In the absence of anesthesia, it would be too uncomfortable. Movement is an instinctive way of coping with the discomfort of labor. Remaining upright also appears to facilitate labor progress and, aided by gravity, descent of the baby in the birth canal.
Less than 10% reported giving birth in the more traditional positions of squatting, standing, or side-lying.
When you are upright, your womb tilts forward during contractions. This means you will have better contractions and less pain. Contractions are stronger and more effective when you are upright. This could mean your labour is shorter.
It's your choice. Birthing positions can help you to feel in control, reduce pain and open your pelvis to help the baby come out. You can choose the birth position that makes you most comfortable, unless there is a medical reason not to. Many people find positions naturally during their labour and birth.
Why Do Women Give Birth Lying Down? When it comes to giving birth, the first image that comes to mind is a woman lying down on her back, but this wasn't always the case. In fact the origin of the position we now most associate with women giving birth started as a procedure to remove gall stones in 18th century France.
Squatting helps open your pelvis, giving your baby more room to rotate as he or she moves through the birth canal. Squatting also might allow you to bear down more effectively when it's time to push.
Why Is Bed Rest Prescribed? Some doctors suggest bed rest for conditions like growth problems in the baby, high blood pressure or preeclampsia, vaginal bleeding from placenta previa or abruption, preterm labor, cervical insufficiency, threatened miscarriage, and other problems.
"As long as you don't have an epidural or other medical reason, you can give birth in any position that feels right to your body," Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) and Fellow of American College of Childbirth Educators (FACCE) Deena Blumenfeld of Shining Light Prenatal Education tells Romper in an email ...
Kneeling, on the bed or floor, leaning against a large pile of pillows, or supported by a partner. Some women may feel more comfortable with one knee up. Squatting, supported by partner behind, or holding onto a bar. The woman should stand to rest between contractions.
Side lying
(It might also reduce your risk of tearing.) Lying on your side also puts your partner in a good position to put some massage techniques to use.
Pushing on command may also contribute to fetal heart rate abnormalities, lower blood oxygen levels in babies, and an increased need for such medical interventions as instrument-assisted delivery. (It can be helpful if you've had an epidural, however.)
Squatting. Squatting is a great way to give birth, as it enlarges the pelvic opening and gives gravity an opportunity to help the process. In order to squat during childbirth, keep your knees wide and feet flat and parallel to each other. Use your partner, care team, doula or a birthing bar to support you as you push.
Squatting is beneficial because it tilts the uterus and pelvis forward, placing the baby in proper alignment for delivery. Squatting also encourages and strengthens the intensity of contractions, and can also relieve pressure in the back.
Certain upright positions such as squatting position and sitting position, may correlate with perineal trauma and greater blood loss. Lithotomy and supine position should be avoided for the possible increased risk of severe perineal trauma, comparatively longer labor, greater pain, and more fetal heart rate patterns.
Deliver in an upright, nonflat position.
There are a number of delivery positions that might reduce the risk of a vaginal tear during childbirth. Rather than lying down flat during delivery, deliver in an upright position. Your health care provider will help you find a comfortable and safe delivery position.
For women with epidural analgesia, encouraging the adoption of a birth position of the individual woman's choice, including upright birth positions, is recommended. Evidence suggests that there might be little or no difference in most birth outcomes according to birth position among women with epidural analgesia.
Back sleeping is no longer safe after 28 weeks gestation, but there are a few other comfortable positions for you to safely doze in.
Many physicians advise pregnant women to sleep on their left side. Previous studies have linked back and right-side sleeping with a higher risk of stillbirth, reduced fetal growth, low birth weight, and preeclampsia, a life-threatening high blood pressure disorder that affects the mother.
Standing for prolonged periods while pregnant can not only be dangerous, but it can also be difficult or painful. It is recommended that pregnant women stand for no more than four or five hours while taking frequent breaks throughout the workday.
"Most hospitals and providers prefer this position because of the ease of the doctor being able to sit at the feet of the woman, and the way in which hospital beds are designed to transform into a semi reclined or flat laying position," Biedebach explains.
Laboring down is the process of not actively pushing once the second stage of labor and intense contractions begin. Some people wait one to two hours before pushing, which allows the baby to naturally move down the birth canal. Laboring down has risks and benefits.
For most people, labor is more painful than pushing because it lasts longer, gets gradually (or rapidly) more intense as it progresses, and involves many muscles, ligaments, organs, nerves, and skin surfaces.
Sitting upright
Like the use of the stool, this position helps you use gravity effectively. Between contractions, you can lean backward supported by the bed. If you like, your partner can also sit behind you in bed as you use this position.
Typically, your water will break because your contractions or baby put pressure on it — like popping a balloon from the inside.
Buoyancy promotes more efficient uterine contractions and improved blood circulation resulting in better oxygenation of the uterine muscles, less pain for the mother, and more oxygen for the baby. Immersion in water often helps lower high blood pressure caused by anxiety.