What position did you/ do you plan to give birth in?

[ALS94]

Just because I’m interested… I’ve heard squatting and hands and knees are the most comfortable positions as they open your pelvis more and gravity helps but I don’t know anyone who has given birth on anything apart from their back.

Is this common? Do the midwifes restrict your movement during birth?

Didn’t give it a nano seconds thought.

I had no desire other than to be on my back legs akimbo when the time came!

Don't think too much about it.

Just do whatever feels best for you at that time (provided there are no complications and you're birthing unassisted)

I tried various different positions when the baby was nearly there, and the only one that worked for me (ie made my labour progress) was on my back. I'd heard the same thing as you but it wasn't true for me personally.

I didn’t have the epidural so was able to move around. I was in a number of positions, including squatting and on my hands and knees. Gave birth to my first on my hands and knees, which I found the most comfortable. Second was in a birthing pool, so upright again. I knew I didn’t want to be on my back.

Midwives should be facilitating you to give birth in whatever position is most comfortable for you... Doesn't always happen though 😬

DC1 I was in lithotomy (stirrups) and it made me feel really exposed and vulnerable.

DC2 on all fours (after being dragged off the toilet 🤣). Was definitely more comfortable, I wouldn't even say the birth was that painful and I don't have a high pain threshold at all.

You don't plan it, you just end up in it. It's like trying to plan your hero pose as you tumble down the stairs.

Don’t worry about planning it too much, just move around in the way you feel like at the time.

Midwives don’t restrict your movements, but there are certain things like if you are being examined (you will be asked if you consent to this), you have to lie on your back for that. But then you can just get up again.

I read lots of hypnobirthing stuff about all fours, so I was trying to do that in the pool for a few hours. Kind of wish I’d just sat down and tried to rest.

For my actual delivery I was on my back because I just felt the baby’s head was too big to physically come out so the midwife did an episiotomy, which helped.

Before I gave birth I didn’t realise that the actual “baby coming out bit” is quite short.

I’ve never been able to sit or lie down when in labour. I spend all of my time waking around and swaying and running up and down the stairs! I’ve only ever given birth standing up. Couldn’t sit down if you paid me.

Perhaps just luck but I have NO thought to

position of birth
whether I’d have pain relief or not
whether I’d be able to breastfeed

i gave birth without any issues, without any pain relief and found breastfeeding x2 a breeze 🤷‍♀️

Went in and was basically put on my back and stayed there for next 14 hours. 😔

I had big ideas about keeping upright and active in labour. As it was, I had been in hospital being induced for 48 hours before the time came to actually give birth and I was so exhausted that I just wanted to lay on my back.

Think about what you would like but be prepared for the reality to be very different. I was strapped to a monitor and couldn't move for 48 hours.

I was lying back, legs open. My labour was very fast, I had about 20 mins in hospital before he was born and couldn’t think of anything other than pushing.

Both times midwives had me in the bed. I didn't want to be in that position but I didn't have any muscle strength so what can you do ?

Ive had three, on my back for the first, in the pool but sitting for the second and in the pool but leaning over the side for my third. Obviously could have had a lot to do with it being my third but I had no stitches the last time and found it more 'comfortable' than the first two times. DC3 was a lot bigger too!

DD1: on my back, wasn't allowed to move, excruciating. High risk.
DS2 back again, was out of it though and assisted delivery (high risk again).
DS3 lower risk allowed to take greater control and decided I wanted to kneel facing bed headboard and hold onto it. Quite surprised myself.

I fully planned to be on hands and knees after research with DD1, in the moment I realised one position isn't right and while pushing I moved around a fair bit. I ended up giving birth squatting. With other 3 DDs I was on my back but did most of labour on hands and knees

I wanted to be upright, crouching or all fours as much as possible, but apparently I had a "cervical lip" (which I think is a not fully dilated cervix) and apparently that meant I had to be on my back in stirrups.

There's research about positions OP so it's a really sensible question and you can absolutely aim for a specific position. There are lots of factors that may influence what feels comfortable and what is safe but I was told staying upright as much as possible reduces risk of birth injuries and doesn't delay labour like some other positions can. Obviously there will be lots of anecdata but that is population level research. Google scholar has some reviews on it too.

I was sat upright, on my knees on my bed, facing the wall with my back to the room, holding onto the headboard. It really helped me focus on what I was doing and was the least painful of various positions I had tried. It was the one I was aiming for following antenatal class.

I was asked to get on my back for monitoring towards the end - "we need to monitor baby get on your back please". My husband said can you do it another way as she's in the zone and they said oh yes and fitted an ambulatory monitoring device so I was still totally free to move. I could have ended up on my back, restricted and in more pain, unnecessarily.

My first was a ventousse delivery so I was on my back (hated it), my second I was free to do as I wished and was surprised to find myself stood almost upright with my hands on the end of the bed, it was a very easy delivery though gravity and a 10lb baby go together quite well!

First birth was with epidural, on my back. Second was with Tens machine only, standing, holding on to end of bed. Second was definitely easier but as PPS said - a lot depends on (a) medical complications (b) you and how you feel at the time (c) midwives/medics. If all well, try to just trust your body/instincts.

First one delivered standing up with my leg on a chair. They put the bed up for me to lean on. I couldn't get him out in any other position after two hours of pushing.

Second one was hooked up to the monitor and they wanted me to deliver on my back. I couldn't do it. They raised the head of the bed and I leant on the back of the bed and delivered baby while on my knees.

Stood upright than all fours. Knees in calves out!

had my 98th centile head daughter this way 😂 not much damage either

www.instagram.com/p/CUCg_eCLNc5/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

On back is safest for baby and you as Medicsl staff have access then (to help) the “business end” 😁

I had all kinds of plans, for birth, but ended up walking in circles until I was 9cm dilated , then lied down , and just as well as DS had umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and needed untangling before I pushed!

good luck. Your body will tell you what to do, and the midwife/docs will help