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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Labor on All Fours

33 replies

tweedlezee · 03/03/2011 14:42

Anyone done it (Labor on all fours?)
Anyone done both and recommend it over others? Been reading up on it and lots of pro's. I was induced last time so far too many hormones rushing round my body and too pre-occupied with the drip in my hand to even move but I want a better idea of what is out there this time and this position sounds very interesting.

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TittyBojangles · 03/03/2011 14:43

I gave birth on all fours.

It bloody hurt

ShatnersBassoon · 03/03/2011 14:44

I did. It hurt less than lying on my back, and I didn't have to look at the faces of those peering up my flue.

IngridFletcher · 03/03/2011 14:46

I gave birth on all fours. It was dandy. Much better than being on back as allows more capacity in pelvis. It still hurt!

reikizen · 03/03/2011 14:46

I don't think you would want to spend your entire labour on all fours (too hard on the knees!) but mobilising is certainly to be advised, changing position as your body tells you to. All fours is a good position for delivery, as is kneeling up. It still bloody hurts though as titty points out.

Ooid · 03/03/2011 14:48

Yeah. It's great. Can hurt less than being on your back (I think that's generally true for healthy women, with a couple of specific exceptions involving odd positions of the baby's head).
I did it, don't regret it one single bit.

Original poster

tweedlezee · 03/03/2011 14:48

Fair does TittyBojangels I guessed as much :)

My back was the worst and most continous pain and i suffered with it for a long time after birth. I know it will still hurt, promise I haven't forgotten what it was like 10months ago, i guess i just want to be a bit more on it with my options this time and wondered what peoples experiences of it were.

OP posts:

Ooid · 03/03/2011 14:49

Hard on the knees = bring a cushion and try to walk around every now and again. Lean forward on a ball (bring this too).

Original poster

tweedlezee · 03/03/2011 14:54

Mentally packing my bag now......got 6 months to go. As the girl guides say "be prepared"
Didn't sort anything last time, no bag, no food, no drink, no birthing plan. All worked out ok but i regret feeling like i had no say in it.

OP posts:

PigeonPie · 03/03/2011 14:57

I was on all fours on the bed over a birthing ball (probably tmi!) both times as I don't move very well and there was no way I was going to be on my back. It hurt, but then I wasn't expecting it not to, but I'm sure it was easier to let gravity help. It was also good to be on the bed because it was softer on the old knees and, I think, slightly easier for examinations and monitoring.

It worked - I have two DSs to prove it! But I could hardly move afterwards (but I might not have been able to move anyway, so hey ho!).

midori1999 · 03/03/2011 14:57

I tried giving birth on all fours with my first. I absolutely hated it and turned back over into a semi sitting position on the bed and delivered that way, then delivered my subsequent 4 children in the same position. I am aiming for a mor active labour this time, but still plan to give birth in the same semi sitting position unless something else feels more comfortable at the time.

Apparently being on all fours does help the pelvis open up, thus making it easier for baby to come down and then come out, but it just felt awful to me.

EdgarAleNPie · 03/03/2011 14:59

i gave birth to DD1 on all fours. still Op, contrary little bugger.

laboured walking though.

BertieBotts · 03/03/2011 15:02

I spent a lot pf time during labour on all fours. I found it helped a lot. For some reason I especially found it comfy to push my head into the floor (bed) and my bum up in the air swaying from side to side during a contraction

Also spent some time in a birth pool which I found helped a lot. I couldn't imagine lying on my back for all of it now.

Ooid · 03/03/2011 15:35

I think if it feels awful on all 4s then obviously it's good to change to what feels better!

Shame a lot of women don't get or take the chance to do the same when they're told to be on their backs/sides. All I know is that the little bit of labour I did on my back would have made it a really different experience (in a bad way) and if I hadn't tried it another way I'd have been pretty bloody traumed.

NotSoPukeyMum · 03/03/2011 15:43

I laboured for about 4 hours at home on all fours on the floor, flopped over a birthing ball. It was just what felt best at the time.

Especially with TENS machine attached and doula/DH massaging lower back!

MW wouldn't let me do the same at hospital as she had a bad back and couldn't get down on the floor. Next mw said the same thing. . Then had to have an episiotomy so did the few hours at hospital sat up on bed.

But yes, was good for me!

Firawla · 03/03/2011 16:07

i gave birth to my 2nd on all fours, it made it so much easier compared to my first one. during labour i was stood up for most of it, leaning against wall/dh etc

notasausage · 03/03/2011 16:12

I delivered on all fours but slightly upright leaning on a big beanbag (birthing centre so rather better equipped for an active labour than hospital). Seemed natural to me but did kill the knees even though I was on a big thick crash mat on the floor. Was position recommended by midwife and at anti-natal classes as the traditional position puts pressure on the tail bone and it closes down the space available for the baby. Also found it good for zoning out what else was going on in the room as I could see very little other than the floor in front of me . MW happy to practically lie on the floor next to me to check the heartbeat.

Disadvantages - it hurts the legs. Slight delay in holding your baby as it can't be delivered onto your tummy/chest.

I can't believe that we don't see any of this position for delivery on one born every minute!

Crawling · 03/03/2011 16:12

I had the early stages on all fours but as soon as I started pushing it felt horrid, and I couldnt push right so like midori I turned over into a sitting position, same for DC2.

Grumpla · 03/03/2011 16:16

I was on all fours almost the whole time except when ds got stuck in the u bend (as my midwife put it!) when I briefly sat upright and thy pushed by knees against my shoulders for a bit.

Delivered on all fours.

The idea of being on my back terrified me once I was in labour, really really strong aversion to the idea, so that was what I went with. Sounds a bit hippydippy but listen to your body - do what you feel like doing at the time.

Deciduousblonde · 03/03/2011 16:20

I'm another 'all fourer'

Not the entire labour, but during some of it and eventually gave birth that way. It was so much better than being on my back. To be generally active during labour is the best way.

reikizen · 03/03/2011 16:21

Even if you are in a labour ward with just a bed (not birth ball etc) labour beds are very adaptable and my favourite position for women to birth in is either all fours or kneeling on the bed with the woman holding the bed head for support. Gives plenty of mobility - hip swaying, putting alternate legs up etc- and they can sit back on their bum between contractions if they are tired. But some women, as a previous poster said, just instinctively want to either sit or lie to deliver. You can also deliver lying on your side, standing, squatting, whatever the body tells you is right at the time.
Notasausage, I can't watch one born because I spend the whole time shouting 'Get her off her back!!'

MrsVidic · 03/03/2011 16:45

I did, had a very quick delivery too!

morticiasmum · 03/03/2011 16:52

All three delivered kneeling forwards onto bed or similar. couldn't have done any other way. have no idea how you could labour on your back. straightforward, tens for pain relief.

cece · 03/03/2011 16:58

My first two I was on my back both times. With the third I was lying on my side with one leg in the air, not planned but worked for me.

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 03/03/2011 17:07

I was on all fours for the vast majority of my labour.

Leaning over the edge of the sofa or the birthing ball. Then I was on all fours whilst pushing (in the birthing pool - an inflatable one so v comfy on the knees) and gave birth that way too.

There is no way I could have been on my back as everytime I sat up onto my bum it felt like someone was pushing a red hot poker up my arse.

growing3rdbump · 03/03/2011 17:17

I gave birth on all fours (at home) with DC2 (was on back with DC1). I didn't like not being able to see what was going on and it felt like he was stuck with just the head out for ages! I didn't need stitches with either birth, thank goodness. Wasn't a big fan of the 'on all fours' position and won't be using it again with DC3 (due in May)!

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