what position did you give birth in?

[Timeoutofmind]

I gave birth on all fours, and I stood up and walked around for most of my labour. I just felt that the pain was 100 times worse when I sat or laid down, and it just felt natural to deliver on all fours.

Just wondering if I am a minority, as all those on OBEM seem to be on their backs, and in bed throughout the labour, and friends in RL all seem to have been on their backs..

With first baby, sitting on DH's lap using him as an impromptu birthing stool (sort of squat I suppose). Was active for most of labour, the one time I was on my back was for an examination and it was excruciating.

Second baby, on all fours

both on my back for the actual crowning, but on all fours for labour. dd had to be monitored internally for last bit of labour, midwife was great as I was so determined to stay on all fours she held the hand held monitor in position for as long as she was allowed before a doctor insisted an internal one was put in. DD got into a bit of difficulty exiting so i guess it was probably for the best.

With DS, i was moving around at home for most of labour, then into hosp, on all fours, and was in agony when I had to turn onto back to have waters broken, and then no time to turn back as he came out very quickly!

Really was the most comfortable position and able to rock back and forth to ease contractions, and at least be able to keep moving in between contractions.

DD1 - lying down - ouch!
DD2 - standing up leaning on wall - excellent!
DD3 - all fours - brilliant!
DD4 - all fours and 20 mins - yikes but fantastic!
Not planning on a 5th but all fours would be where I'd end up I reckon - it just worked for me and felt powerful and surprisingly comfortable!

first time - flat on my back with my husband holding one leg up so my knee touched my nose (practically ) and a midwife doing the same to the other leg and another midwife practically lifting herself off the floor onto my stomach to push down on it and a doctor pulling my baby's head (that bit should NOT have been done ). (shoulder dystocia)

second time, flat on my back with a million people in the room, waiting in case the same thing happened...

Dc1 - very mobile labour. Arrived on labour ward at 11.30 am and started spontaneously pushing at 11.45 am - Didn't really have time to think about it all - pulled clothes off quickly, midwife walked in and gave birth on back very easily.

Dc2 - homebirth , also very mobile throughout. Very quick labour again and gave birth on all fours. Didn't really like it that way as couldn't see what was going on and panicked a bit.

Dc3 - 2nd homebirth, almost identical to first homebirth except for deciding I didn't want to be on all fours!!! Kept mobile throughout, but gave birth in a sitting up position.

All three labours very active and very quick!!!

I walked around & then had ds2 on all fours - it was fabulous.

I thought i would want to be on all fours but in fact for all 3 of mine i felt as though i had no strength in my legs and could hardly move

I was either mobile or leaning over something for most of my labour, and did some of the pushing on all fours but actually delivered lying on my back.

I'm sure I've seen a few of them give birth more upright on OBEM - lady last week did I'm sure?

On my back, in stirrups, twas wonderful

I've already written on my birth plan for this one that I DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WISH TO DELIVER IN STIRRUPS

Very long & painful latent labour (most of which I was quite active) meant I was exhausted. I had an epidural, was monitored & on a syntocin drip. Ended up flat on my back, stirrups, forceps in theatre (and couldn't feel a thing from about chest height down) the little monster was back to back, had the cord around her neck, had pooed (meconium) and had foetal tachycardia. Doctors couldn't work out why she wasn't coming out as apparently I was pushing really well, did three good pushes & she just kept appearing then going away again, so got whisked into theatre with doctors thinking I was going to end up with an EMCS!

Was a long way away from the water birth I had wanted. If I hadn't had the epidural etc I don't think I would have given birth on my back, but I didn't really have a choice!

First time on my knees. Subsequent four times flat on my back which is just what I wanted.

Only problem was a shitty HCP with DC2 who insisted I couldn't possibly do so and despite the fact I had labored for 17hrs at home alone, then an hour in hospital on my knees, she flounced in to the room just after I'd rolled onto my back for the last few pushes shouting "you can't possibly give birth like that". Fortunately DH told her to F the F off and DC2 arrived very shortly after.

