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

Original poster

Position you gave birth in

106 replies

Mummyinlove09 · 30/08/2020 12:31

I’m 35 weeks pregnant with my first baby and I’m currently learning hypnobirthing (I’m reading the positive birthing companies book) and I’m really enjoying it. It makes sense to me!

One of the things she talks about is birthing positions and contrary to what all the soaps and films show you, the worst position to be in when giving birth is on your back pushing! She talks about being upright, forward and open.

I’m curious to know what position did you give birth in and would you recommend one over another? Smile

OP posts:
SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 30/08/2020 13:10

First birth, stood up, leaning on (high) hospital bed for support.

Second birth, in birth pool, kind of on all fours.

One of the most painful memories of birth for me is being laid on my back do they could check me when I got to hospital. It was agony!

Tsiagisel · 30/08/2020 13:17

I read did all the Positive Birth videos and really the only bits that I actually remembered in the thick of it all was the counting for breathing and UFO and requesting an episiotomy at the end.

Due to high blood pressure and baby in distress they broke my waters and kept me on the birthing suite meaning no home birth or water as hoped.

About an hour after having waters broken I felt I needed gas and air and just. needed. to. kneel!! they brought the back of the bed up and I knelt up on all fours with my head pressed against the bed, gas and air clamped between my teeth for six hours.

They had tried to warn me off gas and air “early” telling me it would stop being effective after a long while. Turned out they were expecting birth to take all day and put in an IV line ready for the induction drip they expected to have to put me on. Turned out it only took 6 hours to get fully dilated and stayed on my knees until he was crowning, at which point I felt he got stuck and I asked for an episiotomy because I felt that would be better than a spontaneous unpredictable tear, so had to move at the last stage to my left side for the episiotomy and final delivery. All in all, first birth, took 6.5hours from having waters broken at 0.5cm, all only on g&a (plus local injection for episiotomy at the end). Midwives commented throughout how quickly it was all progressing and took back what they’d said about g&a, explaining they thought I’d be at it all day.

Anyway, this is a long way of telling you I think being on all fours, UFO and remembering the breathing pattern made my labour quick and made the G&A effective too. Plus having my face against the bed and eyes closed the whole time meant i didn’t feel sick/drunk on the g&a. Would definitely try to do that the same way again.

GlennRheeismyfavourite · 30/08/2020 13:18

Water birth - so in the pool but sitting up/leaning back if that makes sense. On reflection I couldn't have stood or squatted or anything - not enough energy but the water really takes the weight off and I switched positions all the time

SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 30/08/2020 13:22

I think length of labour is a really key thing. Mine were really quick - under three hours from first contraction to baby out - so I wasn't having to deal with the exhaustion of a 6, 12, 24 hour labour. Much easier to be stood up or kneeling or whatever for a few hours than a full day!

SqidgeBum · 30/08/2020 13:28

@SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito

I think length of labour is a really key thing. Mine were really quick - under three hours from first contraction to baby out - so I wasn't having to deal with the exhaustion of a 6, 12, 24 hour labour. Much easier to be stood up or kneeling or whatever for a few hours than a full day!
This is what got me. Pure exhaustion. Waters went at 11pm on a Saturday. I didnt have her (or sleep) til 2am on the Tuesday. 52 hours. I dont think my body could handle any more. Hypnobirthing didnt mention 52 hours haha
autumneve · 30/08/2020 13:37

On my knees with my elbows/arms on the bedhead. Midwife at first tried putting me on my side but I found this weird and hard work holding my upper leg in the air. I found my own position in the heat of the moment... what was natural instinct etc.
Good luck OP! I read into hypnobirthing too and felt immensely proud of my birthing experience. Just keep an open mind to everything and you'll be great!

BertieBotts · 30/08/2020 13:40

On my back, both times.

First time I was exhausted and couldn't physically move my body so just ended up in the position they wanted to examine me in.

I was really adamant for my next birth I wouldn't be on my back because I didn't like it. But then even though I went through various squats and leans at the end, I ended up finding my back fairly good after all. I wasn't happy with the birth overall but the positioning ended up being no big deal. DS2 was back to back.

firstimemamma · 30/08/2020 13:49

Lying on my side in the birthing pool (hypnobirth). I didn't choose this position - my body just kind of got a mind of its own and that's what it chose! I'm sorry if that's badly described but it's just what happened! Not at any point did I consciously think 'oooh I'll just roll onto my side now!'. A real out of body experience.

You've got a basic understanding that lying flat on your back isn't ideal and of how gravity can help and that's great. I'd honestly just leave it at that and not over-think what position you'll give birth in as there's a chance it'll just happen how it happens if you see what I mean. Childbirth can be very instinctive sometimes.

CoronaBollox · 30/08/2020 13:57

Induced first time and had to lay on my back. Hated every minute of it.

Second time I kept walking round, if contraction was strong I would lean over the bed. Then gave birth on all fours, hands on the head rest. Baby was out in 2 pushes and labour was 45 minutes using gas and air. Much better experience.

