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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

What position did you give birth in?

85 replies

Bunny2607 · 30/10/2021 17:42

Hi ladies
Just as the title says really…i’m pregnant with 2nd baby. First ended up in theatre as i was pushing with episiotomy and forceps. Keen to avoid this if i can this time and trying to research what positions are easier for baby to come out/encourage gravity.
I’ve heard standing can increase risk of tearing, so i was wondering about sitting on a chair for the pushing stage? first baby i was on my back the whole way through and hadn’t done any research, I don’t want to labour on my back this time, keen to stay active if i can!
Love to hear any stories :-)

OP posts:
BunNcheese · 30/10/2021 17:46

I stood and pushed.

Soulstirring · 30/10/2021 17:49

I did the hard work for my second on my left hand side. It was a very quick labour compared to my sons which was like yours. 3 hours between arriving at hospital and leaving. I turned on to my back for the midwife to give me an episiotomy and actually to deliver her. It was a wonderful experience after a hard first delivery, I wish you the same!

MooChops89 · 30/10/2021 17:50

Midwife here - I usually encourage women to be wherever feels "right" at the time but kneeling is my go-to position - it's upright, forward and opens up the pelvis, gravity does its thing, and legs are able to rest a little compared to standing. Pushing can sometimes last a while so it's always a good idea to try different ones too! Sitting upright is good, sitting on a bedpan in a chair has had great success many times before as well!

DeliaDinglehopper · 30/10/2021 17:50

On my side for the first, then floating on my back in the birth pool at home for the others.

babyinthacorner1 · 30/10/2021 17:52

On my back with an epidural first time - bad 2nd degree tear.
On my knees leaning over the back of the bed second time round with gas and air. Ended up with a bad 2nd degree tear again! Both experiences were fine but I was happier second time as like you, I’d wanted to avoid being on my back.

HumunaHey · 30/10/2021 18:11

On my knees leant over a peanut shaped yoga ball for first. Had a 2nd degree tear which caused me bo bother. Walked out of hospital same day withbaby feeling fine.

2nd birth I was knelt over leaning on the edge of the birthing pool. No tears but I wasn't as sprightly straight after birth as with first. Don't think my positioning had any correlation though.

Narwhalsh · 30/10/2021 19:40

On my back with first and a second degree tear, on my knees over back of the bed with second and just a small graze but a much easier second stage overall despite baby being 2.5lbs heavier than first. Gravity definitely helps

Scotabroad24 · 30/10/2021 19:45

Laying on my back with my feet in stirrups despite begging the midwife to let me kneel.
Ended up with 3rd degree tear, episiotomy and ventouse.

thebookeatinggirl · 30/10/2021 19:49

Both times kneeling up in bed leaning forwards against my partner.

emmaluggs · 30/10/2021 19:49

My first I was on my knees on the bed no tears etc and was quick he was back to back I couldn’t bare sitting down or on my back it was just too uncomfortable. Second also back to back, but I was stuck on a monitor as my HR was all over the place and they worried about fetal distress, so was stuck on my back they got me as upright as they could but it was awful and I had such urges to be on my knees again, I also tore and needed stitches. My first was a Precipitate labour and my second, but I always remember some sort of primal urge to be on my knees, I think you’ll know when it happens, just need to feel it and go with it.

EntreMummy · 30/10/2021 19:55

Crouching, on feet - in birth pool with hands pushing against the side for first

Same position, but leaning against DH for the second.

This was position that felt most natural to me both times.
Bit of tearing with both labours, but healed quickly.

Amammai · 30/10/2021 19:57

On all fours leant over back of bed. First time I needed an episiotomy and finally delivered with forceps on my back but second fine I do think your body sort of remembers - delivered with two minor tears and was up and about soon after.

nanabow · 30/10/2021 20:00

First lying on my back, I didn't feel fully in control. It took 2 hours of pushing, lots of people guiding me, and ended up with a 3rd degree read.

Second was standing up, leaning forward onto the bed. I felt like I had a lot more control and could just follow my instincts. My body instinctively squatting when pushing and my hips wiggled as she guided out. Less than 10minutes of pushing, no tears.

FromageRay · 30/10/2021 20:02

My first sounds much like yours. For my second I was on my knees with the head of the bed raised for support/to hang over. It wasn't a dramatically quick birth but I am sure that gravity helped speed things up. Second was much better experience as I felt more in control, wishing the same for you.

BlueFlavour · 30/10/2021 20:05

First in pool, second on all fours, third sitting up and leaning forward.

Kangaruby · 30/10/2021 20:08

Mostly sitting on the toilet! was told only 4cm dilated, last few mins on my back as they wanted to examine me before they would give me pain relief - baby was there. Think being upright helped, no tear

Basilandparsleyandmint · 30/10/2021 20:08

Stood up both times with a few times on n a ball just to give my legs and arms a break x

Nuffaluff · 30/10/2021 20:16

My first I needed an episiotomy and ventouse. There was a common ‘first time birth’ problem with my cervix not dilating properly. Tried plenty of positions, birth pool, birthing stool, etc, etc and nothing could have prevented it. Obviously a long recovery time.
Second birth was a very quick labour and he was born less than 30 minutes after we got to the hospital. I chose to be on my back because I could feel that things were progressing too quickly and I needed to slow things down a bit. Just had a very tiny tear and was up and about walking around the next day.

Nuffaluff · 30/10/2021 20:18

Second births are usually easier because your body remembers what to do. I’d say go with the flow and see how you feel at the time.

BurntTheFuckOut · 30/10/2021 20:20

First on my back as she was prem
Second on all fours
Third standing up… I tore badly. They didn’t believe I was in labour and her head was out whilst they were still arguing with me Confused

SickAndTiredAgain · 30/10/2021 20:32

Kneeling up in the birthing pool, leaning forward against the side of it.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 30/10/2021 20:33

DS4 was ELSC

during various labours with the other 6 I had: walking, sitting, all fours, on knees facing & supporting myself on headrest, on a bouncy ball, on my right side, on my left side and best of all asleep.

2nd & 3rd stage: on my back with all, almost sitting with DS2, head rest & pillows at different angles with the others but more lying down than sitting.

DS1 had his head stuck at a wrong angle so forceps delivery & episiotomy were necessary.
No problems with the others; different degrees of tearing and various amount & types of stitches with the boys, not a single stitch needed with DD.

hope this helps

RedMarauder · 30/10/2021 20:37

On my side with my DP holding my leg up.

I was forced to be on the bed after I was over 9cm dilated.

We had NCT classes and I also been watching stuff on YouTube plus One Born Every Minute so made the decision to lie on my side.

MojoJojo71 · 30/10/2021 20:37

First one I had an epidural and delivered in left lateral. Second degree tear.

Second I was on all fours and had an intact perineum.

ofwarren · 30/10/2021 20:40

Back with stirrups 3 times 😢
I have very fast labours and I seem to fight against the contractions by closing my knees so I get forced into stirrups.