Why are women still encouraged to lie down when in labour?

[Moomin8]

If TV programmes are anything to go by this is what you see time & again. Obviously if it's an induction you don't have a choice. But when I had my first baby 18 years ago, the staff got me lying on a bed right away, my Labour didn't progress well and I ended up with a cascade of intervention, PPH and all around traumatic experience.

With my next two babies I was determined it wouldn't, couldn't be like that again. I stayed upright & didn't lie down and it was still painful but it wasn't traumatic and I didn't struggle to push the babies out.

I'm pregnant again now and just wondering why so many media presentations of childbirth show women lying down and looking stressed? You need gravity to dilate, if you lie down you have to push uphill.

Or are most hospitals aware of this now?

It's the media. Where I work anyway, women are encouraged to mobilise as much as possible.

Wasn't it king Louis or some king who wanted to see the baby coming out so asked his wife to lie on his back and it all stemmed from that. Before, women squatted or knelt.

I stood up too, gping back 25 years ago. I think gravity plays a big part. It really annoys me when women are laying on their backs 🙄

Wasn't it king Louis or some king who wanted to see the baby coming out so asked his wife to lie on his back and it all stemmed from that. Before, women squatted or knelt.

How unsurprising that a man was behind all this?!!!

In my experience (one baby in 2014 and one in 2017) they're happy to go with whatever you want unless impractical.

Baby number one was born in midwife led unit and I only lay down very briefly to be examined. Stood most of the time and used a birthing stool in the end. Couldn't bear to lie down.

Baby number two I was induced and was on labour ward but walked around a lot. Did eventually birth on my back but that was my choice. Tried on knees and squatting but I was more comfortable on my back for that labour for some reason. They were absolutely willing to accommodate anything I wanted though.

I was told by a hynobirthing practitioner that it's because it makes things easier for anyone else involved in the birth and came about when traditional midwives started to be pushed out of the process and it became more medicalised with (male obvs) doctors.

I fully agree with you. However, with my second birth I tried being upright but as it happened my pushes were considerably more effective lying down! (baby still got stuck and ended with c-section at over 10lb, but hey ho). The midwives fully supported me giving it a go though!

Women are encouraged to move around unless they have a reason to be on bed and need to be monitored ie diabetes etc

I didn't, I think it's just if you need monitoring

Not my experience

I had to be monitored with my first baby - induced for reduced movements and then her heart rate kept dropping. They said as long as I stayed near the machine I could do what I liked and were happy to move the bed out of the way and provide a mat and ball. In the end I birthed her kneeling upright on the bed.

With my babies (all three of them) I found that lying down was the most effective way. I tried standing, kneeling etc as I'd been told to in my antenatal classes, but labour only progressed when I was lying on my back.

I was encouraged to move around and do what i wanted. Even when being monitored after an induction with a epidural i was on my side not back.

Obviously if it's an induction you don't have a choice.

I was induced, I didn't have to lie down - can you explain what you mean by this?

I couldn’t cope with being upright during contractions.

It's different for everyone but naturally a lot of women will feel better on all fours, closer to the earth feeling safer and gravity helps progression of baby down the birth canal. The bed thing came from male doctors wanting easy access (and maybe a level of control?) and for some reason that's what's shown on tv and films a lot - easier for camera angles etc without showing too much perhaps. Midwives can assess you from behind or on a birthing stool if you need an assessment during labour. If all is going well then ideally nobody else needs to be observing or checking and a labouring woman can then adopt whatever position is comfiest for her.

With my first I had an epidural so had to be lying down.

With my second I stayed mobile through most of the contractions but as I was transitioning I strongly wanted to lie down and did not want to move. According to my notes the baby was born after 20 minutes of active labour so apparently lying down wasn’t much of an inhibitor.

I kept being encouraged to move around, sit on the ball etc but as soon as a contraction came I was back on the bed lol. I felt better and more supported that way.

I’m rather lazy - so being semi prone was rather comfortable (night birth too). They just let you get on with it really - whatever feels comfortable.

Thanks for posting this! I’m terrified with my first of being made to lie down and ‘do as I’m told’ I’d much rather be in control and ponder around if I want to. The media (and One Born Every Minute always shows the ladies lay on their backs)This has made me feel a lot better!

‘Do as you’re told’ nah the response to that is ‘fuck off’. The birthing mother is Queen of the Universe at that time, so there!

During my labours they were happy for me to be on all fours until it was an emergency situation and then I had to be on my back for monitoring and hmm "access".

@LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD haha love it!! I’m a FTM so I have no idea what to expect 🤦‍♀️

During labour I was as mobile as you can get, I even walked to the hospital the last time.
But being 'on my back'/kind of sat up was the ONLY position I could tolerate to actually give birth in.

If I remember rightly, with my 1st, I spent most of it either walking around the room or sitting on the toilet, simply coz I was most comfortable there