Preferred Labour Positions

Kate CP - posted on 09/26/2010

I labored on my side but birthed my daughter while semi-reclined.

Sherri - posted on 09/26/2010

I laid on my back with all three and didn't move except to roll occasionally into the fetal position. I did it all natural with all three also. I will not move during labor to walk or anything else. Simple leave me alone and I am fine. I had very quick labors also though 12, 6 and 4hrs from 1st contraction till birth.

Tracy - posted on 09/26/2010

I had my first son on my knees and the next two on my back but the only reason I had them on my back is it happened so quickly i didnt have time for anything else. I have to say the labour on my knees hurt less.

Joy - posted on 09/26/2010

I had my son vaginally, with no drugs at all. Water broke at 3:30 and he was born at 9:16 so I was about 15 minutes shy of a 6 hour labor. I spent the majority of that time squatting on a birthing ball or in the shower. I tried on all 4's but couldn't get comfortable at all and the only time I actually started to panic was when I was on all 4's. I couldn't breathe. Ultimately, I had my son lying on my back in a semi-reclined position with my knees at my ears and my chin on my chest, hummmmmming a low hum.

DEBBIE - posted on 09/26/2010

I tried squating but didn't work out .On my back for both.

Bobbi - posted on 08/29/2010

I think everyone is a little different. My preferred position (for all four of mine) was on my side. I think the "on your back" position is used because it's easier for the doctor/midwife.

Anna - posted on 08/29/2010

i agree with the fact that every woman is different. it also means that every woman is carrying different. With my son i was in extreme pain when i was squatting but laying on my left side was more comfortable. It was only in the final stages that i was on my back when they used the forceps and even then i kept on saying that it felt wrong. When they finally used the vacume to turn him into the right position i said 'i can do it now' and gave birth laying down.

You know what feels right to you. If laying on your back helps you to cope then do it.

Rose - posted on 08/29/2010

Most women thru history delivered their babies on a squatting position, which makes it easier to bear down using gravity. Laying on your back is much more difficult. I guess you have to follow your feelings and if your natural position is on all fours, by all means, go for it. Dont let them tell you how to do it, specially if you are a healthy woman and your baby is coming well and without complications. Having a baby is a natural and easy thing to do in most cultures, besides -of course- the western one.

Taryn - posted on 08/28/2010

I had planned throughout my pregnancy that when i began labouring, I would walk around as much as possible and then be on all fours towards the end, without epidural. After 12 hours of painful labour and being only 5cm dilated, I decided to have the epidural inserted, as well as the oxytocin drip. It was wonderful, after only three hours, I was ready to start pushing. The doctor and midwife recommended to hold off on the pushing and let my baby come down on his own at his own pace as he wasn't in any distress. It was totally painless and I caught up on some rest whilst this was happening. I was lying on my side. After another two hours, the midwife came back and I pushed for 50 minutes in a semi reclined position, and my son was born. I ended up with a second degree tear, even though the entire process seemed so relaxed. Hope this info is helpful to some mummas out there!

Kathy - posted on 08/28/2010

As we know this is good to discuss with your DR. and the hospital on there procedures. Of course like you said walking, standing is the best for as long u can. Birthing centers offer more choices. It is your body and baby make a point of this with the Dr. most of them are flexible when asked. Birth is a wonderful thing!

Emma - posted on 08/28/2010

that seems to be the consensus, that the back is more for people watching. Geez, im sure the midwife and my partner both had a good enough view from that position, hahaha. I was actually telling my partner last night that i was so against the idea of a camera in the labour ward, but now i almost wish i could watch my labour (15 months on) and 'see' what actually happened, and not what i remember through my gas hazed memory :D He said that he thought id get about 10 minutes in and turn it off! lmao, maybe... just maybe if i have another one, ill have a serious think about it, but i dunno who i'd want to hold the camera, my partner has enough of a job standing there holding the gas tube :D

Dianne - posted on 08/28/2010

The reason why women labour and birth on their backs is to make it easier for men. Seriously! A French king wanted to see his wife give birth but without being perverted he had tohide behind a crean, birthing on her back made it easy for him to see from his hiding place (as it was deamed perverted for one to want to watch in those times) also you will see it is also easier for the heath professionals to get in there... so there you have it, on youback for the ease of others.

