Why did I have to lie on my side through labour?

[53rdWay]

And will I again with baby #2?

First labour was several years ago and my memories of it have huge blank bits in them. I was on continuous monitoring. I definitely remember the midwife at the beginning saying I would still be able to move a bit, kneel, bounce on ball etc, I just needed to lie still to start with (this was when first admitted to labour ward).

Then for some reason I had to stay lying on my side? It was AGONY. I remember screaming and writhing through contractions and being told “try to lie still, try to keep still.”

I am sure there was a reason for this at the time. But I don’t remember what it was, don’t have notes, now in different hospital in different NHS area etc.

Anyone know why this would be recommended in labour and if it’s the kind of thing that’s likely to recur?

I was asked to lie on one side when the baby's heart rate wasn't good.

That could have been it? I know there was some concern over the heartrate.

Did you not get any pain relief?

I had to do this. My baby's heart rate was dropping with contractions. It takes the pressure of the umbilical cord allowing oxygen to pass to the baby.

Yep. Lying on one side keeps pressure of arteries I'm sure to help the baby.

Gas and air and diamorphine, was still agony. Ended up with an epidural eventually after which they wanted me to lie on my back I think.

Contrary to what is depicted in every on-screen birth ever (although it was accurate before science worked this out) it isn't recommended for a labouring woman to be on her back. Though it does depend on the exact position of the baby and can be OK, if you are on your back the likelihood is that the weight of the baby will be constricting the flow of the major blood supply to the uterus. Not enough on its own to do and harm but added together with the pressures involved in labour and you are increasing the chances of the baby being brain-damaged by being starved of oxygen during labour. If a woman wants to labour on her back a good midwife will check the position of the baby and assess how big a risk this is. In some cases it will be fine. Other times the midwife will strongly recommend other positions.

Labouring on my back wasn’t the issue, tenorladybeaker

I had to lie on my side for approx 10 hours in my first labour. His heart rate kept dropping if I lay in any other position. Turned out the cord was round his neck which I am sure must have been a factor.

I moved round constantly in second labour until pushing which was on my back.

Every labour is different.

I also had to go on my side due to concerns with baby's heart rate when I had contractions.

As others have said, laying on one side helps take pressure off the umbilical artery/arteries. When I was being monitoring prior to having DS2, they were very concerned about his heartrate as it was 'sinusoidal' (still no idea what that meant!). The consultant told me they were going to take me to theatre for a section if it didn't improve in the next 10-15 minutes, but she wanted me to try laying on my right side first for a bit. That did the trick apparently - his heartrate went back to a more normal rhythm and I avoided the knife for a week longer.

If it helps with heart rate issues then that would make sense, I know there was some worry about the heart rate.

Hoping that in that case there’s no reason to think it’ll happen again in my next labour.

I had to lie on my side with my first baby due to the cord position & was constantly monitored-Not pleasant as you say. 2nd baby I chose a water birth-I wouldn't repeat it personally. 3rd baby I laboured on the ball or on my knees holding onto the headboard with a TENS machine (this was the best labour for me). So I'm just saying that all labours can be different!

I had to do this too because baby's heart rate dropped when I sat up! He was back to back, I don't know if his position made a difference!

Why were you being continuously monitored in the first place?

I would wonder if lying on your back for that contributed to the heart rate issue.

CFM for being v overdue, then there was some meconium in waters when they broke.

I’m actually not sure what position the baby was in and I think there was some confusion about it (I remember a registrar arguing with the midwife about it!)

I have read that lying on your side during pushing can help reduce incidence/severity of perineal tearing.
But if you weren’t at the pushing point i don’t suppose this would have been a reason why

Side lying can also help to slow down a birth of the baby is large.

OP, you can ask for your medical notes from the labour, and also ask for an explanation/debrief. It sounds as though are some elements that may not have been explained well enough at the time to get through to you while you were labouring.

All I wanted to do was stay lying on my side, although midwife said to lie on left side as it takes pressure off the vital organs.

That doesn't sound right as you were so uncomfortable OP.

I had to with my first (heart rate issues) but it didn't happen with my second. I hope that helps

I have heard there is a particular technique midwives use for flipping posterior babies that involves lying on your side, but it isn't for very long and involves a sequence of positiobs I thought.

I think some positions are easier for monitoring than others. When I was on my side they couldn’t get the monitoring to work properly so I had to be on my back. I was trying to stay on my side rather than back as it was recommended in antenatal classes if you needed monitoring (can’t remeber why now). I think I had the choice of being on my back with normal monitoring versus being more mobile and sticking an electrode into the baby’s head. I went for the former.

I was told to lie on my side as my baby was back to back and it was to encourage him to turn x

You can ask for your notes and have someone go through them with you and explain everything and why it happened.

I think this is why it’s often good to be as educated as possible about childbirth as you can have a better understanding of what it going on and why (although I know some people may prefer not to)

Just remember you don’t HAVE to do anything, you’re a free agent and it’s your choice, but often understanding reasons means you’re more happy to give your informed consent