Child birth positions

[strawberrybodybutter]

Currently 24 weeks pregnant with my first and starting to think about labour. I've read about active birthing, think it's something I might quite like to try. Was wondering though what do most people do? Do people generally give birth on backs? Or can they use different positipns? I have no idea and can't bring myself to watch one born every minute! 🙈

I had my second standing up on the bed. She literally fell out and would have went head first if her dad hadn't caught her. The midwife was just walking out the door to tell the anesthetist it was too late

Its a very strange feeling giving birth, almost like you can't control yourself. I couldn't be still, the gas and air made me sick so I had no pain relief. I think your body just does what it wants to.

Very different from my first where I had an epidural and was on my back with stirrups. I honestly wonder if there is a correlation between activity and lack of pain relief.

Would also add even though for the first I felt nothing, and for the second horrendous pain... i would still choose the second "active" one over the first. People say "you don't get medals for how much pain you're in" but genuinely I felt I "experienced" it more when I could feel everything and actually listen to what my body was telling me to do. A pp is correct in saying it wasn't a case of push, push, pussssh, it's almost like that feeling of vomiting, you can't help it.

Kneeling on the bed and leading on the headboard was much the easiest way for me and ok for the midwives for delivery.

This is bringing back really vivid memories. I did crisply give birth sort of on my back, which wasn’t what I planned at all but I was in the pool and ended up with my shoulders braced against one end and my feet against the other and no part of me actually touching the bottom. For some reason my body wanted to be as stretched out as possible through the contractions - kneeling wouldn’t have worked for me at all. Being able to shift around positions easily in the water and have it support my weight was great though.
I totally agree with the pp who said that for me there was no deliberate pushing, what my body was doing was totally involuntary- I couldn’t have stopped it any more than I could stop a sneeze or a hiccup.

Just go with the flow OP.
I walked about a fair bit tried the bouncy ball thing and got in the birthing pool at the first opportunity. Which was great if like me and your a bit of a fidget as you can easily get into whichever position feels the most comfortable. As it was although I labored in the pool with both of mine I couldn’t deliver in the pool and had to come out for delivery due to concerns about my temp and babies heart beat. One I was encouraged by the midwife on my back the other the second in my side (at the time I didn’t really have much choice in the matter). I wouldn’t put too much store or get too attached to a birthing plan. If you can try to stay calm through your contractions you will have more control over the process. But sometimes things are taken outside of your control if yours or the babies safety are cause for concern.
The birthing pool was fab if you get the chance to go in it like a soothing hot bath. A couple of times I got out for a wee and I was glad to get back in the water.
Labour was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. Take care OP

On my left side with my leg in the air for second! He weighed 3lb more than the first and I only got a labial graze :) First one I was on my back as I was induced due to IUGR and ogliohydraminous so baby was in continuous monitoring.. was horrible and lasted 19 hours. Both labours I only had a 3-5 minute pushing stage. First I had a second degree tear. This time around will probably be a c section :(