I birthed both my babies on all 4s.

Jane - posted on 08/28/2010

i think once you had 1 child its up to yourself ive had 2 in the hosp 1 in a amblance and 1 at home home 1 was brill could do what i wanted etc our youngest 1 was a down's babe so i was luckily enough to be in the hosp as she was taken down to neonal clinic

Emma - posted on 08/27/2010

Thanks for your input ladies. I thought it would be an interesting subject to bring up because of the amount of different positions available to us.
When i had my daughter i could not sit down comfortably at all, even in the waiting room i was on hands and knees with my partner, and both of my parents sitting in the chairs around me.
I certainly felt animalistic haha, on all fours letting out what could only be describes as a primal scream. Only afterwards do i wonder what the other expectant mothers outside must think! :D

Kimberly - posted on 08/27/2010

No position worked well for me. I do remember being on my back was the absolute worst. I had this need to get up, and I actually sat on the side of the bed, that felt best to me. I ended up having a C-sec after 28 hrs. in active labor with 2 epidurals that failed so I felt all of my contractions. It was all worth it in the end, when I saw my beautiful daughter who just turned 6 months old. :0) The months are going by too fast! GL!

Rae - posted on 08/27/2010

There is a lot of view points on this and a lot of people get emotional about this argument because they can feel threatened if they happened to labour in a certain position over another. I am not out to offend anyone here, I am hoping to be objective not subjective (although I know there is a huge subjective component too). I'm writing this as someone who has actually studied the relevant research and professionally written a hospital protocol on this exact topic.
The fact is that labouring in a supine or semi-recumbent position was "invented" at the same time as obstetricians were. Predominantly, this was due to the obstetricians of the time having a very limited understanding of the physiology of labour and birth and instead opting for the position that afforded them the best view of what was happening. Today, quite often the supine/semi-recumbent position is still used for the reason of view - it is easier to see what is going on (and intervene) without the practitioner (be they nurse/midwife/doctor) sacrificing their own comfort to do so.
The research is quite clear that "upright" positions (sitting/standing/kneeling/squatting/left lateral) are all more beneficial to the labour and to the well-being of the baby. This is not taken from one or two studies - my statement is based on a systematic review of ALL relevant studies (the systematic review was done by the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group and can be found online in full-text for free).
This is not to say that some women don't choose a recumbent position for themselves - some do. However, most who do it do it either because they are asked or told to labour that way, or because that is their preconceived assumption of what position to use rather than making an informed choice on the matter.
Realistically, I know that even informed decisions made pre-labour can change during labour. I personally chose to labour kneeling and fully intended to deliver my son in that position, but after 25 hours of kneeling my legs simply couldn't hold me anymore and I pushed him out lying semi-recumbently.

The moral of the story - upright positions are optimal for the progression of labour and for foetal wellbeing but are not always practical. Just make sure that you change your position for YOUR practicality, not someone else's!

Krista - posted on 08/27/2010

I was only comfortable laboring standing up. I remember watching a video of women birthing standing and I thought at the time how crazy it was. Then I did it for almost five days with no sleep! The baby was jammed in my hip bone and maybe that is why I labored standing. The other way for me that was totally wonderful was to be in a tub and laboring on my knees rotating hips and leaning against a wall. My labor unfortunately ended with a c-section. But I did have some Orgasmic Birthing in the bathtub with the help of my supportive Doula and husband.

Alyssa - posted on 08/27/2010

Oh no no no! I was not offended in anyway shape or form. Sorry if I came across that way.

