Mothers position for intermittent monitoring & VEs

[Tangle]

Can anyone clarify?

My previous experience was that during DD1's birth I was at home with IMs. I had no VEs, but the baby's HB was monitored every 15 minutes or so. The MW had no problems with me remaining on all fours while she did this and didn't suggest this was unusual. (She said she'd also be happy doing VEs with me in this position if there was a need - but that many MWs she'd worked with were not confident to judge dilation with women in this position)

DD2 was a very different circumstance (there was no need for foetal monitoring as she had died 3 days previously) and I was induced and in hospital. I could see the benefit of VEs so that we could be sure we didn't need to ramp up the induction - but for I was told I needed to lie on my back so that the MWs would be able to do them.

For me personally, in both labours, lying on my back was the very last thing my body was telling me to do.

I've recently seen it stated on another thread that in order to have intermittent monitoring you more or less have to be on your back on the bed - and that many women find intermittent monitoring more intrusive than VEs. Which has left me a bit confused as it completely contradicts my personal experience.

So - is it normal practice that women are asked to lie on their backs for intermittent monitoring with a hand-held sonic aid during labour in hospital?

I'm in the process of trying to write a birth plan for DC3 so the more information the better! Thanks :)

On the whole I will listen in any position the mother is in. Sometimes I might ask her to perhaps sit up for a minute or two if I am having trouble finding the FH. or if she is in an akward position in the pool (I'm short and don't wish to have to put my head in!)

If you have a midwife who is insisting that you stay on the bed, then ask for a different midwife. She should be supporting you in any position that suits you.

However, learning to VE in all fours is not something we are taught as students. It is a skill I am still in the process of acquiring. I am happy to VE in all fours, but may ask mum to turn round If I'm not finding the information that I need. I like to think that I work in partnership with the women I work with.

It is worth considering labouring either at home, or in an MLU (if it is safe for you to do so). The midwives working in these environments tend to be a little more geared up to work in a less medicalized way.

Enjoy your labour. :O)

Thanks - that's more what I was expecting, this other comment seemed so cut and dried it threw me a bit! I don't want to get in a horribly antagonistic fight with the MWs, but equally I don't want to be so obliging it makes labour harder.

We did look at MLU's for DD1 but decided that, for us, they gave the worst of both worlds rather than the best (they could offer very little over home in terms of safety or drugs, and if things went wrong we were even further away from the hospital than if we'd stayed home).

Staying home again is tempting, but I've got no idea how neurotic I'm going to feel on the day - especially given what happened with DD2. I want to have it clear in my head what's reasonable to expect/request in hospital so that I can have a birth plan/preferences list ready - and then probably decide on the day where I go (and try to make the decision based on a realistic set of expectations rather than worst-case possibilities).

At the moment this one seems determined to stay breech, which adds another layer of things to fret about. We went through that particular decision tree with DD1 but don't know whether the hospital's policy has changed in the intervening years...

Agree with Spatone - I will adapt to the women and whatever position she is in. I would only ask her to move temporarily if I could not hear the baby, and that would only be temporary. I would be happy to VE in the all fours position.

Oops that didn't read very well - and I haven't even been near the wine ... yet!