What position did you give birth in?

[Bunny2607]

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 :-)

For both, kneeling in the birth pool. I was able to catch both babies as they came out 😄

I highly recommend Molly O Brien's Moving for Easier Birth class.. it is £25 per couple and is on line.. it is worth every penny!!

www.optimalbirth.co.uk/index.php/courses-and-availability/moving-for-an-easier-birth-for-parents-online

She talks about how the birth process works and how to work with your body and you baby during labour and birth. Being on your back might be the best position for an individual birth. But it's not for most women.

Someone mentioned putting their knees together and ending up in stirrups each time.. . Interestingly, as well as gravity assisting the downward movement of the baby, the Upright, Forward and Open position mentioned by a midwife above, we also need to think about where in the pelvis the baby is at the time. The pelvis moves and gives more space in one part or another depending on the position. When the baby is at the inlet of the pelvis, tuxkingbthe pelvis can help the baby in, when it is in the middle, there are two parts of the bone that restrict the space available so wide asymmetric kneeling lunging can help and when the baby is crowning, it open the base of the pelvis, rotating the femur inwards helps so bringing the knees together can give the baby the space it needs.

I love this video (though it would be better if it were in an upright position!!) As it shows how much movement the baby does during the descent..
m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDP_ewMDxCo

I will look for the pelvis demonstration and add it later.

Always in my back. It’s where my body put me, it wasn’t a conscious decision.

@GoodnightGrandma... more important than anything else is to listen to our bodies!! Indeed, being on our backs is absolutely the right position for some women.

Both my deliveries were ventouses with episiotomies, so I was in lithotomy both times for that .

However I pushed in a few different positions both labours, I wasn't flat on my back at any point during the second stage, but I still couldn't get either of my babies out. I pushed for over 2 hour with both before they were showing signs of distress and I was exhausted hence the instrumentals. My favoured position in my first labour was on all fours but I tried different ones too like semi-supine, on my left hand side, on my left hand side with one leg up on a stirrup. In my second labour my favoured position is hard to describe, it was sort of sitting up with my knees back to my chest and pulling on them to brace myself as I pushed? The midwife suggested it for me. I also tried others like semi-supine, lithotomy (abandoned quickly due to PGP pain), one leg in stirrup on my side (again abandoned due to PGP pain), kneeling up leaning over the bed headrest, squatting down and leaning forwards on to DH, standing and leaning forwards on to DH. Both my labours I moved quite frequently in the second stage, partly instinct and partly guided and suggestions from midwives. But ultimately none of them were successful anyway.

On my back with legs in stirrups, I found it extremely uncomfortable, like the baby was pushed up in to my lungs. I had some complications during delivery and they were rushing to get baby our so I just went along with what they wanted.

All 3 were on my back. Most comfortable position for me. I was lucky and didn’t have any damage or need assistance

I think it's scarier going towards the second birth because you know what's coming. But actually, they are easier. Good luck x

On my back for all three. I tried other positions for gravity etc, but on my back was the only thing that worked for me.

Epidural, pushing on my back, feet in styrups, no interventions or tearing.
I had used the epino for a couple of weeks before and think this is what saved my bacon.

Another one who recommends lying on left side. I felt my contractions in my legs both times, no way could I have stood or knelt up. Left side was a great position for me.

The first time the midwife held my leg, the second time she put one stirrup up so I could brace / push my leg against it. That worked so well for me, DS shot out in two pushes.

The midwife got me to sit on the toilet to get the head out, there was something in the bowl just on case, had been struggling with pushing up until that point, but bearing down in a seated position was effective and I got the head out as soon as I did it, I then waddled back with DDs head there, to the giant beanbag on the floor and went back onto all fours and delivered :) I had a very small tear, but otherwise fine

On my side with an epidural. Slight tear but nothing major. Was a walking epidural so could’ve done other positions (kneeling but not standing).

Thank you everyone! Some interesting stories here i will defo have a proper read of all of them and lots to think about to try get a plan together x

Both times I knelt and leaned against the side of the birthing pool. 2 great births with 2 massive babies

Standing up. X

I know a lot of people advise against on your back but I was most comfortable there. I kept trying to go on my knees and lean over the top of the bed but I felt like I wasn't sturdy enough and couldn't fully push properly and hold on to the gas and air at the same time. I did a lot of bouncing on the ball though when in labour and leaning on to the bed, that helped.

For two it was a supported squat. For one on my back. And for one I was on all fours, hands and knees. As the midwife upthread commented, just go with what you feel at the time, the one I had on all fours was back labour/facing wrong way. I did not know it but it felt right and the midwife says she saw the baby spin as her head crowned.

First baby was on my back on the bed as I’d had an induction and epidural, and ultimately ended in episiotomy and forceps delivery, after an hour of pushing.

Second baby was in the pool on my knees leaning over the side. It was very fast and so much easier, I only needed to do 3 pushes. Only minor tearing needing a couple of stitches (I tore where the previous episiotomy had been done, apparently this is common as the skin is weaker)

I actually hadn’t particularly planned to give birth kneeling, I had been sitting back in the pool until that point, but just had an overwhelming urge to get more upright and as soon as I did the gravity must have helped because my waters broke and my body seemed to just force the baby out without me needing to really do that much pushing (I actually had to hold back a bit so he didn’t come out too forcefully!)

1 Forceps on my back
2 on my knees - flew out
3 can’t remember, I moved around a lot, think knees again.

On my back with feet in stirrups for 1st birth, laying on my side for 2nd. Both second degree tears but 2nd was much much quicker

On all fours. Leaning over the bed. Was a fast Labour. I still tore though.

For DD and DS in 2007 I went into labour unexpectedly and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance. Ended up being a quite difficult. Tried all sorts of positions and gave birth to DS first on all fours but DD would not come out so had to lie down with stirrups and had to use forceps. I opted for no pain relief because I wanted a natural birth but was so painful I remember holding DS while screaming as they pulled her out with forceps. She wasn't breathing at first and ended up in ICU for a month but DS was only in for a week. Second time around I was on my back again and had no pain relief but was very quick and DS came out after 10 minutes of pushing with no tears and came home next day.

I did a lot of moving around and on my knees for some of it but for the final pushing stage, both times I felt much more comfortable on my back

On my knees, leaning against the bed headboard.