Shannon - posted on 08/27/2010

i actually found laying on my back the most comfortable. i didnt have an epidural, i had a natural vaginal birth. but i was only in the delivery room for about 15-20 minutes, and i was only at the hospital for about 45 (including checking in and getting checked by nurses etc)... i tried squatting, but my legs were really weak and i felt like i was going to fall off the bed so i laid back down with my knees up. i didnt try on all fours, but maybe i'll try that position with my next baby (due in october).

Kathryn - posted on 08/27/2010

The main reason women are told to give birth on their backs is because it makes it easier for the doctor/birth attendant. I had my first baby with an epidural, semi-reclined, on my back. My second was an unattended homebirth (just my fiance and I were there). I labored in all different positions, but she was born while I was on my knees in a pool. I tried various positions while pushing and that one felt the best to me.

All women are different and so is each birth.

Sharlene - posted on 08/27/2010

Being in my late 30's having my first baby i had heard every story of birth and some quite amusing that i found thinking of the position i might end up being in quite daunting i suppose but in a funny way birth takes over and i had continual contractions and didnt get much time to think about anything and all- my great plans were nowhere to be seen.my beautiful daughter was born with me in a crouching position.

Kylie - posted on 08/26/2010

Hi, for my first I walked around heaps then when it came time for pushing I was on my hands & knees pushing back then pushed her out sitting on the birthing stool. For my 2nd I was again walking around but had a nice dose of pethedine & my legs just wouldn't hold me up any longer, that & alot of gas!! Ended up sitting up on the bed with the bed reclined a bit. My midwife reckons I could have had the 2nd about an hour earlier if I hadn't been trying to climb up the back of the bed instead of pushing! But I just knew it was gunna hurt & I was trying to get away from it! The 1st I had 2 stitches & the 2nd I had none. Everybody is different & really is what you're most comfortable with. I found if I listened to what my body wanted to do it generally went ok. I didn't have long labours at all. The longest was 6 hours start to finish.

Good luck & don't over think it all. Go with the flow & look towards the end result, your beautiful baby :-))

Allison - posted on 08/26/2010

At a lot of hospitals (in the US) the epidural rate is around 75%, and while it's possible to support women in other positions with an epidural, it's tricky (as I understand) and not widely practices, so I think most just instruct women to stay on their back after they get the epidural.

I had mine at home, in a supported squat - first at the bathroom counter, and later my mom was sitting at the edge of the bed holding me under my arms. My guy was almost 10 lbs. so it took about 1 1/2 hours of pushing to get him out. I also labored sitting in a chair, walking, and sitting in the tub. I only laid down once for my midwife to check me. During labor and pushing, I felt very sure he never would come out without the help of gravity!!! And in the squat, all the pushing came very automatically, with virtually no concious effort on my part - it just happened whether I was ready or not, which was scary but also liberating and didn't allow me to be too scared to push :) It never appealed to me to be on my back during labor, but I have heard some women who did feel best in that position. I had post-partum hemmorhage, so will probably be in a hospital or birth center next time, and hope they will let me birth in whatever position works best for me and my baby!

Kathy - posted on 08/26/2010

When I went into labor with my son I was in back labor. In order to help try to get him to turn I was on my hands and knees rocking back and forth. My hands were on the headboard and the rocking was making it bang into the wall. It sounded more like someone trying to get pregnant rather than someone giving birth. I too was most comfortable in this position. I think the medicall profession has their ideas and and slow to adopt others.

Karen - posted on 08/26/2010

i laboured between my side and back - the nurse tried to get me up into squatting positions a few times but it made me very dizzy. back was definately the way to go for me

