Tell me about giving birth on your back

[sambababy]

I'm currently living abroad and the hospital policies here seem to be that the woman gives birth on a bed on her back, end of story. There are no options for home birth or water birth, 'midwives' only exist as the helpers at the hospital, and birth centres also don't seem to exist in my city.

I'm a first timer so I have no idea how I'll react, maybe I'll be in so much pain I won't be able to do anything except lie on my back, but it is making me nervous to know that I don't have a choice when it becomes time to push. The doc being able to see easily seems to take priority.

Isn't it better to let gravity help you give birth, like on your knees like they did in the old days? I would love to hear your thoughts! Positive or negative!

At least you know what to expect. I'm not from UK either and back in my home country, nobody would give birth on their back. It's seen as something positively medieval, a silly thing people used to do - why would you want to push against gravity? So I didn't expect it over in my current country and was taken by surprise.

I had my first (dd) in a water-pool leaning against DH (who was also in there)
But I wasn't able to use a pool for my second (apparently they were re-decorating the room )
Anyway as it happened we arrived at hospital quite late on and as I was about to start pushing we were ushered into the first available room (rather than the active birth room further up the corridor) and I was asked to get up on the bed
(did they have something against active birth I wonder ?)

Anyhow DH sat up on the bed behind me (he does have his good points!) and I leant back against him similarly to when I had dd in some ways.
And the two births were not hugely different in character.

So, I thought I'd just post that to show what can be done even when your options are seemingly being narrowed down, and hopefully to offer you some reassurance. Also to say I do think it's well worth sitting more upright if that's at all possible. Surely they can't really stop you doing that if you choose to ?

All the best to you

me too benefitofhindsight. it is called fundal pressure and is v dangerous

it is hard if it is not a culture you are used to, but i didnt get any choice in the lying on back part, and i think it is worth being prepared for just being 'flipped' over. i really think getting an obs who is happy to go with different positions and has a good v birth for first time birth record is key. ask questions of your obs.

I gave birth to all three on my back by choice they were all back to back. I had no issues not even a stitch. The back of the bed was raised though.

I thought I'd be as active as possible but by 6cm+ just wanted to curl up on my side and zonk between gas and air and contractions. Tried to push him out in that position but my spd was stopping me getting legs wide enough. Was terrified about getting onto my back when MW suggested but suddenly it was much easier and baby was out fairly shortly after. You just never know I suppose but must be difficult to know your choice is limited

mercibucket that is the first time I have heard of fundal pressure and now having read up on it I feel like I was very lucky not to have been left in a worse state than I was, and am even more angry towards the bastards that did it.

Gave birth to all 4 DC on my back, also a road. Started out in the bed half sitting up in late stages of labour, then they took the end of the bed off for the actual birth, so I was more sitting up over a hole if that makes sense.

I laboured the first time round on my back (was a v long & painful labour as my son was back to back & the midwives didn't realise for ages ) By the time I got to the pushing stage I was too tired to do anything but lie there & try to push. Ended up in theatre with forceps.

My second labour I was pushing upright, holding the back of the bed & it definitely felt so much more natural & "right".

I would agree with other posters that it might be worth having a chat with your obs. & explaining your feelings. Could you maybe try & find (if you can afford it) an English doula who might be able to help & give your OH support in controlling your labour?

Just did a bit of googling & found this which might be useful:

www.gringoes.com/articles.asp?ID_Noticia=365

Both labours on my back through choice and both quick and relatively comfortable. I would have hated any other position and that's the key, choice.

I had DD1 on my back because I didn't know any different. It was over pretty quickly but she was early and very low birthweight.

When it came to having DD2 (induction), I spent most of the labour stood up hanging off the sink and when the midwife tried to get me to lie on my back so she could monitor the baby, I only managed one contraction.

I gave birth on my knees on the floor leaning against the bed and crowning DD2's head took nearly 3/4 of an hour. She was over 10lb with a massive head and I only tore very superficially (except the midwife missed it completely and I need surgery a few months later).

It's really helpful to hear all of your experiences, thank you.

aberchips yes that article sounds about right. We haven't given up yet on researching other options in the city just in case. It's no wonder really that there are so many caesareans when the other option is also so medicalised/regimented.

I'm off to look at the maternity unit of our local hospital tomorrow so I'm going to arm myself with questions and then chat to my OB.

I also am abroad and i gave birth on my back drug free and only tore slightly. My birth was amazing and im so glad it all worked how i imagined.
My waters broke at 4am, and i delivered my girl at noon. My husband suprised me completly by being so incredible, supporting me and my decision to go drug free and even when things got gorey ( no one tells you that there will be so much blood) he saw her head come out, cut the cord everything. Incredible.
Damn did it hurt but once i felt the urge to push i was fine, just so absorbed in pushing i wouldnt have noticed if a parade went through the room.
The crowning did sting but i think the conttractions from 7-10cm were the worst and i was literrally hopping off the bed in pain. But i was tired and not able to remain standing so i lay on my side alot during contractions clinging to the gas and air and my husbands waist.

Insane!

I'm in the US and I've given birth in the hospital three times. On your back is the only way they let you do it.
But they do let you recline the bed into a sitting position, sit up, grab your knees, or your partner or a nurse will each hold one of your knees up to your chest, etc.
It's true that I think that the whole point is to give the doctor the best access, not necessarily the woman's comfort.
But, having done it three times now in this position, it's probably how I'd choose to do it in the future, if given a choice.
I can't imagine being vertical while giving birth... with my two year old, I had to pee while in labor and as soon as I sat down on the toilet, it felt like he was coming put. I yelled for the nurse and she helped me quickly back to bed but it was scary walking around because it seriously felt like he would just fall out. The nurse told me not to get up again. She said, better to wet the bed than have the baby in the toilet, lol.
He came very fast, that was an extremely quick labor, as was my second one.
But to me, being vertical late in labor just feels scary. I feel less control. I feel as if the baby will fall out onto the floor! At least when I'm in bed,I know he's going to come out into the doctor's waiting hands.

I reckon there's a lot to be said for your baby just falling out though basia - though granted you'd want someone to catch them

If only babies could fall out, we'd all stand up to save all of the pushing :)
I shudder to think where Ds2 would have landed had I been vertical, I completed 2nd stage of labour in exactly 2 mins, no pushing involved, he flew out :)

All 3 times I've given birth have been on my back, totally flat once and with the other 2 in a sitting up position which I found better to push with Ds3. It felt like I was pushing into something instead of empty space with no resistance, if that makes sense.
I had 3 huge babies with easy births and no intervention nor stitches.
I honestly couldn't imagine kneeling to give birth, I'd feel too scared incase I moved while in pain and squashed the baby. The sensible part of me tells me I wouldn't and instinct would take over and stop me, but still... :)

Yeah, I've had 2 good sized babies (7 lb 8 oz, 7 lb 14 oz) and one 4 lb preemie.
All my labors were fast and fairly effortless, with minimal to no conscious "pushing".
I seriously feel like if I gave birth while vertical, the baby would fly out too fast and get hurt, or hurt me worse than it would otherwise.
It's probably not so, but that is how it FELT.
I was certainly glad to get back in bed, with that last one. I am pretty sure that if I'd remained on the toilet any longer, he would've fallen out into the toilet. It felt that way, and it totally panicked me. The asmunt of pressure I felt was unreal. The pelvic pressure never gets that intense, even during the actual delivery, when you are lying down on your back.