What is the best position for first-time births?

[justanotheryoungmother]

Midwife has said that flat on back makes it harder but didn't offer an alternative position that makes it easier to get the baby out what position made it easiest for you?

(38 weeks and thinking about labour a lot)

On your back makes no sense - you are working against gravity.
It's like blowing your nose laying down lol.

Hands and knees are a winner

Kneeling and leaning over was nice for me, but anything with a squat works well too. But your body will know! Lying on your back closes your pelvis by about 25% (though I haven't just looked that up and may be misremembering the exact figure).

First time on my knees leaving over the headboard of the hospital bed. Second time on my knees on the floor leaning over the sofa at home.

With my first I squatted in the pool, hanging by my arms.

With my second I automatically flipped over in the pool and sort of squatted backwards.

In water for me! I've had all the drugs and none of the drugs (4 babies!) and the best painkiller by miles was being in the water.

I gave birth standing up and holding onto the bed. Another good position is on the bed with the head up and leaning on that. Could give birth in the pool if that's an option? There also might be a birthing stool that you could use. Squatting would be good but need to hold onto something. Any position that you're upright is best so gravity can help.

Kneeling up both times. The midwife kept insisting second time to sit with knees drawn up but it was for her convenience, didn't work and as soon as I knelt holding back of bed DD was born, at speed! Have never forgiven MW for that

Have a look into yoga for birth it should give you lots of ideas. Basically keep moving!

DS1 - had to do it on my back because he had a heart monitor clipped to his head. Pushing stage was long, probably because I was on my back, but I had no choice.

DS2 - laboured standing up for 2 hours, jumped into pool, pushed a couple of times and out came DS2. Much easier.

DS was back to back, and laying on my back made labour awful. I was doing really well at home and then everything went downhill when I went to hospital and they wanted me to lay on my back on a monitor. I wouldn't want to tell you what to do, but if i could do it again I'd tell DH to encourage me to keep walking as much as possible, and stay upright on a chair (I did pretty well at home in that position). Laying down didn't help me at all.