Dyra · 30/08/2020 14:12

On my back, slightly canted to my left.

I'd been hooked up to the drip, but I had wireless monitoring, so I was free to move around. The only position I found remotely comfy during labour was curled up on my right hand side on the bed. And I wasn't budging.

Once it was time to push, I shifted myself around until I found a good position to push. Just so happened to be on my back.

User1990232 · 30/08/2020 14:14

@Flora20

On my knees leaning on the side of the birth pool. No way could I physically have laid down even if they'd wanted me to! I didn't consciously push though, had no control over my body's push reflex so just went with the flow!
Had this exact same experience!
UserFriendly14 · 30/08/2020 14:14

Kneeling on the bed with my head and arms up the back of the bed. It felt so much easier to push down when there was nothing beneath me IYSWIM.

As PP have said, you may find it quite instinctive what you want to do at the time, so just go with it. MW wanted me to move at one point near the end and there was no chance of that happening at all from me!

EvilHerbivore · 30/08/2020 14:16

DS1 - same position as you'd sit on the loo Blush
The midwife altered the bed to be in that position as I was refusing to come out of the hospital bathroom

DS2 - homebirth so on my knees on my bed holding onto the headboard

Buntyjones · 30/08/2020 14:17

On my back but in a birthing pool so I was floating! It was amazing - I'd highly recommend a water birth if it's an option for you!

minnie465 · 30/08/2020 14:23

I spent most of the labour on my knees or squatting. For the actual birth I was stood up and the hospital bed was at its highest setting and I used it to lean on. Pure instinct! I tried to lie on my side at one stage as I was so exhausted and couldn't.

crazychemist · 30/08/2020 14:25

I had a water birth, and absolutely LOVED it (sad Ive got to have A c section this time, was hoping to have very speedy recovery again, which seems less likely). The crucial thing for me was that I could change position easily because the water made me feel so much freer and less heavy.

Pretty sure when DD came out I was on my knees, but I remember sort of rocking between squatting and kneeling and it really seemed to help ease her out comfortably and made my back feel so much looser. Couldn’t have done that without the water though.

MrsMaglev · 30/08/2020 14:27

On all fours both times though with DC2 midwives we're trying to get me on my back...

yomellamoHelly · 30/08/2020 14:30

With dc1 flipped onto my back to push at the last minute (had spent first part on a ball and then the rest of the time hanging over the back of the bed).
With dc2 was on my side to push (had had a kip and didn't want to move).
With dc3 on all fours on the bed (but spent most of my time pacing).
Moved around a lot with all 3.

SqidgeBum · 30/08/2020 14:31

I am surprised at the amount of people here who say their midwives tried to get them to lie on their back when it's not needed (like it would be for an assisted birth). Lots of research shows other positions can speed things along. I wonder why so many try to go for the lying down position

Superscientist · 30/08/2020 14:33

I found I had to be as upright as possible during labour. I gave birth in the birthing pool upright but on my knees (to keep bump under water). I had a short labour though and spent most of it at home.
When the contractions started I went through the different positions which we were shown in my nct class and found one that felt "good" for me. I had visions of me spending my labour on my yoga/birthing ball but nope my body had other ideas.

PlinkPlink · 30/08/2020 14:36

First labour a weird half reclined position on my back. Fine. DS was out in 2 pushes.

Second labour water birth at home, on my knees. And glad I did. DD was 10lb. Giving birth on all fours or on knees widens your pelvis by 30%.

Hardbackwriter · 30/08/2020 14:37

I'd also done a hypnobirthing course so was certain that I'd give birth in a suitable, active position not on my back. Turns out I couldn't support my own weight on my knees, or get at all comfortable in any other position I tried, so I gave birth on my back after all. I had one second-degree tear and healed completely so I don't think it much mattered.

DramaAlpaca · 30/08/2020 14:40

On my back with stirrups for DC1 as he needed helping out with forceps.

Lying back with the bed raised up with DC2. I wanted to be upright but the midwife wanted me on my back. It was a compromise. Reasonably quick delivery but I tore.

With DC3 I was at home, delivered him upright on my knees leaning up over a big beanbag on the sofa. He flew out very fast, not a single stitch required.

Odile13 · 30/08/2020 14:46

I also did a hypnobirthing course. Most of my labour was in the birthing pool with me sort of kneeling and leaning forwards. At the very end I had to get out and give birth on the bed. Tried being on my knees but needed an episiotomy so had to be on my back for the final push.

I do think that all the tv programmes showing women screaming in agony while lying on their backs to give birth is not helpful and just makes women dread the experience. Am very glad I did a hypnobirthing course as I found the breathing techniques and explanations of what actually happens during labour to be very helpful.

belasorela · 30/08/2020 14:55

On my back, then on my back in stirrups (suction/forceps) then a c section in theatre Grin she really didn't want to come out! Funnily enough she's just as headstrong now at 14 months if she doesn't want to do something BlushGrin

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