Anyone given birth on labour ward and NOT laid on their back in bed?

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

in my first labour (induced) midwives convinced me to lie on the bed for 2nd stage which didn't suit me at all - pushing in that position didn't come naturally and progress slowed right down.

Expecting to be induced again for DC2 and would like to avoid being stuck on my back in the bed again if possible.

Anyone done this on a labour ward? If so what positions did you use, and how supportive were the midwives?

I gave birth on my side, despite having an epidural in. My partner shoved me and rolled me over at my request

I birthed in my knees with Dd with my arms hanging over the back of the bed.

Ds I was on my back. Tried my knees but my leg kept cramping so on my back was better

I was on my knees on the bed, arms supported on the back of the bed. Midwife suggested that position, but they were not normal hospital midwives, this was the homebirth team (I'd transferred in). This was nearly 19 years ago though...

I was on my side with both.

I was kneeling on the floor resting on a sofa. No drugs. Very quick. Read "Birth Skills" by Juju someone or other. It will really help.

Same as Soubriquet and Pigling. Gravity does some of the work for you!

As with a few pps, with dd2 I was on my knees on the bed, using the back of the bed to support myself. I was encouraged throughout to keep moving, find a comfortable position etc, actively encourage to not lie on my back.

I'm pretty sure they tried to get me to not lie on my back with dd1 as well, but by then i was so tired I was sleeping between contractions and didn't have the energy to move.

DD1 was induced, gave birth laying in my left side
DD2 was spontaneous labour, gave birth on my knees leaning on the raised back of the bed. They asked me a few times if I wanted to lay down but I couldnt bring myself to move!

Birth Sills is by Juju Sundin. It really was helpful for me.

I gave birth on my side, was only way I could get some relief as held the bars on the bed for each contraction. Midwife didn't try to get me in different position tho did ask to weigh me when I said I felt like pushing as she forgot when I came in got told no hope I was moving

DS1 I was on my back, hated it. DD was undiagnosed breech and was on her way when I got into the room so I was standing, up on my toes with my head and elbows on the bed. DS2 I was on my back about to be examined and he just came. I'd planned to be on all fours, because lying on your back hurts the most.

DS was an induction and had to lay on my back with monitors on and it was bloody horrible and painful and I was totally knackered by the end, almost falling asleep in between contractions.

DD was also an induction but came so fast no one (including the midwife, who kept telling me it would be ages yet, despite me telling her it wouldn't) was prepared. I ended up kneeling up on the bed and DD more or less slipped out within seconds.

I much prepared the second one, even though DH missed it all, which is another story.

DS1 they moved the bed into a sort of 'sitting on the loo' position so was in bed but the back was up, the legs were split into two and bent at the knee

Ds2 was at home but kneeling up on my bed, holding onto the headboard

I was on my back first time around. Second time i was on all fours kneeling on the bed. I'd also spent a lot more time on my feet during labour.

I had a mobile epidural and was on my side. I had wanted to use gravity but couldn't due to a slight complication.

DS1 on my back. Long pushing stage

DS2 on knees on a pillow on the floor with arms up on the bed. Much faster and smoother birth

Yes. In my knees, kneeling over the back of the bed for DC2 and 3. It was never even suggested that I should be on my back and, to be fair, I'm not sure I could have moved anyway.

I lay on my back for my son's birth. Had really wanted an active birth but for some reason when I tried the hanging over the bed thing I couldn't push.

2x forceps deliveries so yes on my back but with ds2 very mobile until the last 30 min or so. Our hospital encouraged you to be out of bed for the whole thing and had birthing balls and mats and stuff in case you wanted to deliver on hands and knees. Just didn't work out that way for me.

First birth I was on my back.
Second was mobile at frost but my contractions kept stopping and starting so they wanted to monitor me so was sat up in bed. I was pushing and having a drip put in at the same time, one midwife was looking for a birthing stool but I had a massive contraction and pushed him out before she found it.
Third birth was on my left side, I had SPD and had been advised to give birth like that, I refused to move but was only in the room for about 20mins before he was born so all was well.
Last birth was at home on all fours.

Me! High risk as dd has a heart defect and I was monitored thoughout but like others suggested I was on all 4s leaning at the head of the bed no issues at all

First 3 on my back...awful labours. 4th one on all fours, easy as anything! Though that could be because she was the 4th...

summerhouse I have the 'Birth Skills' book, must finish reading it! I do like her perspective on birth

Yes on all fours here as well!! They kept complaining with DC2 that they couldn't get a decent heart trace (was very overdue with grade 3 meconium) but despite an epidural laying on my back was excruciatingly painful!

I had vaginal births on the labour ward with ds2 and ds3. Both times I was on my knees on the bed for pushing. For the labour before pushing I was sat on the ball with ds3 and rolling around on the bed begging for someone to kill me with ds2