Is giving birth really the best on all fours??

[Firsttimer93]

I read something interesting 'you wouldn't go in to the woods and take a shit lying on your back would you? So why would you go in to hospital and lie on your back to have a baby ?

Being induced in 8 weeks first time mum here guys and curious 🤷🏽‍♀️

During my labour I was in a few different positions, lying sideways was ok, they put a ball in between my legs to ease the weight, also tried using a hoist thingy and hated it, I didn't have the strength to hold my own body weight up, personally loved being in the water and baby was born in the water, I was on all fours then turned around just as baby was born, the water made me feel weightless.
Also I had a contraction on the toilet and it's the worst!!

I had bad back ache and couldn't stand lying on my back. I walked round most of the time and gave birth semi standing, leaning over the bed twice and once on all 4s.

I gave birth on my bavk all 3 times. I know it's not the best position, probably the worst, but I physically couldn't have moved off my back even if I'd wanted to. With my third, the midwife was trying so hard to get me to change position but I was just stuck on my back. I really couldn't move!

I laboured and gave birth on all fours (supported by a footstool) and stood up for some of my contractions too.
Was adamant I wasn’t going to birth on my back - didn’t want to tear and I wanted gravity on my side. Also - the tailbone pops out to make more room for baby so if you lie on your back you’re making more work for yourself! DH remembers seeing and feeling my tailbone pushing outward as he was rubbing my back during labour.
If you end up comfier on your back though go with what your body wants to do!

I had PGP and kinda kneeled and leaned forward onto a beanbag or sth. I think she came out in about three pushes, no interventions, which I suppose is good. I didn't exactly enjoy birth though.

But yes, I've tried hypnobirthing and read that being on your back is more or less the worst position you can be in. If you're kneeling or crouching or standing gravity will help you.

All the best!

I wanted to be on all fours cos NCT told me so. However, once I had my oxytocin drip and epidural going for 13 hours and couldn't move, I asked my midwife to tell me what was best. I was on my back the whole time and at one point had stirrups!

I was on all fours for DC4, my coccyx popped out and never went back properly. I have had problems with it since.

I found the easiest was on my knees in a pool, leaning forward slightly with my arms on the side. It was a breeze in fact.

Before that I gave birth on my knees on a weird sofa thing that looked like it was from a kids soft play area. I was leaning over a bean bag.

My first born was on my back. Sort of. I did shift onto my side. Laying down definitely isn't for me. It felt awful but as a first time mum I wasn't confident enough to decide where and how I was positioned.

I can not recommend a birthing pool highly enough. Same goes for being on your knees whether in the water or on dry land.

Head of bed raised and on knees facing into it and leaning over. Was totally instinctive to get into that position as soon as I got into the room and it was a much easier birth than DC1. Textbook one really.

Gave birth on all fours for DC1. Very smooth birth. Spent most of active labour in the pool, kneeling with arms and head braced on side. Spent most of labour with DC2 (induced) in a similar position too. You do instinctively bend forward usually - just go with your instinct. Standing braced, squatting, kneeling braced, all fours all work.

Had epidural for last few hours of DC2's induced birth as I couldn't use the pool, but I knew lying on side was better than back so I had the midwives turn me to my side and brace my top leg.

Depends! I had such a good experience giving birth on all fours with dc2 that i was determined I would do the same with dc3. Unfortunately it really didn't work for me that time- turned out Dc3 was back to back, so had to lie down instead.

Apparently the laying on your back thing was brought in by a french king who wanted to see his wife birth a child for his bizarre pleasure and it stuck. Science says all fours or squating as its gravity although some people will be an exception.

[ www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/theres-a-really-creepy-reason-why-women-mainly-give-birth-lying-down-/ ]

Everyone is different

With dd I was on my knees with my arms hanging over the top of the bed

With ds, I tried the same position, but he was back to back and he kept pressing on a nerve which caused cramps, so I ended up on my back with dh pushing my leg up

Different people find different positions better. You cant really plan it, just go with what feels right at the time or try out different positions to see which one is most comfortable for you.

I had a short second stage for both births (under 10 minutes). First was lying on the bed on my back. Second was standing as I physically couldnt get onto the bed between contractions. I wouldnt say standing was any easier and I ended up with almost identical tears both times.

I was on all fours for my third birth and it was by far the easiest. I wanted to be on all fours for DC2's birth but the midwives wouldn't let me. Having DC3 at home meant I could do what I wanted to and what felt right.

I haven’t done it yet but I’m pregnant with my first and being on all fours or some variation of it just seems to make the most sense to me. On your back has to be the worst position to give birth in, for the woman anyway! Work with your body and with gravity instead of against it. I’m really hoping to birth in water if I can, but whatever happens I know I don’t want to be on my back.

@DramaAlpaca why wouldn’t they let you?

@DramaAlpaca that sounds like when i was born. My dm begged to go on all fours but midwives refused saying she had to stay on her back. No reason to it thats just how they thought it should be done at the time.

All fours has gravity helping you.

In olden days there was a birthing chair. A tall legged, robust chair with most of the seat removed. A small lip to perch your bum on. Big arms to grip onto.
I can only recommend moving around until ready to push and going on all fours. After the birth you need someone to help you turn over and lay down. You may be too tired. Then you can have baby on your chest.

I squatted which I feel makes sense!

I knew all the theory and evidence about why it's not best to give birth on your back, and so would l have told you with 100% confidence the day before I gave birth that I'd not be doing it on my back. I tried to get on all fours in late labour - with the full support of my midwife - and found I was just too weak and overwhelmed to hold my own weight, even if I supported myself with the bed. Lying on my side also didn't feel right. So I did, in the end, give birth on my back - you definitely can't predict labour!

@BuffaloCauliflower I think I had a particularly bossy midwife who wanted to make it easier for her to see what was happening. This was 25 years ago, so hopefully things are different now. That whole hospital experience, which wasn't great at all, was the reason I had a homebirth with my third.

@DramaAlpaca that’s fair enough. I do think/hope attitudes are more open and woman led now. I’d definitely consider a home birth for a second if the first one goes ok

I had one one my back (my choice) and 2 kneeling and leaning over the sofa (homebirths).

The best position is the one that feels right!