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!

@annlee3817 on the toilet! I guess that makes a lot of sense. Must have been the best feeling when it was over. Amazing stuff, thank you.

#1 wanted an active water birth, standing/kneeling up if possible. Ended up being out straight on drip for induction and only lying in bed was comfortable. The midwives kept telling me off and I was trying to explain that I wanted to be up and about! Gave birth on back with legs in stirrups and an epidural... the exact opposite of what I wanted, but fine.
#2 natural birth kneeling up over the back of the bed.
My advice? Do what your body tells you to do - trust it. Keep an open mind when doing your birth plan! And most of all good luck. Whatever happens, you'll be a superhero

I pretty much did as I was told at the time by the midwife.
I felt most comfortable during labour leaning forward with the contractions, but I had to have the drip to get things properly going 24 hrs after my waters broke and they started monitoring the baby and told me she didn’t like it (was getting decelerations and the monitors weren’t staying on properly) so they got me up on the bed then which I didn’t really like.
I started pushing on a birthing stool which felt the most natural position but the midwife then got me up on the bed for the rest of it- she said she was afraid I’d tear on the birthing stool. It was probably partly her needing access to do a small episiotomy. It was fine on my back with my legs in stirrups tbh. In all the pushing was fine, the labour itself was the hard bit.
It’s nice to have a preference as long as you expect that it may well all go out the window on the day.
I was so so relieved when she arrived, that rush of relief and love was just amazing. It was all worth it.

Stirrups and it was horrendous. Had two male doctors staring up me and three midwives and my husband got told to hold one of my legs down......

Going for a home birth this time and ordering a birthing pool. Hopefully wont be a repeat of the stirrups.... but who knows might end up there again. Certainly dont want to if I can help it however.

On my knees on my bedroom floor both times. I only laid down once my first birth (for a cervical check, which was miserable and I declined that with my 2nd). With my 2nd, I was on a birth ball, standing or kneeling the whole time. Never touched a bed until after placenta was born and I was ready to rest and have some cuddles.

Both babies born in the water! With DC1 I laboured in the birthing pool floating on my back for 2hrs, then for an hour of pushing I moved onto my knees leaning forward with elbows on the side of the pool. Flipped back onto my back when he was crowning, legs akimbo!
With DC2 I was only in the hospital an hour, and spent most of that standing leaning over a bed. Got in to the water and began to push straight away, floated on my back from the start and she was born about 20mins later.
Really recommend Water birth for being Ble to get in to whatever position you like without pesky gravity getting in the way too much!

On my knees leaning over the back of the sofa. (Home birth) I had a pool but she wasn't coming quickly enough and they threatened to catheterise me so I said no thank you, got out and pushed her out in the sofa.

First was horrific - laboured sitting/standing/walking (while vomiting and having repeated diahrrea before eventually giving birth on my back with shoulder dystopia and one foot on each of my husband and midwives hips.

Second and third, born fast and on the toilet, on my own (but in hospital, again due to diahrrea - sorry tmi) second was in his sac.

Fourth born on birthing stool, by far the best as didn’t have to stop babies head clanging against the porcelain but still got best position for me and help of midwives (and thankfully less bowel involvement).

Isn’t it lovely and dignified 😍

*dystocia