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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Why do many women still give birth on your back

118 replies

Reallytired · 31/03/2009 14:00

Last week I saw an obstetic physio for SPD. I was told that I should avoid being on my back during labour as there was a strong risk of further trashing my ligaments. I have been advised to give birth in a supported kneeling position. (Which is fine by me as I used that position successfully with my son.)

I was also given a leaflet on birth positions and it says there is a greater risk of incontinence problems after birth if you give birth on your back.

The most common reason for people not giving birth on their back is that it is working against gravity and slows down birth. (Ie. the active birth arguements.)

So with all these really strong arguements against labouring on your back, why do hospitals put so much pressure for women to give birth on their backs?

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nickytwotimes · 31/03/2009 14:02

I was encourged to stand/squat, but wanted to lie down as I was knackered. Midwives nagged me to an upright position, but only for 10 mins!

Lizzylou · 31/03/2009 14:02

I had to both times (ventouse), but was far comfier pushing kneeling on bed/over a birthing ball before it became evident I needed extra help!

EyeballsintheSky · 31/03/2009 14:03

I don't know. I was induced so it was all very quick. I crawled down to the delivery suite. climbed onto the bed and lay there cowering and I never moved. The only change of position I had was to turn onto the other side and then onto my back for pushing. I was too pethidined up to know what was happening and the mw was a bit crap.

Mummyfor3 · 31/03/2009 14:05

Before my labour started I wanted to kneel/squat however found my contractions MOST painful in that position so was more than happy flat on my back, pulling my own knees back and giving it some wellie !!

BonsoirAnna · 31/03/2009 14:07

I don't know. I gave birth on all fours, only turning at the last push to release DD.

I think that hospitals are still often equipped for women giving birth on their backs.

Swaliswan · 31/03/2009 14:07

I gave birth on my back because the CTG wouldn't stay on properly otherwise and DD was in distress and premature so it was important to keep the CTG on. I don't know why I wasn't offered a clip on her head type of monitor. The other comment was that being on your back is a good position for concentrating on pushing and I have to say that I did agree at the time. I wouldn't give birth on my back again given half a chance though.

MadreInglese · 31/03/2009 14:09

I had a massive urge to birth totally flat on my back, much to the annoyance of the midwives who kept shoving cushions back behind me as I flung them away.

I have since been told that being flat on your back can be dangerous as apparently it can block a blood vessel to the womb. I also know now that I have an odd uterus (retroverted is the term I think) which is why I felt so uncomfortable sitting up.

phdlife · 31/03/2009 14:11

I wanted to lie down as I'd got all trembly and the MWs didn't have the wit to suggest I lie on my side.

StarlightMcKenzie · 31/03/2009 14:11

This reply has been deleted

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loujay · 31/03/2009 14:12

with DD gave birth on all fours...........with DS I laboured entirely on my back on a very comfortable bed, I know it slowed it down, i knew i would have to eventually turn over to deliver, but it was damn comfortable and noone was going to tell me what to do..I was the one in the room in the most pain after all
yes I know i pushed uphill as it were for a while, but it was my choice....my bed....my house.....and my labour.

BonsoirAnna · 31/03/2009 14:13

F* ladylike! I was on my own with the MW to give birth and that was just fine with me.

IheartNY · 31/03/2009 14:13

I just wanted to be on my back both times. I wasnt told to lie on my back, its what my body instictively wanted to do.

TheOldestCat · 31/03/2009 14:15

DD entered the world thanks to a birthing stool, which sounds lovely and medieval but did the job. Anyone else?

lal123 · 31/03/2009 14:15

dodgy knees.....

expatinscotland · 31/03/2009 14:18

I did with DD1 and DS because they were instrumental deliveries.

With DD2, I gave birth to her on my knees whilst I held onto the bed, which had been inclined to sitting sort of position.

used2bthin · 31/03/2009 14:19

I to found it more painful to lean forward, by the time I gave birth I had had an epidural and been induced thouh so hard to know what I'd have done if not. I had lots of stitches and wee when I cough though so it probably wasn't the best!

PinkTulips · 31/03/2009 14:30

kneeled for dd but had origionally been pushing on my back but it was agonising. the mw who'd gone on lunch before i reached pushing stage came in at one point and started tutting at me... when she left the mw who'd taken over from here told dp she didn't approve of anything other than old fashioned lying on your back births.

with ds1 i wanted to be kneeling, started pushing kneeling but the mws didn't believe i was diltated and insisted on checking... his head was half out on the next contraction and they conceded i might be right afterall [hhm] but by that point i couln't turn over and he wa out in just 2 more pushes

with ds2 i knew i was entering transition so scrambled up on the bed, kneeled against the headboard and pushed his head out before the mw got back in the room.... not that anything would have moved me that time

that being said i have my suspicians that kneeling might not be in the babies best interest. dd was born with some fluid and unk in her lungs that she'd inhaled during the birth which made her very wheezy and choky for a few hours. ds2 got a lungful of my blood on the way out and ended up in scbu with aspirated pneumonia. ds1 was fine however.

i have my suspicians that when they come out when i'm kneeling they're trying to take their first breath with fluid and blood splurting straight into their face... on hand and knees they're facing the ceiling but tilted head down and with mine that seemed to cause them to inhale fluid that they shouldn't have

Habbibu · 31/03/2009 14:32

I fully intended to be kneeling, squatting, but lay back for a bit of a rest, my legs turned to jelly and I couldn't get back up again!

TheFallenMadonna · 31/03/2009 14:32

I laboured either on my feet or lying on my side, which seemed to speed things up a lot the second time. I turned onto my back for the last push. Not sure I could have got up at that point.

FioFio · 31/03/2009 14:39

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VoodooWithBellsOn · 31/03/2009 14:44

I felt most comfortable pushing on my back was pure agony on all fours.

my second birth was a c-sec, (same as Fio) I thought theyd sew me up a bit easier if I was on my back

georgimama · 31/03/2009 14:44

I'd been in labour for 36 hours by the time I got to pushing. I was rather tired. I felt a little lie down was the least I deserved.

pinkmagic1 · 31/03/2009 14:45

It was the position I was most comfortable in, in the very late stage of labour. Midwife kept trying to encourage me to get up but I wasn't going anywhere!

Original poster

Reallytired · 31/03/2009 14:47

There are quite a few positions that can be used for giving birth. There is no reason for kneeling if you have dodgy knees. For many women squating or being supported by a partner can work well. Or in the past people used birthing stools.

I don't think any woman should be bullied into giving birth in a particular position. However they need education of the risks of picking a particular position. (Some active birth positons are unsuitable for SPD) Prehaps there should be a leaflet on the advantages and disadvantages of different positions.

It seems daft that we cannot have wireless continous monitoring. Especially as we have so many wireless gadgets. I was bullied into unnecesary continous montoring with my the birth of my son. Obviously with a very prem baby its a bit different.

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jennifersofia · 31/03/2009 14:50

I dunno, just felt like it! (3x!)

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