Why do many women still give birth on your back

[Reallytired]

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?

I would like to take my hat of to all the ladies that are willing to put aside for one moment dignity and pride to do something the natural way, when we scrape away all the superfical crap in our lives we are still animals and if being on all fours to give birth means that both the woman and the baby are givin the best chance then thats all that matters its the way all other 4 limbed animals do it. Child berth is amazing!!!!

I gave birth on my back twice, first time because I was wired to a monitor and couldn't move, and the second time, my chosen position before I was yet again wired to a monitor, because every other position I tried hurt a lot more.

one word.

Epidurals.

and you don't have to be lying down if you are strapped to a CTG monitor.

I've just read this thread, not noticed the dates and seen my birth twin, exactly the same experience as me, till I realised it was me under my old name

i gave birth on my back twice. it was the position i chose and felt the most comfortable and natural, no other reason, no-one put pressure on me to give birth that way, i was just encouraged to get into whatever position i wanted. i was lucky though, both quick, easy labours, no tearing, stitches or intervention needed. during dd's birth, i did turn onto all fours at the suggestion of the midwife, but didn't like it so turned straight back.

I don't get the natural argument. The thought of giving birth on fours just seems psychologically wrong to me. I don't want to birth my baby behind me, I want to gather him or her to me. The motion of 'baby out and onto chest' seems so much more natural when it's in front. I think in the wild I would squat if strong enough or lie down if not.

I gave birth all three times sitting up, and the third time pushed down hard with my hands on the bed and lifted my hips right off the bed for each push so there was plenty of room. (No-one told me to do this, just kind of worked it out for myself.)

I was chatting to my (Asian) osteopath about this and she said that in the middle East and Asia(and Africa of course), chairs are luxury items and so many women and men squat rather than sit on a chair. Because the women squat so often normally, their muscles are strong in that position so can give birth like that too.
She said that Westerners, due to always sitting on chairs have different muscles activated adn so find the all fours and squatting stressful unless they are very fit.

She has treated post natal women on both continents and says the muscle strength patterns are very different...hence the lying down position used in the West as opposed to more active squatting used in Asia.

It was also her opinion that the squatting was most natural and tended to do quicker births but not if you were not used to squatting....!!!!

I had ds on my back because I was knackered and refused to sit/kneel up.

I will be aiming to give birth on all fours this time, but really was not a conciosu choice - I lay down due to exhaustion!

LOL at squats in Asia - was doing them (squats) in the gym and made comment to gym instructor I was preparing for birth - she looked at me oddly... she was in her mid 20s and just thought normal to give birth lying flat on back, had never heard of active birth. i am v fit but still couldn't squat for very long periods of time...

Thats why I think water births are so great - much much easier to hold a squat in the water - gave birth to DS squatting in pool - wasn't a problem to stay in that position.

Gave birth to DD on an old fashioned wooden birth stool which supports you in a squat-like position.

I had dd1 sitting up, as noone believed I was about to give birth (despite me telling them!) and it was too late to change position. They also "lost" her heartbeat, so I had to be that way for them to try to get the probe thingy on her head.

With dd2 I was kneeling, and I had a lovely easy birth. Was determined to have the same with ds, but just couldn't seem to do it. The only position I could get comfortable in was on my back. Turned out he was OP, so while I was kneeling he would have been in the completely wrong position for exit! At the time I really couldn't understand it, though!

I laboured pretty much upright with all my three but gave birth on my back simply because it was the position I was most comfortable with. As soon as I got the urge to push I needed to be on my back.

After trying every other position over more than 3 hours, lying on my back was the only way DS was coming out. The MW suggested it as a last resort and was as surprised as I was.

I am increasingly suspicious of the active birth brigade and I'm convinced that not doing what my body wanted - ie going on all fours on the bed and staying there - slowed down and complicated my labour. Plus the being "active" bit gave me the worst memories of all about my labour.

Some hospitals are still set up in a way that makes the bed the only comfortable place to sit or lie - unless you actually drag the mattress onto the floor. Getting on all fours is all very well but its a lot more hard work when you're not on the ground!

I don't think anyone told my hospital that Starlight!

We've spoken about our respective births before when I was under another name (initials TM). I think at the time I swore never to do it again - how things change! I remember thought that you were pg again and you must have had your baby by now - how did your second birth go?

Being active was so horrific for me last time I just can't contemplate it at the moment. It took me over an hour to walk down to the car park and back with DH (his suggestion) contracting all the way. It was hell on earth. I think DS needed peace and quiet to get himself turned around. He ended up having to do it during the very long second stage instead.

I'm keen to try it again. When I was finally allowed to get in I found it really helpful. The MW was all for me giving birth in the pool - she was really impressed that I was doing involuntary pushing. But then things slowed down and I had to get out to try the loo and I didn't want to get back in again.

with dd I laboured in the bath, then walked about for lots of it, was incouraged to squat but was so tired,after 13 hours, I got back on the bed and on my back.
Ds laboured walking around then, got pins and needles in my leg, got up in the bed onto my knees, and he was born after three pushes!2 hours in total!
Definately the second time, gravity helped

I was ill and knackered. Certainly not fit enough to squat. Midwives kept trying to encourage me to move around more. What Starlight says makes sense actually. But I'm sure they wouldn't have denied me anything in reason that I wanted to do.

I also gave birth on all fours.
Spent time walking around,"hanging onto" husband & leaning on/over a "birthing ball".
Then it was time to push & MWs said to get onto bed but I refused-am only 5ft & it felt as if I would need a ladder.

So it was all fours on the floor!

I was sitting, but leaning back if that makes sense so not lying flat. I had my feet on the hips of my MW on one side and my OB on the other.

It was fine because that was what I found felt right (after trying out a few different possies). I only pushed for 20 minutes so it wasn't really a problem.

Everyone is different, I don't think it matters as long as you are comfy.

Appart from DD1 where I lay down sideways, I was more comfortable on my back for the other 3 . As long as it feels right for you and is not destressing for the baby, I do not think it really matters.