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

Original poster

Best position to give birth ? Don't want to be on back!

24 replies

Fieldstorm12 · 16/05/2022 12:59

Due my 2nd in a matter is weeks and I really don't want to give birth lying on my back if I don't need to!

1st time I was desperate for a water birth but it never happened, I was in the water for a bit but then had to get out and I laboured on my back for the rest and gave birth on my back .

I would love to try for a water birth again , but failing that I'd like a position that is not on my back if possible, any suggestions please? I don't plan on having an epidural (didn't 1st time) but I'm aware this may change but hopefully I don't need one and I will be free to try different positions !

Thank you

OP posts:
Regenbogen22 · 16/05/2022 13:06

Any position in which gravity will help you, i.e. not on your back!

On all fours (hands and knees), leant over one of those big inflatable balls, kneeling on the floor with your upper body supported by your partner or a stool.

And knees pointing in, calves/ankles out - apparently this opens the pelvis and birth canal, which lying on your back with knees out doesn't.

Check out the Naked Doula on Instagram, she has so many fab tips.

HistoricMoment · 16/05/2022 13:09

I gave birth to DC3 crouching down - that was definitely my easiest birth.

WishICouldButIDontWantTo · 16/05/2022 13:17

I'd planned to give birth in a pool...unfortunately I had to be kept on the monitors so didn't get to in the end!
I ended up giving birth on my side (left hand side if that makes any difference!). It was my first birth (and only so far!) so nothing else to compare it to. I imagine being crouched would be a good position though...as would being on all fours.

thecapitalsunited · 16/05/2022 13:20

There’s no best position, only the best position for you. With DD I was all geared up for an active birth and even when I was on the monitors the midwife was trying to get me on my side so that I wasn’t fighting against gravity but my body was just screaming at me that I needed to be on my back. We tried so many times but my body just wasn’t having any of it.

Dyra · 16/05/2022 13:25

In all seriousness, it's whichever position feels natural to you.

First baby, I tried all the recommended labouring positions and moving around and hated them all. The only position I felt remotely comfortable labouring in was lying on my right side on the bed. Delivered on my back slightly tilted to the left. I'd wriggled until I found the 'right' position to deliver.

Second baby I found it best on my knees by the side of my bed, using the bed as support. When I felt the urge to bear down, that position felt wrong, so I reverted to the position I delivered DC1 in, which was much better.

FrancescaContini · 16/05/2022 13:30

Crouching
Standing

Whatever feels best at the time, and makes you feel strong. On your back is supposed to be the most painful - thankfully I was able to do what I wanted.

Bramblecrumble21 · 16/05/2022 13:49

Hi, I'm in the same position, except I never did the pool and had an epidural. At the end of my labooi tried to turn on my side but babys sats dropped so I stayed on my back, legs in stirrups. Hoping for a more active birth this time round. I did an NCT course first pregnancy and just remember thinking 'forward and open' and o definitely wasn't in that position.

SickAndTiredAgain · 16/05/2022 14:40

I gave birth kneeling up and leaning forwards for both of mine. For DD1 I was in a pool and I was kneeling with my arms/upper body against the edge, holding on to DH who was kneeling just outside the pool. DD2 I ended up on hands and knees on the bed facing the foot end, and they had me turn round and the head of the bed was tilted quite far up so I was kneeling upright with my arms and upper body against the bed. They initially tried to move me from hands and knees on to my back but I wasn't having it - I could tell from the contractions that the whole way through it had hurt much more if I was lying on my back.
I don't know if it's the best way (I assume there isn't really a best way as everyone is different) but it's definitely the position I naturally moved in to.

beattieedny · 16/05/2022 14:42

My second and third were on my knees, leaning forwards. It was so much easier than the first, although I'm sure that was also because my body was more used to it, lol. Good luck!

Squeezedsquash · 16/05/2022 14:44

My body told me.. for me kneeling up - second and third births in the pool, first birth was in a bed but he was stuck and moving round from kneeling up to sitting in my back (to prep for forceps) for him out.