That should say subsequent three times. 4 babies in total.

You lot are making me broody!!!!

I had DS1 and 2 on my back. I Had an episiotomy with DS1, so in stirrups and with DS2, I was too scared to flip over . Spent the labours on the bed too.

With DS3, I had to walk (and then be pushed) back to the labour ward, waters broke while I was still sitting, so I hopped on the bed and gave birth leaning over the back of the bed. Really, really helped and wished I'd been braver to move with the other two.

I walked all through my labour, couldn't bear being on my back. Pushed on all fours. I can't imagine anything worse than pushing flat on your back on bed.

I knelt up or walked around throughout labour, but for the final bit the MW suggested each time I lay on my back, and I couldn't be bothered to argue. In both of my natural births, I was only on my back for a few minutes before delivery, as I was quite efficient at pushing. DH and the MW had a leg each!

I don't know how people lie on the backs during the first stage - I had to for a short while while I was being monitored (VBAC) and it was torture. I just wanted to lean forward all the time.

Some of the babies on OBEM are born to kneeling/squatting mums, though.

On my knees in the birthing pool, which was great.

I was quite active before hand, crawling round my living room and on the birthing ball before getting to the hospital and walking around for an age to get to triage to find that I was 7-8 cm. I think this definitely helped as 2 hours later DS was born to a wrinkly pruned like mummy

1. Classic supine hospital mandated position
2. kneeling, holding onto bed post at home
3. ditto (seems to be right position for me)
4. on my back, out for the count while surgeon rummaged around in guts and extracted a baby. (going to have to pinch the rummaging around in guts thing)

I was hooked up to a CTG monitor but the mw still found ways for me to be active. Like you being on my back/sat down was bleedin' agony. Sat on a ball was bearable, stood up leaning over the bed was alot better (but they kept losing the trace of the baby) and kneeling on the bed hanging over the back was good until i got dead knees. However due to them struggling to keep the trace up i was then told i kinda had to lie on the bed. Back to back baby and 16 hours and getting no where fast i was in the worst pain ever. Epidural in which I was gutted about (and my birth plan said nothing other than G&A) cos I thought i was managing being upright.

Both on my back legs by me ears (or so it felt )never had the urge to kneel or go on all fours at all..

1. on my back having spent all labour on my side as it was the only way I was comfortable
2. more upright in pool, back to the side but with dh supporting my hips so I was sort of lying down. Just what felt right, I had been thrusting my hips up during contractions all labour.
3. on all 4s draped over a birth ball pretty much where I had dumped myself when contractions started rocking forwards and backwards over the ball.

I went into labour very suddenly when I was induced and just found myself on all fours on the floor rocking and VERY resistant to being moved. I did allow the MW to turn me over to see how I was doing and they brought me a padded mat (like an old gym mat!) to put on the floor for me. MW and DH both tried to persuade me to get onto the bed, but still on all fours, or to be more upright, but my body did not want me to move! Interestingly, I don't remember being shown that position in my NCT classes, but when I had a shift change of midwife she commented that it was her favourite birthing position! Although it did mean that I didn't really ever see my MW (her vocal support was great) as she was behind me the whole time!

Am I the only person who can't BEAR the idea of giving birth on all fours? I have done it five times, always sitting/propped up. The magical bit for me is the baby coming out and being placed on my chest straight away. I hate the idea of it coming out 'behind' me and of having to lumber over into a different position to see it.

I stayed upright as much as possible during labour but definitely not an all fours girl.

Propped up in bed with a contractions and baby heartbeat monitor belt strapped round my middle (prem delivery). Until I was on the brink of delivery when I finally clawed the damn thing off, and I think the growl I gave the MW was sufficiently scary that I didn't have to put it back on. DS delivered 2 mins later

How many of those who pushed on back where flat? I was on my back, but not flat, I was in a sitting up slightly position and legs in air!