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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Active birth/ staying upright: your experiences please!

62 replies

BCCmum · 03/06/2008 15:32

Hi, I'm due Sat 7th June, so been thinking alot about how I the birth will happen.

I've read alot about/spoken to other mums who say staying upright and walking around can accelerate the labour and keep things moving.

Is this possible right through to the actual birth? What happens during the delivery? Does it actually help with the pain? Your experiences please?

Nervous newbie mum x

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

becaroo · 03/06/2008 18:35

I fund standing and walking very painful so I was sitting on a birth ball or chair til they broke my waters about and hour and half before he was born when i had to lie down through sheer exhaustion!

I insisted on beinf upright for the birth however, and delivered squatting with my dh supporting me.

Am hoping to do the same again this time and would LOVE a home birth as I hate hospitals.

Habbibu · 03/06/2008 18:46

Really felt that I should be upright - had watched loads of fictional tv births and harrumphed and said "well, that's just silly - they should make better use of gravity". However, when I came to deliver dd, I was on hands and knees for a little while, then lay down for a rest - legs turned to jelly and I could not get back up again! MW was totally supportive about however I wanted to do it - my legs were not! Ended up having McRoberts manoeuvre as dd had slight shoulder dystocia, so I did, in fact, look just like the bloody women on tv. But less glamorous. However, dd was fine, and despite being 10lb 11oz and getting shoulder stuck, I had 4 stitches and no intervention.
If I get to have another one, I'll definitely try being upright. May have to work on leg muscles...

mrspnut · 03/06/2008 18:53

I was upright during my induced labour with DD2 mostly hanging off the sink and swearing a lot. To deliver her I knelt by the side of the bed and leant my head against it.

She was over 10lb and had a huge head but I got away with a small tear (which the midwife missed and I had to have repaired afterwards)

isaidno · 03/06/2008 19:02

Both my births have been mostly upright - I seemly couldn't lie down and felt better pacing about. First time was 6 hours, small tear; second time 3 hours, no tears - so I will def be pacing back and forth again. I actually knelt on all fours for the deliveries - but gravity was def my friend.

ThingOne · 03/06/2008 20:09

I was gutted when I was made to lie down with my DS1. I'm not sure how anyone gives birth unless they are standing/squatting.

With DS2 I was upright in various positions throughout. I mostly lent on things. I was leaning on a box on top of the bed (to get the right height) as he came down the birth canal. It was an easy birth .

Habbibu · 03/06/2008 20:10

hatcam · 03/06/2008 20:14

go with whatever feels right for you.

spent most of my first labour on all fours, unable to lie down even for examination (couldn't straighten out at all!), delivered squatting, leaning on beanbag but on my feet if you see what I mean.

Good luck!

WinkyWinkola · 03/06/2008 20:25

There are those who say a labouring woman lying down is for the convenience of the doctors.. . . .

Well, upright and forward positions can open the pelvic cavity by up to 29%. If you lie on your back, you've instantly closed up any flexibility your sacrum (the bone above your tail bone) can offer.

Gravity is a great help too. If you're upright, the baby's head bearing down more on the pelvic floor. This, combined with the contractions, helps the baby turn into the right position more easily.

Try it. It's not like you can't change your mind.

Although with my 2nd baby, once I was lying on the bed, I found it very difficult to get up again after having been upright for four hours and making wonderful progress. I did get up again and felt much better.

ChirpyGirl · 03/06/2008 20:25

I had DD1 by csection as she was breech so my birth plan for DD2 was to be active and upright at all times, I managed it until I was 7cm, and it helped a lot, but at 7cm I went into hospital and they gave me gas and air, tried to stand up and nearly fell over so stayed on bed on all fours for last hour and delivered sitting up as I couldn't physically move by that point I was so wasted, DH had to roll me over so the dumbass MW could examine me!
I do thingk that the fact I stayed up for the start and most of my labour helped it along laods, I was just standing leaning on the nearest high chair in teh room, )unfortunately for FIL, he was sitting in it, !)

