If you managed to have a decent vaginal birth, any positions really help?

[Ididivfama]

I’m thinking (and worrying) about vaginal birth now it’s coming and if any good positions or actions helped?

I've had 2.. both in water... it eased a lot of pain and pressure for me. Have you considered a water birth?

And listening to your midwife about how to breathe as the baby is coming out really helped reduce tearing. I felt an overwhelming urge to just push until baby was out, but my midwife talked me through some breaths which made the process a bit steadier

Second water birth if you can. If not, being on all fours helped me a lot.

Standing....use gravity to your advantage

I found leaning over the back of the bed and almost squatting helped me. I also second listening to the midwife with breathing techniques - gamechanger.

I delivered on my knees both times, leaning my arms and head over the bed head. That was was total instinct for me; just what felt right. Didn't tear either time.

Yes all fours for me or sort of hugging the back of the bed.Also the pool.

On my side with a peanut birthing ball which the hospital provided positioned between my knees. I thought it was great!

I'm another one for all fours. I spent most of labour on a mat on the floor with my arms on a yoga ball.

You just have to sort of zone out and remember that every contraction is bringing you closer to meeting your baby.

And don't underestimate your ability to breathe through pain. You've got to surrender yourself to it and go with it.

Water birth was amazingly different to a normal birth.

All fours. I had a home birth with my third, he flew out and I didn't tear.

Kneeling with something high up to hold on to.
Hypnobirthing.

In water, on my knees and at home! Three vaginal births, no tearing despite 2 LGA babies.

Instinct was to go on my knees and hold onto something. Leaning forward.

Good luck x

Leaning on the edge of the water birth tub.

I found walking around and being the pool helped found it unbearable to lie in bed. Had a quick labour 3hrs from getting to hospital so wasn't bad at all, everyone's different though if I'd had a long labour may have opted for epidural and bed. I think see if you can have a birthing pool and just try to be as relaxed as possible. Good luck op x

Waterbirth, on all fours for most of it but she actually came out when I spun over onto my back for the final few minutes.

Out of water, stood up and leaning on the hospital bed.

Lying on my back was absolute agony. I only had to do it for them to check how dilated I was, as soon as I got up into a standing position again it was so much better!

Water birth on my knees was much better than an episiotomy and ventouse lying down on the bed, but I suppose that doesn't count. Good luck!

Upright forward and open
avoid being on your back at all times, you need gravity!

Keeping active through labour. I don't mean walking around particularly, just not getting into the bed made a huge difference I think. I did deliver on the bed but sort of on my side, but I think most of the hard work is done by that point.
Seconding the PP who said to lean into the pain. Imagine your cervix is the end of a balloon (the bit you blow through) and it needs to be stretched and widened enough for the baby to come through. That's a hell of a lot of work for the muscles so the pain is good and necessary - try to relax into it and not tense up. Think of it like powerful muscle burn if you were in the gym 😬

On my side napping between contractions... Ime the key is accepting the level of pain is as it's supposed to be. The thinking it's so bad something must be wrong is very unnerving...

For me it really helped to keep waking (in circles) Up until I was 9cm dilated

My body sort of took over and told me that's what we were doing 😁

Then had a speedy birth

It's good to go in with not too fixed a plan

But listen to your body

First one, I could only get comfy lying on my right side.

Second one I knelt and grabbed onto the bedstead. Both fairly straightforward quickish births.

Water was the best for me. The buoyancy helped me to get into a comfortable position. Unfortunately not many birthing pools available in my area so the others I laboured in the bath and gave birth on all fours on a mat on the floor.

I absolutely agree with @MaryMary6589 about zoning out. I just closed my eyes, focussed on breathing and trusted my body to know what it was doing. I think I naturally went into a sort of meditative state.

I found on my back or sitting absolutely unbearable. DC1 on my knees in a pool hanging over the side. DC1 on all 4s and on knees on the floor leaning onto the bed (no time to get into the pool or I definitely would have).

Just grazes with DC1 (I say 'just' but they were still incredibly painful).
No tears or even grazes with DC2.