Beth - posted on 08/26/2010

Although I have read about the many different labor positions, I ultimately gave birth vaginally with no pain meds on my back; however, during labor I spent most of my time in a jacuzzi tub for the second and my tub at home for the first. I gave birth to both in the hospital. I think the most important part might not just be the pushing, but the entire labor. The first one I walk around all day, ate a good dinner, walk some more during the labor pains (really I felt like running out of my body the pain was so much), I sat for a long time in a warm tub of water, sat on the toilet rocking back and forth...at the hospital I waited for the midwife and in 45 minutes (only 9 pushes) the baby was out. I think one of the keys was to push 2-3 times per breath (pray) and I was "laying" on the bed but more in a sitting position. I would curl my body forward. This helped to push the baby out. I also held my legs and pulled them toward myself as I pushed. I did this same labor postion both times. The second one came out in about 9 pushes too. I think though that each of us have different bodies and the baby positions are different. As women we should listen to our body and do what feels right. I did many of the Bradly Method relaxation techniques which include your husband helping you through the labor. I did that after my water broke and before I climbed in bed to push those beautiful miracles into the world.

Elena - posted on 08/26/2010

My first one I was going to have in the birthing pool, but she was just not having any of it. So I got out for them to check only to discover she was trying to be born face first instead of crwon first. In the end I had her while on all fours. It just seemed natural.
My second one I had in the birthing pool. I wanted to be kneeling down for this one, but I could not get a grip, so in the end I got my arms around the top of the tub and wedged my feet against the far side. The thought of laying on my back to deliver either of them two just never crossed my mind. I know that's how my mum had my siblings and me (with the dreadful stirrups and all that malarkey) but I just cannot see how pushing against gravity will acutally help.

Jeannette - posted on 08/26/2010

I suggest laying on your back in a somewhat upright position and if you need help, get your knees up as close to your chest as possible, this opens up the birth canal. When it came time for me to deliver my son, I used this method and he was here within three contractions.

Katrina - posted on 08/26/2010

Hi all, i tried a variation of this. I was trying to find a comfortable position and as I went to climb onto the bed one foot on the ground one on the bed I found my spot. I had a beanbag on the bed to lean onto and both my labour were relatively short, first pushed for an hour shot out like a cannonball and the midwife caught him, the second same posi and pushed for 10 mins, first labour had pethadine, second nothing, first labour 5 hours from start to finish second 4 hours. I did not want an epidural because the whole entering a needle into my spine thing just icks me out, so they were under strict instructions to no give me one regardless of what i said in the heat of the moment, plus had a few horror stories from friends about when they had them. I found this so much more comfortable than on my back, plus gravity is your best friend.

Hannah - posted on 08/26/2010

I labored on my side with both of my girls. I could not even make it onto all fours from the intensity of the contractions but being on my back made it MUCH worse. With an epidural (I have never had one so I am assuming here) you can't really labor in any other position because you can't feel anything.

Toni - posted on 08/25/2010

I walked round my oom during early labour and my active labour but had to lie down on the bed so the midwife could put a monitor on my son's head (I was induced due to illness), I ended up lying down for about half an hour because my labour progressed so fast (45 min labour), I began pushing while lying on the bed (with my foot on the midwife's shoulder) after 2 pushes on the bed we moved to a birthing stool (which supports you in a squatting position) and 3 pushes later my son had arrived. I definately intend to use the birthing stool again when I have more children it was brilliant! I had a small tear but no stitches needed.

Ultimately women labour differently because they are different and have different needs and coping strategies - I had a friend who laboured on her back on the bed because she could not cope and begged for an epidural (which she got). Everybody is different!

Sjahrne - posted on 08/25/2010

I had all 3 of my children on my back it wasn't planned this way it just happend. It hurt alot in the lower back and I could imagine how much pressure it would take off being on all fours but everytime I tried I felt as though my legs were going to give way. All natural births tho. I believed that if our ancestors could do it and go streight back 2 work I can do it natural. Birth is the greatest challenge but has greatest rewards.

Alison - posted on 08/25/2010

I think birthing on the back is simplest for the doctor. It allows them to see and feel what is going on. With my first I did most of the pushing in a squatting position, but the second was so easy and so quick it went just fine lying down.

