Labor Positions

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

What is the best. Lets say i survive and dont get an epidural, The doc said i can do whatever position i want to push..... but i dont know since with Trevor i got an epi and was flat on my back.

 

[InTheFlame]

Hands and knees seems popular - can be tiring though. I think I'd prefer sitting/kneeling, knees spread... for some reason I always picture myself in that position for this birth. Either using a birthing ball, or hanging off hubby!

 

[GolfingMom]

My friend enjoyed squatting...

 

[Leanna]

I tihnk you should quick run out and read Natural Childbirth The Bradley Way. Then you can practice and also that book's part about emotional signposts I found very informative. Basically almost every woman hits a point where she THINKS can't do it anymore, but that's right before the end so if you know that its easier to hold on. Read, read!

 

[Athene]

I tihnk you should quick run out and read Natural Childbirth The Bradley Way. Then you can practice and also that book's part about emotional signposts I found very informative. Basically almost every woman hits a point where she THINKS can't do it anymore, but that's right before the end so if you know that its easier to hold on. Read, read!

Yes, I can testify to that - it was when I was pushing, I felt I was going nowhere and baby was never going to come out.

I can't really advise any position - I tried them all and stuck with the one I liked best which was sitting up right on the bed, try them all and stick with the one you like best - it sounds like your hospital will let you do that.

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

Anything but the "usual" laying on your back position. Squatting and on hands and knees are always ones that are recommended.

 

[jazzbird]

Squatting is the optimal position, but it takes a lot of leg strength, so you really need to spend a lot of time practicing prior to the birth. If the hospital has a birthing stool available, you might want to request that, as it puts you in a similar position, but you don't need the same kind of endurance.

 

[busybusymomma]

Which position would be best is going to depend on what helps you labor best, and baby's positioning.

With my first birth, I was made to push in that weird half sitting/stirrups position- ugh.

Second birth I labored kneeling over a birth ball until the birth pool was filled and then I labored/pushed kneeling in the pool.

Third birth (9 weeks ago) I labored while pacing the house for the first hour of labor and labored the next hour of labor kneeling in the pool. This labor felt very hard and odd, probably partly because it was a very fast labor and partly because her hand or arm was by her head.

As a general rule, upright is good and allows gravity to "help".

 

[Cright]

From what I hear/read the squatting, sitting on birthing ball or on birthing stool are great for most. If you are having back labor (happens alot with "star gazers", than being on your hands and knees in bed, or on knees leaning on a birthing ball or some other item.

Bottom line from what I read, is try a few things when the time comes and stick with the one that works best.

 

[jgonz]

My favorite position for pushing/birth was sitting, nearly upright. My legs get really shaky during labor, so squatting and hands & knees was never feasible.

Birthing in the water though was the most Marvelous thing~ "nature's epidural".

 

[Naomi4Christ]

The best position is the one that feels most natural to you, and you should be allowed to adopt any position you like - and you won't really know until you get there.

My favourite is kneeling.

If you get really tired, left lateral is good, with the baby delivered from behind.

 

[Cright]

I don't know what left lateral means...

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

Cright,

Left Lateral means lying on your side, with your left part of your body touching the bed.

Hope that helps! I remember when people started saying stuff like that to me during nursing training - I felt so out of it!

Sasch

 

[jgonz]

Laying on your side is a gravity neutral position, which is good if your cervix isn't opening evenly all the way around (you'll hear the term "cervical lip" occasionally), or if your labor is progressing Really fast. Some women find birthing on their side to be more comfortable. It wasn't for me, but everyone's different.