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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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Peachy · 31/03/2009 18:49

I've never been under pressure to birth any particular way- though chose myself to birth on baxck for 2 of my hospital deliveries and my home HB; indeed the slowing down would have been quite ncie for that one LOL!

I think different folks different strokes.... you have to go with how you feel comfy at the moment: ds2's delivery over a birth ball was great but I hated that with ds3 ' ds4.

lockets · 31/03/2009 18:51

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trafficwarden · 31/03/2009 18:51

LOL! Starlight, I will qualify my comment about encouraging you to move by saying I meant in labour not the actual birth. I don't care what position someone wants to be in, I'm pretty bendy myself and can work around and with you! Just flat on your back is a bummer for the baby!

Ledodgy · 31/03/2009 18:52

Lol Lockets you always labour sanding? That's surely taking nesting to new levels.

MrsHappy · 31/03/2009 18:55

I was on my back because the hospital chose to hook me to monitors and insisted that I needed to stay on my back on the bed. I have no idea why this was needed, but I believe it was convenient for the midwife to come in, check the monitors and leave again. That was the extent of the "care" I received. I asked many times to move and was told "no" so in the end gave up, submitted to the interventions and pretended I was somewhere else.
End result was the baby was stuck in the LOT position, which is apparently something that happens when women are made to labour on their backs.
IMO the hospital did this because, well, noone ever got sued for doing CFM and because if the worst case happened they could simply do a c-section. I may be wrong, but it all seemed very procedure-driven.

(Apologies for the rant. Am now expecting number 2 and working through all of this to make sure it is better this time. )

StarlightMcKenzie · 31/03/2009 18:57

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DanJARMouse · 31/03/2009 19:02

I gave birth to my first 2 on my back.

DD1 - epidural, monitors etc, and tbh, i was so knackered I slept through most of it once i had the epidural.

DD2 - failed epidural, no monitors, but it was how I was comfortable (although technically I was on my side for most of it) Also the gas and air made me well whoozy so no chance of getting me any other way!

With DS however, I was actually forced to be kneeling facing the raised head end of the bed.... TBH, I hated it. Im sure I flipped over onto my back at the last minute, but I ached for DAYS after his birth from having been in the same position for approx 8hrs.

As a result of DS's birth, I am never having another baby. EVER.

StarlightMcKenzie · 31/03/2009 19:04

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MollieO · 31/03/2009 19:06

Not given a choice but I think the monitoring equipment and two different drips might have had something to do with it. Was very envious of friends who were able to move around!

MrsHappy · 31/03/2009 19:09

Am planning to labour at home this time starlight, and will not be going in (unless absolutely necessary) until I am well into established labour. So very few internals and other interventions for me, I hope!

standanddeliver · 31/03/2009 19:11

"Can anyone think why my MW last time (helped me have a natural birth, very little pain relief, no monitoring or unneccesary interference from her, no one else involved) would suggest that?"

Yes - basically because it was easier for her.

I think the basic rule is that you do a) what feels comfortable and b) what you need to do to get the baby out easiest.

Unfortunately sometimes a) and b) conflict a bit!

I was in stirrups for my first (forcep), kneeling then flat on my back with my thighs pressed into my chest for my second (shoulder dystocia at a homebirth), and kneeling up over the back of the bed all the way through for my third. Third was best and easiest (though considering the other two that's hardly suprising!)

StealthPolarBear · 31/03/2009 19:11

how on earth do you push lying on your side? Does keeping one leg in the air not require all your effort?

StealthPolarBear · 31/03/2009 19:13

sad, I wondered about that but in every other way she and the MW who attended to my antenatal care were fantastic - very pro active labour and the mother choosing. If I had had a bad experience I would have written it off as that but she genuinely didn't come across as recommending what was easiest for her.

beansontoast · 31/03/2009 19:18

there might be a higher incidence of incontinence probs for another reason other than being on one's back....like ventouse or some other intervention?

being on my back for the last min or so worked fine for me..didnt even have to push dd!

StealthPolarBear · 31/03/2009 19:19

I had to push, push and push some more, then flag someone else down to help me push

Rosa · 31/03/2009 19:21

I did what was comfortable for me at the time - I was encouraged to find what position suited me best back , side all 4's whatever - It was better for me on my back hands above head holding on to metal bar at top of the bed - both times I had no pressure at all to deliver on my back !

StarlightMcKenzie · 31/03/2009 19:22

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charitygirl · 31/03/2009 19:26

I was fully aware of the arguments against being on my back, but my ctx were unbearable in any other position! and then i had an epidural which rendered the argument moot!

beforesunrise · 31/03/2009 19:35

In Italy it is standard to give birth lying on your back, legs in stirrups. i find it horrifying, but everyone there thinks i am mad and beastly having given birth squatting the first time, and (shock, horror) in a pool the second time... my mum kind of gently asked me not to tell people as they would think bad of me....

bottom line i think it's so that doctors and mws can see what's going on, which in some cases is justified (eg instrumental deliery), in others it just adds to the whole power game whereas they want to be in control and do not trust women to follow their instincts...

mankymummy · 31/03/2009 19:37

i gave birth on my back, but only just made it on to the delivery table in any case.

and i obviously did it so demurely that the midwife even had to ask me to open my legs so DS could come out !!!

sweetkitty · 31/03/2009 19:39

I have had SPD and have given birth on my back 3 times, twice with homebirths. I labour in a foetal position but turn onto my back once I am pushing. For the last one, I literally took the gas and air out rolled onto my back pushed once and a head was out, body out next push.

I think I just went into the most comfortable position and you know most of teh SPD went the minute the placenta was out

standanddeliver · 31/03/2009 20:00

omg beforesunrise - how horrific.

Makes me think of this sketch:

snigger

beforesunrise · 31/03/2009 20:58

omg standanddeliver... this video has made me cry it is too awful!!!

(i know it's supposed to be a comedy sketch, but it is AWFUL!)

PinkTulips · 31/03/2009 23:48

trafficwarden... to answer your question from earlier in the thread... when i ended up pushing ds1 out on my back i actually asked them to lower the head of the bed, braced me feet on the bed and raised my hips... was oddly comfortable and i got a back to front baby with his arm over his face out in no time at all with only labial grazes. when the head of the bed was higher i felt all scrunched up and incredibly uncomfortable.

so yes, my back birth was literally flat on my back

Simplysally · 01/04/2009 12:20

Actually when I said 'on my back' to be more accurate, I was reclined at an angle, supported on either side, with my legs bent in front of me. So I wasn't flat on my back but I still would have preferred to squat. Turning over made me lose momentum so for a few minutes, I 'tuned out' of what was going on. That mgiht have happened anyway.

My Mum gave birth to my sister on her side, and she had to hold a leg in the air. I feel exhausted thinking about that.

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