Nbg · 03/06/2008 20:27

I was active in my 2nd and 3rd labours, using a ball and leaning on a bed swaying.

I found the rocking movements helped through contractions and it must have helped the labour as they were both short, 6 hours for ds1 and 2 hours for ds2.

My first labour I sat and laid all the way through and it was 12 hours.

Habbibu · 03/06/2008 21:01

Thanks, winky. Childbirth competition self esteem even further down the tubes. I tried, I swear. It was just a little lie down, m'lud...

hatcam · 03/06/2008 21:06

Habbibu

last time I checked giving birth wasn't a competitive sport and if you want to blimmin lie down when having your baby then lie down

do you think it's poss to give birth, lying down, eating pie?

hatcam · 03/06/2008 21:08

Habbibu

last time I checked giving birth wasn't a competitive sport and if you want to blimmin lie down when having your baby then lie down

(although gen consensus it's easier standing up!)

do you think it's poss to give birth, lying down, eating pie?

Habbibu · 03/06/2008 21:08

didn't want to. I failed, I failed. I can Never Come On A Childbirth Thread Again.
Except that I had no pain relief. I may start a scorecard. And a maternity pie company...

hatcam · 03/06/2008 21:10

we could have the midwives holding up their scores at the finish line? Just like in figure skating but without the spangly costumes (sequins on the placenta, all wrong).

first order for maternity pie coming your way....

Habbibu · 03/06/2008 21:12

Dunno - a couple of sequins on the stitches might be pretty....

jennifersofia · 03/06/2008 21:14

Thought I would want to, but all three births ended up lying down as that was my instinct. Did walk around a bit with 3rd, but really didn't want to.

Habbibu · 03/06/2008 21:19

have a pie, js...

SlightlyMadSweet · 03/06/2008 21:20

All fours is classed as upright too as the pelvis is very open.

With DD3 I spent a bit standing leaning against a cupboard - but when I started on the gas and air it made my legs go woozy so I had to stop standing.

I couldn't sit as the contractions were agony when sitting.

I spent most of my labour on all fours on bed leaning against 'headboard'. I did lay on my back for an hour as my knees got sore but my labour really slowed so I went back to all fours. Other than the knees it was actually very comfortable.

Baby struggled to descend though as she had avery short cor which was acting as a bungee rope and pulling her ack up after every contraction. Eventually they fecthed me the birthing stool which I was sceptical about as sitting was gaony but it was absolutely FABULOUS. Baby descended very quickly after that and I gave birth on it.

WinkyWinkola · 03/06/2008 21:22

What competition? Dearie me.

Ultimately, just do what feels right and follow your instincts, OP.

Habbibu · 03/06/2008 21:23

Just in a silly mood, Winky. Ignore me...

whomovedmychocolate · 03/06/2008 21:23

It's worth knowing as well - if you have to have a drip for any reason, you can ask for an extra long one - I did and a wheelie stand. I can't say legging it round on syntocin was fun - but a lot better than being confined to bed.

WinkyWinkola · 03/06/2008 21:24

Good. I was worried there that I'd made someone feel bad about the position they gave birth in.

MuchLessTiredNow · 03/06/2008 21:26

dc1 - lay flat on my back and could not be persuaded to move - pushed for 45 mins. DCs 2 and 3, knelt up clasping the headboard of the bed in a bear hug, pushed for 9 mins with both. So I do think gravity helps, but whatever happens, my advice would be focus on them, not on you - tiny tiny baby who is very unsure of things and when he/she comes out, lots of hugs, kisses and reassurance, and then nothing else will matter. And when they don't sleep for a while, remind yourself they are still very very new to this. Good luck Hon.

MuchLessTiredNow · 03/06/2008 21:27

I had a drip in for dc3 as I have strep B, but still gave birth fairly vertical

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