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 thought, just moved. In the last few hours I ended up facing backwards on the bed with the head of the bed upright and me resting my head on it. So my tummy was facing the bed and I was kneeling with my arms resting at the top of the bed if that makes sense? That felt the most comfortable and natural for me.

When I (FINALLY) got to pushing (for various reasons they didn't want me pushing straight away and wanted me to wait for TWO HOURS after being fully dilated. Highly don't recommend this, it was like trying not to poo. Apparently I should have been given an epidural so that I didn't go insane trying not to push). Anyway once I finally was 'allowed' to push they wanted me turned around and on my back so they could examine me and put a trace on baby's head. Instantly lost all sensation of pushing, contractions just became unproductive pain and despite me trying all I could they said there was no movement happening. Ended up in EMCS due to losing baby's heartbeat. Turns out he's gotten wedged after he'd descended and there was no way he was going to make it out through my pelvis. Sometimes I wonder if it was because they made me turn round because up to that point my body was pushing on its own and there was nothing I could do to stop that happening

Sorry that was massively long! But basically you won't really need to plan it. You'll just naturally find the position you want to be in and what feels right for your body. Have a good birth partner who can advocate for you staying in that position or question the need for altering it unlike my useless ex husband!

1 standing/squatting
2 laboured on all fours but delivered on back as they turned me over to break waters and he shot straight out
3 all fours/kneeling in pool
4 laboured on all fours but had to deliver on back as cord was around neck and they needed better visibility to free it

You'll find whatever feels most comfortable at the time, you can’t really plan it!

First I was on my back as only managed 12 minutes in delivery room after a late transfer so didn't have time to move really.

Second labour was only 11 mins start to finish but I was already on the bed so was able to put the back of the bed up and turned round and knelt up and leant on it

I was kneeling up, holding the raised end of the bedbut after 2 hours of proper pushing I was exhausted of being in that position so ended up on my back which I don't think helped. I could have knelt again I think but honestly didn't have the energy to roll over (and I'd say I went into that pregnancy much fitter than the average woman, not any more!). In hindsight I should have asked everyone there to haul me over. I was told, when on my back, I needed to life my leg up to help the baby came out and snapped at the midwife she needed to help me because I certainly couldn't do it. Having said all that, labour really is fine if no complications - don't worry about it!

Second time was sooo much easier and only took a few pushes so was able to kneel up. Baby did swish about in blood and liquid on the bed between my legs when born though and they were very clear I must sit on her 😂 I'm not sure if the midwife should have caught her or if that was the plan.

For both of mine, the midwives were very keen on different upright/kneeling/all fours positions, I tried them for some time but on my back just worked better for me. I think I found it distracting having to concentrate on keeping myself upright whereas being on my back allowed me to focus just on labour

My first baby i did as I was told really. I had an epidural and was on my back for labour and delivered on my left side because my midwife said there was some evidence that this helped prevent perineal trauma (this was in the 90’s and it didn’t work I had a 2nd degree tear)

By the time I had my second I was a midwife myself and planned to labour standing up/walking around/leaning over the bed but I didn’t want to deliver standing so planned to kneel on the bed for pushing leaning forwards over the headboard and that’s exactly what happened.

technically??

There is no one position is better than the other.

Depends entirely on the position of the baby and the body type of the woman and her own personal desire

@Devineursula physiologically, yes. Standing or squatting increases the diameter of the pelvis. Technically, standing is a more neutral position albeit helped enormously by gravity. It’s more that squatting increases the pelvic space and being in the supine position decreases the space due to the tilt of the coccyx. There is no physiological debate surrounding this. However, the position of the baby and the mother’s own comfort will, of course, also have an effect. Childbirth will never be textbook and each woman must find her own way and be supported in whatever choice she makes.

But it is inaccurate to say it is “more difficult” to give birth lying down without following up with “depending on the position of the baby and the woman in question”. Ie a woman with a particular hip complaint may find standing up “technically” more difficult.

Likewise, the position of the baby may make standing up more difficult

There is absolutely no definitive “better” position.

Three standard vaginal deliveries.
Pethidine, then gas and air with the first. Propped with pillows in a semi recline, feet on the bed.
Pethidine again with the second, on my back, feet in stirrups as they were threatening forceps until baby suddenly shifted and crowned.
TENS then gas and air with the third, delivered on all fours, on the bed. Much better.

There is absolutely no definitive “better” position.

^physiologically, all things being equal, upright is better than on your back. My midwife said that's what they're taught.

DD1 - on all fours hugging a giant bean bag, spontaneous labour on midwife led unit, no restrictions
DD2 - I ended up on my side, induced birth, monitored, on the bed and heart rate issues, so did whatever they told me to do to get her out safely, I tried to be on all fours initially

Didn't make any plans as to position. I'd listened to my NCT instructor, and was going to try to move and try different positions during labour.

First labour I did try to move around and attempt different positions. Everything was intolerable except lying on my right hand side. Gave birth on my back slightly canted to the left. Second labour I was walking around for a while, then was on my knees leaning against the bed, then once the pain was too much resorted to lying on my left. Had an emergency C-section as baby got himself stuck despite being far more mobile throughout.