Debbie - posted on 08/25/2010

I kept upright (stood up) whilst I was in early stages of labour, leaning over hospital bed and walking around the room but when my midwife said I was about 9cm dilated she wanted me sat up on the bed to push, but I refused! we compromised and I got on all 4 fours on the bed and gave birth to Isla naturally (virginal) I tore so then I had to turn over and sit so they could stitch me, but then whilst they were doing this I was holding Isla. So just go with your instincts and if you are happy with what you are doing and comfortable, then go with it, you're the one having the baby not them!!

Lisa - posted on 08/25/2010

I tried every position myself and the nurses could think of. I labored on my back at the end because my first child was 18 hours the first day and 18 hours the second day. I was too exhausted to labor and hold my body up (i.e. stand on legs, squate, etc.).
My second child was all back labor so most of my labor was kneeling while laying against the upraised bed until I was screaming so bad from the pain the nurses begged me to take an epidural, so then I was on my back until they took him by emergency C-section because his heart rate was dropping.
And actually you're never fully on your back. The top of the bed is raised so it's almost a sitting position with the bottom of the bed dropped out with your knees up to your chest.

Ink - posted on 08/25/2010

I did all of my early labor like you...on my hands and knees, rocking. (five hours)
When we got to the birth center the midwife did a check and determined I was 9/10cm...I was already on my back. She told me to push...and I guess because I was already ON my back, I just pushed from there. Everyone in the room gasped...my first push crowned him.
Now the next two or three pushes I got NOWHERE. I spoke up and wanted to get back on my knees. I could feel him bound in there! I felt that gravity could help. My wonderful patient midwife let me. She helped me roll over and I gave it a go from on my knees. I didn't move him ANY more. It was her suggestion that I try my back again, and the NEXT push..was my last one.
I did try both....my body didn't respond well to on my knees.
My best friend on the other hand, used the same midwife, same birth center...and she delivered two babies on her hands and knees.

Emma - posted on 08/24/2010

Loureen, you can watch it on the SBS website directly if you miss it. You have i think between 24 hours and a week to watch each program. its come in handy for me a few times when my girl refuses to goto sleep on time and i miss half of it :)

Charlie - posted on 08/24/2010

On all fours was most comfy for me too !

I wanted to add i had one son on my back and one on all fours and the birth on my back took a hell of a lot longer than all fours , gravity is a wonderful thing when pushing out a bubba .

Im so upset i forgot to watch it last night :(

Emma - posted on 08/24/2010

Alyssa, i feel i offended you some how with my question. I didnt mean to come across that way, i was rather rushed writing the question with my daughter getting into everything lol. I understand that everyone is different and to each their own in terms of positioning during labour. What i meant was more about women that lay on their backs the whole time. From everything ive heard and read its not meant to be a 'helpful' (for lack of a better word) position. Things such as it possibly slowing labour or the pressure of bub on internal organs can cause some damage as well.
This is just 'what I have heard' and seen from watching the show, which was the reasoning behind my question of asking 'why' a woman chooses this position.

Alyssa - posted on 08/24/2010

I had all three of my children vaginal. All three with no epidural. All three in a semi reclining position on my back. The first I started in a squat and moved to my back, I pushed for 30 mins. The second I pushed for 5 mins. The last I pushed once and they told me to stop while they suctioned out her nose and mouth. I only needed stitches for the first one.

The reasons for so many different positions is because every woman is DIFFERENT. And if you are willing to try each one to see which is most comfortable and which one works the best for you, the better off you will be. You were more comfortable on all fours because it came naturally to you. So to help you understand, every body is different, every position helps or hampers a body differently, and all you need to be is comfortable. :)

Angie - posted on 08/24/2010

I labored in the squatting position with my son but after pushing for well over an hour I moved to my back and delivered him in that position after pushing for a total of 3 hours. I labored on my side with my youngest and it was way easier and faster than laboring on my back like I did with my second. I honestly believe that a lot of things that seem required in labor are done for the doctor's benefit - laboring on one's back slows down labor so the doctor doesn't have to rush right over. The same thing with epidurals. In most cases these are just more ways to take power away from women.