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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:
PanicBuyingSprouts · 30/10/2021 20:40

On my left side for the first, no other position was comfortable.
Kneeling for my second. Again it's just what felt natural at the time.

PiesNotGuys · 30/10/2021 20:40

Only ever standing up, every time, I can’t sit down or lie down in labour at all.

Driposaurus · 30/10/2021 20:43

First… had just been moved from kneeling to on my bottom/back in preparation for forceps. Spent a lot of Labour on my feet til the need for the doctors to examine me overcame my need to do what felt right. Baby shot out after I did that move, which was good.

Other two were both kneeling in a pool.

All of mine spent quite a bit of time back to back, and one was born that way, and this just worked for me.

Montii · 30/10/2021 20:45

First was kneeling on one knee in a ‘proposal’ stance with my arms and upper body leaning on a bean bag. Pushed for 25 minutes, tiny tear didn’t require stitched. 3.3kg baby.

Second was kneeling on both knees in a birth pool with my elbows resting on the edge of the bath. Pushed for maybe 10 minutes or less. Tiny tear again not requiring stitches. 4.1kg baby.

RowanAlong · 30/10/2021 20:48

I walked around a lot, had showers, and rested by kneeling leaning forwards with arms on the bed/birthing ball. Delivered in this position and daughter was passed to me through my legs from midwife behind. No tears - staying active and upright definitely helped!

Fridafever · 30/10/2021 20:52

Squatting leaning on my sofa. No tears.

Mossstitch · 30/10/2021 20:53

First on my back, induced, episiotomy, very painful, gas and air and long pushing period. Second & third did what came naturally, stayed upright walking about, declined gas & air, squatted, both babies out with two pushes maximum.

BoffinMum · 30/10/2021 21:00
  1. kneeling up
  2. kneeling up in a birthing pool
  3. kneeling up in a birthing pool
  4. floating on my back in a nothing pool
BoffinMum · 30/10/2021 21:00

*birthing

firstimemamma · 30/10/2021 21:01

Water birth, was lying on my side.

Branleuse · 30/10/2021 21:03

In both my homebirths, I birthed lying on my side with dp helping hold my leg up. Midwife wanted me to stand up but i didnt have the leg strength. I just wanted to lie down.
In hospital i was just on my back cos of epidural

DramaAlpaca · 30/10/2021 21:04

It was only with my third, a planned home birth, that I was able to do what my body wanted.

I had an old beanbag on the sofa, and I was kneeling on an old mattress while leaning over the beanbag. I got upright as he was born, and was able to reach down and catch him as he came out. It was wonderful.

DS1 was a forceps delivery after an epidural and with DS2 the midwives insisted I was on my back but propped up so they could see what was happening. I'm sure it slowed things down as it went against gravity. When upright, DS3 came out in under five minutes and I hardly had to push.

LimpLettice · 30/10/2021 21:22
  1. Stood up, all very fast until pushing stage. Insisted (midwife) I laid down. On my back, fetal distress, 2 hours pushing, tears.
  1. Back to back baby, PROM, slow Labour. Leaning on all fours over the the back of the bed, 3 pushes, not a graze.
  1. Induction, oblique positioning (not picked up) failed epidural, stuck on back, 2 hours pushing, manual rotation, out. No tears but extremely painful.
BaggiesBride · 30/10/2021 21:26

Kneeling and leaning onto the back of the bed. He just slid out!

Taswama · 30/10/2021 21:30

1st was planned C section so on my back!

Second I was standing by the end leaning against the bed but also spent a fair amount of time sat on the toilet.

PurpleBag · 30/10/2021 21:35

Both times lying on my back. It was what felt most comfortable for me even though it seems not to be the ideal way to do it. No tears/problems either time.

Europilgrim · 30/10/2021 21:41

I was monitored and induced and was made to labour and deliver on my back. Result: tears and broken coccyx!

stalkersaga · 30/10/2021 21:47

On all fours for my first. No tears.

I had to have an epidural for my second so I chose to be lying on my side with the midwife holding my leg up. Didn't tear. I spent most of that labour on my knees braced against the top of the bed though, ditto for my first labour in the birth pool. Going to knees or all fours feels very instinctual to me in labour.

PiesNotGuys · 31/10/2021 00:36

Just to clarify ive had three standing births and no tears as I’ve realised the op was about risk of tearing.

BurningBenches · 31/10/2021 11:08

1,2 and 4 I was on the bed in a sitting position due to epidural.

3 and 5 were quick 2hr births and just gas and air. 3 was brilliant and I had her in a standing/kneeling position against a bed.

5 (had her in June) was identical to 3 except the midwives insisted I had to get onto the bed onto my back to be able to monitor me after about 1hr. So the remaining hour was on my back and whilst I'm obviously grateful it was only an hour, I'm still really upset and unhappy that I was made to work against my body, without any real explanation.

IJustPeedInTheMaintenanceBay · 31/10/2021 11:45

For DS1, on my back with epidural after drip induction. Fair amount of pushing required and had 2nd degree tear but this was as likely due to him having both hands wedged under his chin as it was the position
For DS2, kneeling against back of the bed, gas and air, very little pushing required. Minor grazes only. I know which one I preferred!! But circumstances dictated a lot of it.

Roo0996 · 01/11/2021 06:13

I was on all fours throughout most of labour (either leaning over yoga ball or bed) then on all fours in birthing pool to deliver the baby again leaning over the side, no tears. I struggled with pushing and it took ages so I tried different positions including on my back and it just felt so uncomfortable and like it was never going to happen like that!

Nyfluff · 01/11/2021 06:17

Laboured in water for a few hours and didn't tear.

I found leaning forwards on knees best for pushing, it was quite quick even for the first baby.

DockOTheBay · 01/11/2021 06:18

First lying on back. 17 mins pushing, 2nd degree tear.

Second standing up (I physically could not get on to the bed between contractions). 9 mins pushing, 2nd degree tear.

SpangoDweller · 01/11/2021 06:52

Either kneeling or squatting in a pool, holding onto the side but definitely upright. I was determined not to lie down. I did have a second degree tear but it was due to the speed of the second stage and healed v well.