Alternate Childbirth Positions
It amazes me everyday to see and hear about women who lay flat on their back while giving birth!
Sadly, though it’s not their fault – it’s what they’re TOLD TO DO! Seriously, it goes against basic anatomy!!! …
You see our birth canal is actually shaped like a “J” … not a straight line (see diagram on the right) … The baby doesn’t just slide straight down and out. It comes down, then up and over the pelvis.
Look at the picture carefully and you’ll understand how that works. Actually, it seems utterly crazy to lay flat on your back with your legs up = expecting the baby to come out at all!
In fact, choosing to lie on your back as your main childbirth positions closes up your pelvic area by about 30%.
Plus if you think about it – you’ll also have gravity working against you. This means when you’re trying to push bub out, you’re pushing down and then UP before he comes out – Can anyone say CRAZY!!!!!
Plus, who the hell wants to do more work than they have to??? – Giving birth is enough of an effort by itself without some idiot telling you to lay flat on your back and open your legs!
** SIDE NOTE FOR CHOOSING CHILDBIRTH POSITIONS
If it feels natural for you and you WANT to lay flat and give birth to your baby that way, then go for it – do what is best for you. But I can suggest a positions that may be easier for you. If you’re a little apprehensive about how you’ll look in those positions – TRUST ME – You won’t care on the day!
So here’s a few childbirth positions you may want to try:
(NOTE: You may want to lie on your back or try other childbirth positions during labor, which can take a few hours, but these positions are to help you specifically in the “Birthing” or “Pushing” phase)
1) Squatting – You can do this on the floor, on a bed, in a birthing pool and use whatever support is necessary ie. bed head, hubby, doula etc. Women who use this position report feeling in control and comfortable in this position. It can help shorten the length of the birth canal, so the baby comes out easier – WOOHOO!
2) All 4′s – Many women (myself included) find getting down on your hands and knees is one of the most natural childbirth positions . It certainly helps in terms of gravity and also opens your hips wide, meaning there’s less pressure on you and your baby.
This can be done on a bed, mats on the floor, in the water or leaning over something like a yoga ball or bed head.
3) Kneeling – Some wome kneel on cushions or on a bed. They can be supported by draping their arms around their partners neck or leaning into a pile of pillows.
4) Lying On Side – Some women find they want to turn to the side to birth their baby. This is completely natural and can be assisted, by the birth partners lifting one of her legs to create enough space for the baby.
5) Birthing Stool – Specially made stools have been used for giving birth for centuries. They are shaped for the mother to sit on and then she is usually supported by her birth partner and/or midwives. Some women find squatting too tiring on their legs, so a birthing stool is definitely helpful in this regard.
If there are any other positions that worked for you or are interested in using, then please let us know in the comments below. Also, I’d love to hear your feedback on any of these positions if you have already used them.
What worked? … What didn’t? … Why? … Why Not?
We always love your discussion and it also helps others who haven’t been in your position.
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I have given birth in a few different positions:
‘Semi-reclining’ with first baby – worked fine – short 2nd stage and it felt easy.
On back for breech delivery with feet in stirrups for ‘forceps to after-coming head’ – went OK – son now nearly 30 with 2 children of his own! However, knowing what I do now I would have opted for an upright position and hopefully avoided the forceps. I still labored without drugs and was grateful that no one talked me into having a C-section.
3rd labour was 6 weeks early, very quick (was in hospital for observation after some regular contractions and woke about 2am with ‘shakes’ and strong contractions – daughter was born 1 hr 30 min later. Not much time to think about position but I remember basically sitting on the end of the bed.
I made a birth stool for my 4th delivery – first full term baby, nearly 9lb, labour 1 hr 15 min from start to finish! Just made it to hospital, very straightforward. Used birth stool, which was good but perhaps a bit fast in the circumstances.
With 5th child I was keen to get it right. Used hands and knees position, even with bottom in the air to go against gravity – this was probably over-reacting to the last rapid birth. Actually tore a bit as a result.
Number 6 – labour 4 hours from start to finish which was great. As planned, I spent most of the 2 hours in the delivery room kneeling on a bed, leaning on a big beanbag. This allowed me to very effectively rest between contractions, be more upright as needed and give birth without having to re-position. Midwife passed the baby between my legs then I sat down to hold him. I would highly recommend this to anyone!
A birth ball could be used in a similar way, but I think the beanbag was tops for comfort. Baby was about 9lb, breathed immediately and I had no stitches.
On my travels in the third world women always seemed to prefer the squat position as if they wanted gravity to aid them. Other women usually supported them by holding them under their arms. The midwife teased the baby out by manipulating the skin of the point of exit. All the body’d muscles are aligned to work in conjunction with gravity. There always seemed to be a lot less pain than in western hospital births. Obviously there was no pain relief either. Often women were up and about in as little as 20 minutes after delivering the afterbirth.
I’ve had 2 daughters and 2 completely different births. 1st birth i did standing and it was the most perfect birth. I felt so in control and had no help what so ever. My 2nd birth I had to do on the bed 3/4 laying down (had to be cut) It was not a good experience. Baby wasn’t coming and hurt like nothing I have ever felt. Had to work so much harder than the 1st time around. Let gravity do the work, it really does work!
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