BundtCake · 16/05/2022 14:45

I really recommend the digital hypnobirthing pack by the positive birth company. I felt a lot more informed about birth as a result!

tinymeteor · 16/05/2022 14:48

Keep moving if you can, and see what feels right on the day. Like you I wanted active positions which worked great for most of labour with DD2. Then things got kind of… explosive? She was in a massive hurry, I went from 4cm to fully dilated in 10 mins flat and she suddenly descended, plus she was a compound presentation (arm up by head, supermanning into the world). At that point, having been standing/crouching throughout, getting on my back was the right option, actually a bit less painful and slowed things down enough to avoid tearing, which is a risk in compound births.

Basically every birth is different. Good luck!

DramaAlpaca · 16/05/2022 14:49

Kneeling, leaning forwards. My third baby arrived that way and flew out so fast he took the midwife by surprise.

Hallyup89 · 16/05/2022 14:51

Ask for a ball to sit on and lean on the side of the bed. Really comfortable (well, as comfortable as you can be in labour!), you can get your pelvis into lots of different positions to help baby descend, swaying side to side can be relaxing, you don't have to move too much for the midwife to listen to baby and you can be monitored if needed. I did this with my third and just stood up to deliver, although you can get on the bed and lean over the back if you like.

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 16/05/2022 15:01

Just do what feels right in the moment. I was pacing and stood at the side of the bed kind of crouching and holding on to the bed.

Then they asked me to get up on the bed to do a check and realised I was crowning so I ended up kind of on my side with one leg in the air 😂

annlee3817 · 16/05/2022 15:27

I was happier on all fours hugging a giant bean bag, to get the head out the midwife sat me on the toilet so that I could bear down better and it worked

tealandteal · 16/05/2022 15:31

I also started in the pool and had to get out, then they put the back of the bed up so I was sort of on all fours but with head much higher rather than flat back.

SteelCicada · 16/05/2022 15:40

First birth: mostly a haze in my memory, but I have a feeling I was standing up, holding the side of the bed and hopping from foot to foot as the midwife caught the baby!

Second birth I was on my knees in the pool. I wonder if the crowning might have been a bit slower and less scary if I'd been on my back just for that very last bit, but there's no way I could have got out of the pool by that time (and I didn't end up tearing at all, even though I'd been convinced the baby was ripping me right open).

For DC3 I'm hoping to be in the pool again, but will definitely ask the MW for a warning/reminder when she thinks crowning might be imminent. I don't ever want to be taken by surprise like that again!

BertieBotts · 16/05/2022 15:43

I felt very much like you after my first birth which was similar.

I read that squatting was key so I did loads of squats, especially during my second pregnancy. Towards the end of the birth my midwives got me to change positions every few contractions and this really really helped DS2 to come down and out, but I did end up pretty much on my back and it was actually fine. For DS3 I kept up the squats as that ability had been really helpful, but I didn't worry so much about the position. As it was, I got another midwife who wanted me to move around at the end and this was great.

I should say I bitched and moaned about the idea of moving, but it really helped the birth a lot.

GodspeedJune · 16/05/2022 17:34

I’ve recently finished an audiobook that said lying on the back was a position adopted for the convenience of obstetricians. All fours or an upright position seems to be recommended a lot to help the pelvis open.

RoyKent · 16/05/2022 17:37

I was stood in the pool- think the grape scene in I Love Lucy and out she tumbled

barneymcgroo · 16/05/2022 18:01

Had DS2 2 years ago - wanted v much to be upright, as I'd read it would help. It was VERY swift - they helped me get into position, kneeling on the bed, head of the bed raised, hanging over the end. Will try for a water birth this time - was VBAC last time, and they wouldn't let me in the midwife unit. If not, would do same again.

strawberrysummer19 · 16/05/2022 18:24

Thing is I don't think you can plan
Well you can but it may not go to plan

I didn't want to lay down but it was the only position that baby's heart beat wasn't dipping so I was forced to be on the bed in the end

Every time I changed position baby kept popping back and heart went down

I pushed for 1hr 52mins - whilst being monitored every 20mins with DR keep popping head round the door

By the time he came in to prepare for forceps and episiotomy I heard him say ohhh I may not be needed and then I remember really going for it and she came out but I had a second degree tear and I always wonder if that was to do with my position but as I say I was forced to in a way x

Original poster
Fieldstorm12 · 16/05/2022 18:59

Thank you all for your advise and experiences 🙂

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