What position did you give birth in?

[ArizonaLeone]

Sorry for the odd question. Pregnant with my first and have heard lots of talk about which are the best and worst positions to give birth in. I know it all just happens on the day but curious to know other peoples' experiences!

On my back which isn't how I had planned but ended up with an assisted delivery and it all happened a bit too fast!

Pushed standing, leaning over the back of the bed but was on my back for the actually delivery.
No idea how long I was pushing for though. Midwife was telling me not to but couldn't not.
After 48hrs in labour was completely knackered but the pushing stage

1st On my back, next 3 on all fours!

@PasstheStarmix strapped to the bed! My goodness. How stressful that must have been. But all worth it I presume! Thanks for sharing!

Keep moving is my advice! I rocked and rolled and swayed and did figure of eights with my hips throughout and I am one of those weirdos who enjoyed my labours (and was very lucky that they were pretty straightforward on the whole).

How many weeks are you? (Sorry can't remember if you've already said!)

Laying on the bed, classic frog leg examination position, but no stirrups.

I wasn't allowed to get up or kneel for the last part of dd1 birth as they were desperately trying to get me from anti natal to delivery room before she was born on a moving bed or in the lift!
(Sudden precipitous labour)

Dd2, again I was on my back in delivery suite.
Midwife gave sweep and told me to relax there for an hour - my DH laughed and said you'll be lucky. 23 minutes later there was a baby.
If I laboured upright it would just fall out I think!

@LBOCS2 haha! I assume dignity goes out of the window during childbirth. And so it should! Thanks for sharing !

Reclining on my back, in the pool then out of it on a mat for the final stretch - an hour and a half of pushing.

I'd have preferred kneeling or all fours, but was so tired I just did what I was told - in hindsight I wish I'd have asked or raised my preference, but maybe there was a reason they needed me like that - she was a struggle to get out!

I had been walking and walking using a frame you can lean forward onto, leaning on your forearms for most of the time I was labouring in the hospital. I gave birth holding myself up on the walking frame, feet off the ground. It felt so natural for me but it did take the midwives by surprise (both times) and they did need some convincing that I was strong enough to manage, my OH could hold me and we took responsibility for anything going wrong.
Both transitions and births were really fast, no intervention, the second had decels and the mw was trying to lay me down but she then came out in one push with me upright.

@widgetbeana 23 minutes! That's impressive. Fingers crossed I have a smooth labour. Hearing all of your stories really helps. Thanks all!

First one I ended up having be hooked up to monitors on the bed, and gave birth lying on my back, legs in stirrups. It wasn’t as terrible as it sounds but not the best experience.

Second one (5 weeks ago so very fresh in my mind!) was a much better experience, kneeling in the birthing pool, pushed for 11 minutes and out she popped. Already feel like I could do it again, but DH says no way!

I gave birth on my back with all 3dc. The first 2 were very long labours and I was exhausted. It was suggested with my first to go on all fours and I screamed that I wouldn’t give birth like an animal . I was quite young (19) and it seemed so undignified. I cringe now thinking about it. With my last, i was induced so it all started very quickly and the cord was wrapped around her neck so no option there but to get her out ASAP. No pain relief with any of them though apart from gas and air. Can’t have been too bad as I did it again and again.

Thanks Arizona, I was induced after being 2 weeks overdue and it was a high risk labour. They had to monitor little one throughout incase he went into distress and afew other complications hence me being stuck to the bed with heart monitors. I got my beautiful baby 25 hours later which was the most important thing. He’s now 12 months old and thriving.

@Rainshowers haha! I'm sure he'll come round eventually 😜 huge congratulations and thanks for sharing!

First one whipped out of the sunroof! So on my back in theatre. Second one also on my back but only cause I had to because of monitoring and doc needed to be at the business end. DD needed getting out quickly and she fortunately obliged without any help 15 mins later. I’d been stood up until then.

@PasstheStarmix how fab. What a lovely outcome. Best of luck to you and your little one in the future

On my back (midwives tried to get me to squat, it made me feel sick). Pushed for about an hour, but he has a big baby, and had the cord around his neck which made things harder.

Oh and I could easily have went for dc4 within 2 months of giving birth to dc3. Dp said no, and thank god he did as she’s still not a great sleeper 3 yrs later.

On my back for all 3, ended up needing the monitor straps each time so wasn't allowed to move.
First 2 laid fairly flat but third had the back of the bed up more as he was term so was easier for them to keep track of his heartrate with the straps and was definitely easier with having the pillow end raised up.

Amazing how different everyone is. Thanks all for sharing!

Laboured on all fours, but had to have an epidural (long labour and absolutely exhausted). Ended up giving birth sitting upright legs in stirrups. Only 10 minutes of pushing though so wasn't too bad.

On knees in birthing pool
On knees over back of bed
Crouching on the floor
Standing with leg on bed

On my back felt awful. Being upright took some of the pressure feeling away.

Timings are different with everyone I'm afraid but my active labour was 1hour 45 mins which is quite quick but definitely not the fastest.

At the time I was completely shell shocked by the whole experience but looking back it was quite empowering. I'm proud of myself for coping and for doing it.

The best advice I can give (or at least what woeked for me) is prepare yourself in knowledge of the possoble outcomes and be open to anything. I knew I would have no control over how it happened but I wanted to understand what was occurring every step of the way. All I had on my birth plan was MLU (didn't happen, gave birth on delivery suite) no pethedine (good idea as baby was born so quickly pethedine likely would have caused breathing problems) and managed 3rd stage & vitamin k.

I had wanted to do it without an epidural but once I hit the full on side of it that went out the window. As my labour was so quick I didn't get it (just didn't have time) but I would seriously consider it with another pregnancy. Either way I'd go back to delivery suite over MLU.

On my back both times. With ds1 I started off in the pool, then got out and used the birthing couch, then the stool, then standing, then ended up on the bed, exhausted. I was pushing for over 3 hours! I had an episiotomy and finally got ds out. He was 10lb 9oz and came out with his hand up by his face.
Ds2 I was induced so was being monitored, I was ok to be on the bed then when contractions started they intensified so fast there was no time to move anyway. This time I delivered in 3 pushes after about 1 hr of contractions! Totally different, and recovered quite quickly this time.

Flat on my back with my legs in stirrups at a 90 degree angle. I had a ventouse in the end. I did spend a lot of my early labour stood up as I couldn't bare to be sat down or lying down.