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?

Upright both times. First kneeling on bed using head to support arms. Second time standing next to the bed with bed supporting arms. I had no intention of any position, just felt best. I simply could not have lain down, needed gravity on my side.

First on all fours using headboard. I couldn't stand being on my back. They really struggled to examine me. The second in water. A million times better. Go for a water birth if you can. If not listen to your body.

Mine was easy and quick. I was just on my back (well my labour was so quick that most of it I was rushing around the house, getting in the car, rushing through the hospital) but last half hour on my back.

One word- gravity! Either on all fours or kneeling. Whatever you do avoid being on your back.

Dc1 I was on my back in a hospital bed, it hurt - a lot - but I had no point of comparison. No tearing or grazing (quick birth).

Dc2 was exceptional quick. I was sitting in bed (at home) having had my waters go then a few contractions, stood up for dh to put the plastic sheeting on the bed and delivered dc. It hurt just as much but was quicker. No tearing but some grazing.

I think finding a comfortable position comes naturally, as long as you are able to move around.

I think on all fours and leaning against a wall helped me.

Best one for me was on my knees huffing a giant bean bag

I had epidurals for both of my vaginal births so I had a very pleasant experience giving birth

I lay in bed on my back

I did this before my epidural because I was in agony as DS had decided to plonk his head on a nerve and the pain was unbearable

My third came in literally two pushes, on all fours, after a stupidly fast labour (2cm-birth in 20 minutes) following an induction. My waters hadn't broken. The doctor (who came running after I started calling for help - I'd been going off for a walk a few minutes previously) said she could see the waters bulging and I thought 'ok, if I push I might manage to break them'. Two pushes and the doctor said 'OMG, she's here' - in the intact waters.

I had the urge to birth on my side but midwife insisted I got on all fours. That resulted in a 4th degree tear.

Second labour I went on my side and had a second degree tear.

Who knows. My advice is to go with your gut, if I had have done the first time maybe I would not have torn in either birth.

I feel like I'm the opposite of everyone else but the only way I could get relief was lying on my side on a bed. Any kind of standing, kneeling, all fours made contractions much more intense. I had 3 fast labours where it felt the same, don't know if that makes a difference.

Water birth .

All fours.
And breathing. (Counting to 10 Mississippis. And count off each ten seconds on fingers. Do this 6 times and it covers a normal 1 min contraction. It peaks at 3/4 so once there you know it's not long to go until it gets better again.
Total wuss here and managed 3 labours with tens, gas and air for one and nothing but breathing for the last.

On my side with a peanut birthing ball, definitely be guided by the midwives on when and how hard to push. DS arrived within half an hour of pushing. I had no tearing at all but did have an epidural so was totally pain free once medication had been administered.

Lying on my left side with a little bit of support for my right leg. I'd spent most of labour lying on my right as I couldn't tolerate any other position.

All fours on bed you can hold onto the back rest, or on floor if you prefer. It helps rotate the head. Massage oil into your perineum before labour.
Obviously it all depends on size of baby's head and position plus your pelvis size.

Water. For both my births. Bloody amazing.

Tens machine through early stages, then straight into birthing pool.

Rock on a birthing ball until it's time to actually give birth, made is so easy and no pain relief needed

My body didn't like contractions lying on my back. I kneeled on 4s or stood up and leaned on the bed. But when the baby was coming out, I was most comfortable on my back, with pillow under my head (unplanned home birth), left pulled in together and then spread out, like for a smear test or vaginal exam.

Thanks everyone. Nothing worked for me in the end and I had another caesarean, but I’m glad I gave it my all. Hopefully this thread helps someone else.

Congratulations! I just had my third which also did not go to plan. They rarely do. Hurray for healthy babies!