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..

So interesting, really goes to show that all births are different!

I spent most of my labour standing up. I just couldn't stand to sit down during a contraction, even on a birthing ball. Was equally uncomforable in the pool as well, I couldn't even recline backwards with my legs out in front of me. Eventually delivered on all fours.

Gave birth to DD2 on my knees over the back of the bed. Had been on my back due to CFM and the MW (Labour Ward Co-ordinator) was adamant I stay on my effing back. She went out the room with a urine sample and I was helped onto my knees by DP and DD2 shot out

on my knees holding onto the head of the bed which was raised for me. this for both dc. i found lying on my back completely unnatural and uncomfortable. had just spent nine months avoiding doing so!

1st time i tried all positions and birthing pool, she was a c-section in the end. 2nd was born stood up (despite nasty midwife yelling at me to get on the bed). 3rd born with me on the bed lay flat on my back.

whichever position you feel is most comfortable at the time :)

On my knees but so knackered towards the end that would have liked to have had a lie down but by then DS was on his way out. Was a bit too quick actually as had a nasty tear.

DS1 under a general anaesthetic so on my back I guess.
DS2 leaning over the bed with my arms on the bed and gripping the gas and air mask so tightly they couldn't actually prise it out of my fingers once he was out!

I quite like the idea of on all fours but don't you get sore knees?

Both times, standing up. Doing a squat during each contraction/push. In fact spent most of the labours standing - uncomfortable sitting and downright painful lying down. No tears/grazes either time even though DS - born 3wks ago - was over 9lb! Standing is how women have birthed instinctively for centuries, makes total sense as you're opening up the pelvis and also using gravity.

Once on my knees, once on all fours, once on a birthing stool and once leaning on the sofa. The sofa wins.

Tried all sorts, had epidural and DS was back to back so was pushing for 4 hours before he came out. Bizarrely, I found being in stirrups was the most comfortable position for me.

I laboured in all sorts of positions - mainly standing or kneeling for the first and on a birthing ball for the second but I gave birth on my back and in stirrups for both. I tried pushing in MANY other positions but both were back to back and pushing didn't seem to work any other way (it wasn't great that way either)!

Couldn't agree with you more. Don't think i could even poo on my back let alone get a baby out! I was so upset that the midwife wouldn't let me go on all fours when i had a huge urge to do so. As a result it made the birth worse...cut against my wishes and a ventouse delivery! It was even recommended for the 'spd' i suffered with to be on all fours.
Upright (gravity)in the pool 2nd time around worked a treat. Is it supposed to make their job easier i wonder??

DD1 had epidural and didn't really know what I was doing. Listened to MW and was on the bed from waters being broken to point of delivery
DS1 Wandered around as much as possible. I wanted to push whilst leaning over the back of the bed but MW not keen, ended up half lying, half sitting and it was a lot easier then any of the others
DD2 induced so made to lay on bed for monitoring
DD3 induced again but as I was on a bed for 24 hours I delivered on my side which was preferable to being on my back

First baby - Hospital midwife - on my back, attached to a drip, after an epidural :(
Second baby - Domino delivery (so, a community midwife, but still in hospital)yes, on all fours, high on gas and air.
Guess which was the more 'enjoyable' experience (apart from the pain)

First baby - standing up, he shot out. I couldn't bear lying down and even sitting on a birth stool was horrible. I moved around but didn't walk much.

Second baby - hanging over the back of a sofa, kneeling on the sofa itself. It felt great! I did a lot of walking around in labour (in the local shopping centre) and a lot of bouncing up and down (once home) which I think really helped. When we had to drive to the hospital (I was about an hour from giving birth, unknown to me), it was agony.

I will add that the midwife tried to get me off the sofa into the pool (birth centre) but I was having none of it. So ladies, pretend you can't hear the MW and do what you want or tell them to get bent if you want to get into a certain position.

I tried on all fours or kneeling down and baby just wouldn't come out this way.

I ended up on my back and it seemed way easier and more comfortable.

I tried all sorts of upright positions while labouring but that was he one that worked for me. I suspect that puts me more in the minority category than you OP.

I thought being on all fours was the best way to labour but it just didn't work out that way for me.

mostly standing, sitting(on the loo for 4 hours ) or upright squatting at the head of the bed, but ended up n my back in the very last legs due to DD coming out Superman style & taking half of me tightly gripped in her hand with her - the midwife needed to see what was going on, otherwise it would have been squatting all the way

kneeling. I don't know how anyone lies on their back in labour. Madness!

Ooooh - I've almost been waiting for someone to ask me this, just so I can say 'I told you so'.

Gave birth 18 days ago and I kept telling them I needed to kneel. Eventually I managed to convince them that I wouldn't fall out of bed, knelt, et voila, one beautiful baby girl born two pushes later.

Was standing for DS1, although it still took bloody hours.

On my back, out of my head on pethedine and then venthouse for number 1, and then kneeling upright holding on to the back of the bed for number 2 - which was so quick there wasn't even time for gas and air!! Much better the second time!

On my back with both after active, on my feet labours.

The reason for this is that I feel more in control if I can see what is going on, but I didn't want a mirror to properly see! I also need to be able to see the faces of all the medical staff to hear what they are saying properly.

It was fine and quick in both cases. I don't think I would have managed to stay feeling in control if they had been made faster by me standing/kneeling/on all fours.

On my back out of my mind on pethidine for No1, on my knees on the floor for No2.

Think this series of OBEM has been better for showing more active births, probably because there have been more 2nd and 3rd time mothers.

DS - on back - epidural
DD - standing up - just got my pants off in time, midwives caught her

All fours in birthing pool