairs, bed, mw, DH...anythnig really. I only actually gave birth on the bed cos the mw couldn't get at me any other way.

Original poster

hollyw · 26/07/2011 19:16

Bunbaker - it's not that I'm anti bed for everyone, if it works for you great. It's about being given a choice.
x

OP posts:

tiggersreturn · 26/07/2011 19:46

My friend told me her yoga teacher is a doula and starts off by putting the mattress on the floor. She says that most of the local hospitals are used to her now

BlueKangaroo22 · 26/07/2011 20:40

i was standing leant with my hands on bed if that makes sense, so pushing away i am, and i hear midwife ask for some pillows to be put on floor as dd was coming suddenly rather quickly, dd was lowered from me onto pillows and my first view of her was her lying there wide eyed on these pillows!

BeautifulBirths · 26/07/2011 22:12

I am a midwife. I have caught lats of babies standing, squatting, all fours, floors, toilets, etc etc etc.. Even those monitored or with drips can give birth standing etc. JUst because you are in hospital doesn't mean you can't move where and how you want. Your midwife should support you in your choices just as she would at home. If you are in the NHS the same midwives work in hospitals as cover the homebirths in most areas so it is the same for them wherever you are. Good luck.

ImBrian · 27/07/2011 08:33

First baby I labored on the bed till they persuaded me to get off and use a birthing stool. Second baby I only went on the bed to be checked, they got mats out and I knelt at the end of the bed and she was born there. Third birth was induced, had an epidural, lay on my back the whole time and ended up in theatre for a ventouse. Im hoping this time I don't need to give birth on a bed.

Firawla · 27/07/2011 19:46

on the bed but on all fours, for ds2.. very comfy position, i was stood up but found legs were getting too weak, so was better to have the bed to lean on, but would be same thing as matress on the floor.
ds1 lying back on the bed with epidural in and constant fetal monitoring, it was much harder to push in that position
i dont think in hosp they will force you to be lying down, but if you have monitoring might make it bit more difficult to stay active
i would probably right something on birth plan/notes about please encourage me to get off the bed? although not sure if they do get time to read birth plans or not, but worth a try. or else remind your dh beforehand that you do wanna be in more active position, so he can try to help make sure you get the chance. it is really easy that once you get on the bed for them to check progress, not to ever make it back up again! but for my ds2 the midwifes were really good and they reminded me of it themselves and encouraged me to get back up and active, and this was in labour ward not a mlu or anything

saldoozer · 27/07/2011 20:59

I delivered on the floor (on mats), I spent the middle part of labour standing up when i had a contraction and sitting on a ball between. Only disadvantage was that I think DD did fall on the floor (or possibly was guided to the floor by a midwife) but i was on the floor then too. The best thing was that I was the first person to pick her up.
I had planned a water birth but I didn't think they would of been keen on the standing up in the pool

BadRoly · 27/07/2011 21:02

With no3 (2nd vbac) I gave birth standing up leaning against what was essentially a kitchen worktop in the corner of the room. Mainly because it all happened too quickly to get near the bed nevermind on it.

With no4 I gave birth on the bed but kneeling and leaning over the bed head.

scarlettsmummy2 · 27/07/2011 21:02

On the floor on all fours in a midwife led unit. I was only on the bed in relatively early labour when I had a shot of pethidine and was able to doze.

MmePamplemousse · 27/07/2011 22:42

I've had three hospital births. First one all fours on bed, second one standing/leaning on husband, third one in pool. I don't remember anyone advising or trying to prevent me from doing anything. I got into the positions I felt I needed to be in.

GothAnneGeddes · 28/07/2011 02:02

Gave birth in MLU. Could not bear to lie down (even though I'm v lazy normally). Gave birth standing up. Still got a 3rd degree tear, but Dd was a bit of a chunk.

bunnygirl80 · 28/07/2011 02:29

Spent the first couple of hours on the bed as I was being monitored due to bp of 180/100 on arrival. Monitoring was taken off after about half an hour but I was comfy and busy watching the TV so didn't feel like moving. Also, despite the monitoring saying I was having strong contractions every 4 mins, and a VE proving I was 4cm dilated I wasn't feeling anything at all, so didn't feel the urge to move around.

Once it got uncomfortable, I got into the bath, until I hit transition and decided I was going to drown. Then I got onto the bed, but knelt up leaning over the headboard, and stayed that way till I delivered DS about 20mins later.

The bed converted into just about any position imaginable, so there was never any pressure to be on the bed lying down, and I think kneeling up on a soft matress was more comfortable than kneeling on the hard floor would have been. (and my obstetrician was also 7mths pg when she delivered me, so I think she was glad she didn't have to get down on her hands and knees to do it )

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