Did you give birth on your back?

[JennyBeanR]

If so, how was it? I'm curious because everything I've read states that the ideal position for giving birth is upright, or on all fours. Apparently there's a reduced risk of severe tears, intervention and so on.

I'm 35 weeks by the way and this is my first baby.

I did with both of mine! I couldn't mobilise well as both of them were back to back...i did try really hard to move around to get them to turn but it didn't happen...midwife said it was maybe to do with the shape of my pelvis. Having said that laying like was how I felt comfortable whilst pushing and even with both babies back to back I needed no intervention and had no tears :)
Xx

I too had two back-to-back babies and I was on my back for them as I had epidurals.

For my 3rd I was on my side I think

DC1 kind of on my back but in the pool, DC2 kneeling.

First baby I was on my back and couldn't push him out myself, he was venteuse, second and third I pushed out on all fours. No tears, no problems.

I had my first baby on my back, in a bed, legs in stirrups. It was horrendous. Really difficult to push her out and I tore, needing stitches.
Second baby was born at home, on all fours on myliving room floor. He was out in 2 pushes and not a hint of any tearing/grazing. The whole pushing stage was a million times easier with gravity on my side!

Yup all three of mine on my back and lived to tell the tale

No lasting damage either..

You just need to do what you feel is most comfortable, i wouldnt have liked to be on all fours, would of felt like a cow giving birth

Dc1 yes, no issues, no tearing, no grazing.

Dc2 no, I was sitting in bed, stood up to let DH put plastic sheeting on the deb, felt down to check and delivered him standing up. Small amount of grazing.

I wanted to be on my knees at one point (natural urge) and was told I couldn't turn over. I had a ventouse delivery (maybe spelling wrong sorry) and monitored so maybe that's why but I still feel annoyed as everything in me wanted to turn over. :(

Gave birth on back. Had planned to be upright and active but was in too much pain and literally couldn’t stand up. I was induced as overdue.

I had episiotomy but no other interventions. It’s healed fine.

I had just assumed I’d be able to stay upright and active, but that wasn’t the case. And I regularly cycled 100 miles a week before having baby so was by no means unfit!

First on all fours, second on my back - I had a pain in my hip and couldn't manage more. Number 3 was pretty much standing/squatting. It was a very quick birth. But with 1 and 3 both felt the right way to do it.

I had the bed tilted up and kneeled up leaning my body on the top. I kept very mobile throughout labour, spent a lot of time on a Pilates ball. No tearing or other damage and I only needed gas and air for the pushing stage as I bounced/paced through the contraction pains. Everything I'd read said being on your back was the worst position so I made sure to avoid it. I also did perineal massage for weeks beforehand with almond oil, and I do think it helped.

I was on my back out of choice for DC1 due to episiotomy and forceps. It did not feel right to lie on my back at all.

My second I was on my knees in a birthing pool (can't remember where my hands were but I'm sure they were probably clenching onto something or someone). Anyway on my knees/all fours was way better!

Although I must add I still tore and they were severe enough that I had to go to hospital to be stitched rather than have the midwife at my home birth do it.

Gave birth on my back with my feet in stirrups, which was absolutely the last position I'd envisaged, but on the day, it's what felt best.

All the best for your forthcoming confinement, OP!

PS no tears, no damage, no intervention.

Yes, was made to go in my back to be monitored after meconium found in waters. I begged not to go on my back as it was soooo much more painful but I didn’t really have a choice. Was pretty hideous but I survived. I’m sure like everything childbirth related this is very individual and some people have better worse experiences. Best of luck with everything

Yes all three on my back, no lasting damage. I found it too painful to even think of moving!!

First kneeling, second standing/squatting. No tears or other injuries with either and they were relatively short labours.

Dc1 standing - very awkward, tiring, midwife almost dropped baby major tearing

Dc2 - lying on my back. Such a relief, quick, easy, very minor tearing.

With my 1st, I was on my back with an epidural as I had been induced - was v hard to push, ended with 3rd degree tear. 2nd was on all fours until the end then kneeling up - was so much easier and I felt much more in control, only 1st degree tear.

I did with my first and in the process dislocated my coccyx- my 2nd and 3rd were both born with me stood up ! Much better experience

Yes, not out of choice. I was told I had to stay on my back as they couldn’t find baby’s heartbeat when I stood up/got on all fours. Wasn’t ideal and I had second degree internal tears and grazing. Dd was a big baby so I’m not sure a different position would have made a difference, but I’m pregnant again and hoping for a water birth.

First two on my back and third on all fours but I turned onto my back just before she flew out lol.

First on all fours, I couldn't even contemplate being on my back as it was too painful in that position, despite my midwife trying to get me to in order to slow down delivery...I believe I forcefully declined! 🙈 Small tear needing stitches due to speedy delivery...

Second baby, on my back in order to try to slow down delivery...it worked long enough for the midwife to get her gloves on and press the panic button to summon another midwife 😂 No tearing at all.

I did - I had read all the stuff/been told it at hypnobirthing class about how awful it is to be on your back, and I was certain I would never do something so stupid as lie on my back to give birth. What no one ever told me was that I would find pushing both so painful and so exhausting that I couldn't support my own weight - I tried to get on all fours and quickly got back on my back. I had a bad-ish second degree tear but a pretty good and easy recovery. I wasn't actually admitted to the labour ward until I was pushing, though, so I had a very active labour up until then (in that I was walking through the hospital car park when the urge to push began!)