Birthing positions

What are the various kinds of positions to try during labor?

Positions for Labor and Birth

Why are different positions important?
Changing positions and moving around during labor offers several benefits. The benefits of changing positions during labor and delivery include:

Increased comfort and reduced pain for the mother
Enhanced sense of control
Helps with frequency, length and efficiency of contractions
Effects of gravity help baby to move down more quickly
Ensures a continuous oxygen supply to the baby
Can reduce the length of labor

Resting During First Phase of Labor:
Side-lying. Try placing pillows between your knees for comfort.

Semi-sitting. In bed, on a couch, or leaning against your partner with his arms around you.

Sitting with one foot up. Asymmetrical positions help enlarge the pelvis on one side and change the shape of the pelvis, which helps the baby find the best position.

Rocking, Rhythmic Motion: In labor, it just feels better when mom rocks and sways in rhythm to her breathing. Partners sway with her or do massage in rhythm with her breathing, or sing in rhythm.

Activity: Walking, climbing stairs or lunging are all good choices. Activity helps the baby to descend and helps the baby to rotate into position for birth. In early labor it is fine to be active occasionally, but don't exhaust yourself by walking all through early labor. Walking is more effective during active labor and transition when the baby has descended far enough to put pressure on mom's cervix and encourage the cervix to open.

Positions for Back Labor
Thes positions are helpful when the mother has back pain, irregular contractions or is progressing slowly.

Leaning Forward: Many women, especially those with back labor, find it most relaxing to lean forward during contractions.

Straddle a chair
Lean against a wall

Hands and knees / kneeling.
This postition can relieve back pain and help a posterior baby rotate. It also allows easy access for backrubs and counterpressure massage. Getting on your hands and knees makes it possible to sway side to side, rock back and forth or do pelvic tilts to aid in rotation and increase comfort.

Having knee pads or kneeling on something soft will prevent the knees from becoming sore. You caan rest your upper body on pillows, a chair or birthing ball.

Positions for Second Stage of Labor:

For the second stage of labor an ideal position would:

Open the pelvic outlet as widely as possible
Provide a smooth path for the baby to descend through the birth canal
Use the advantages of gravity to help the baby move down the birth canal
Give the mother a sense of being safe and in control of the process

Try out a position for a few contractions. If it works, stay with it. If not, switch to a new position in between contractions.

Semi-sitting. For this position , use pillows underneath the knees, arms, and back. During contractions, you can wrap your hands around your knees and pull the knees up toward shoulders (as in squatting). This is most common in a hospital setting. Benefits for caregivers include a good view of perineum and vagina, easy access to perineum if an episiotomy is necessary and easy to do on a birthing bed.

Lateral / Side-Lying. Keep your back curved and your upper leg supported by partner. This position is gravity neutral and good for a fast second stage. Laying on the side may be a comfortable position for mom.

Kneeling positions. These work fine if you have no pain medication, or narcotics only. If you have an epidural anestheticm these may be possible with a light epidural. You can ask your caregiver if it would be possible to try these positions, but you will need help getting into these positions. Once you are in the position, you will need to be 'spotted' (have one person on each side of you, making sure you stay balanced and stable.)

Kneeling. Place your hands on the bed and keep the knees a comfortable width apart. You may also keep one knee up if it is more comfortable. This position is good for reducing tears and episiotomies and may be restful for mom.

Hands and knees. Arch your back occasionally for increased comfort. Being on your hands and knees is great for back labor, big babies and posterior babies. Many women find it to be the most comfortable.

Upright positions / Squatting. These will not be possible if you have had an epidural, because with an epidural, you typically can not get up out of bed.

Sitting. You may find it comfortable to sit on the toilet, on the thighs of your support person or on a birthing stool/chair. Sitting helps to open the pelvis and is gravity enhancing. Because it is a natural pushing position, many women find it to be very comfotable.

Squatting / Supported Squat. Squatting will open the pelvis to its greatest potential and is gravity enhancing. This position provides a great sense of control for mom. During squatting, the average pelvic outlet is 28% greater than in the supine position. Stand or sit back to relax in between contractions.

Comments: Birthing positions

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ADCoursey - 151 days ago.
does anyone know what kind of position the squat bar on a labor bed offers you?