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Interesting article about birthing positions and tips during labor and delivery
Thought this would be a good article to pass along!
To Birth a Baby, Get Off Your Back!
by Christie Haskell
Hopefully for most of you, the idea of birthing flat on your back brings up facts about how that's the least effective position short of hanging from the ceiling by your ankles, how it closes up the pelvis by approximately 30 percent, and how in some other countries, it's actually illegal for a provider to suggest a woman birth on her back unless it's necessary or of course, unless she actually wants to.
No? That's not what you were thinking?
It's because women rarely see anything other than birthing flat on the back (which isn't okay for your whole pregnancy but is for 5-10 hours in labor?), it can be hard to think of other ways you could give birth, and that's where I come in.
There are many other positions to labor or give birth!
* Sitting upright. On a stool, the edge of the bed, on a birthing/exercise ball, or even over the toilet, helps speed along labor with the use of gravity (the baby pushing down does help dilate you!). Try sitting towards the edge of the seat (feet on the floor) and leaning forward, even onto your knees or onto something stable, or leaning back onto your arms, or even a support person sitting behind you.
* Leaning forward. One of the positions that felt best to me in labor was standing, leaning on the birthing ball which I'd actually put ON the bed, while my husband used my vibrating back massager on my lower back. You can also lean forward onto your husband (or partner, doula), as if you were hugging him, but with your feet a little further back and more of your weight on him. Swaying gently while doing this can be soothing and comforting. You may find that being on your knees and leaning over onto a birth ball or the edge of your bed feels good.
* On all fours. Yup, getting down on all fours, and sometimes rocking that way, can be a very effective and comfortable position for both labor and birth. Arching your back, and just using this position in general, can help with "sunnyside up" births, or if you do it enough during pregnancy, can help rotate the baby who would have been. Try pillows under your head if you want -- you can even do this on the bed.
* Squatting. Either sitting on a birthing stool, or squatting while holding onto the edge of a chair, bed, or even the birthing ball again really helps open the pelvis and encourage progression of labor. You could have your comfort person sit in a chair, and you squat on the floor in front of them, leaning your head onto their lap.
These are just some suggestions. During your labor and delivery, move around (or get help moving around) until you find what feels best and right to you, whether it's standing with one leg up on a chair or laying on your side with a leg held up. Moving and walking, swaying and squatting all can not only help alleviate pain, but can aid in a speedy labor with minimal trauma to your vaginal area, prevent the baby from getting "stuck" and make your birth experience much more pleasant in general.
Even if you don't want a water birth, sitting in a fairly warm bath or standing in a hot shower can not only help ease any discomfort but have been shown to help almost as much as pictocin in early labor. Your blood pressure CAN drop from these, but not in a negative way, but be aware of that in case your doctor tries to freak out when you step out of the tub.
Try packing a rice pack and ask a nurse to pop it in the microwave, bring a birth ball (if your hospital doesn't already have one), and buy a cheap, battery-operated massager at the store in case you have back pain. Even if you're not opting for the hospital, obviously these all still apply.
If you feel you have to lay on your back, try to either sit the bed as upright as you can handle, or consider laying on your side, even with pillows propped behind you. Get creative! Don't let hospital procedures ruin your birth.
To Birth a Baby, Get Off Your Back!
by Christie Haskell
Hopefully for most of you, the idea of birthing flat on your back brings up facts about how that's the least effective position short of hanging from the ceiling by your ankles, how it closes up the pelvis by approximately 30 percent, and how in some other countries, it's actually illegal for a provider to suggest a woman birth on her back unless it's necessary or of course, unless she actually wants to.
No? That's not what you were thinking?
It's because women rarely see anything other than birthing flat on the back (which isn't okay for your whole pregnancy but is for 5-10 hours in labor?), it can be hard to think of other ways you could give birth, and that's where I come in.
There are many other positions to labor or give birth!
* Sitting upright. On a stool, the edge of the bed, on a birthing/exercise ball, or even over the toilet, helps speed along labor with the use of gravity (the baby pushing down does help dilate you!). Try sitting towards the edge of the seat (feet on the floor) and leaning forward, even onto your knees or onto something stable, or leaning back onto your arms, or even a support person sitting behind you.
* Leaning forward. One of the positions that felt best to me in labor was standing, leaning on the birthing ball which I'd actually put ON the bed, while my husband used my vibrating back massager on my lower back. You can also lean forward onto your husband (or partner, doula), as if you were hugging him, but with your feet a little further back and more of your weight on him. Swaying gently while doing this can be soothing and comforting. You may find that being on your knees and leaning over onto a birth ball or the edge of your bed feels good.
* On all fours. Yup, getting down on all fours, and sometimes rocking that way, can be a very effective and comfortable position for both labor and birth. Arching your back, and just using this position in general, can help with "sunnyside up" births, or if you do it enough during pregnancy, can help rotate the baby who would have been. Try pillows under your head if you want -- you can even do this on the bed.
* Squatting. Either sitting on a birthing stool, or squatting while holding onto the edge of a chair, bed, or even the birthing ball again really helps open the pelvis and encourage progression of labor. You could have your comfort person sit in a chair, and you squat on the floor in front of them, leaning your head onto their lap.
These are just some suggestions. During your labor and delivery, move around (or get help moving around) until you find what feels best and right to you, whether it's standing with one leg up on a chair or laying on your side with a leg held up. Moving and walking, swaying and squatting all can not only help alleviate pain, but can aid in a speedy labor with minimal trauma to your vaginal area, prevent the baby from getting "stuck" and make your birth experience much more pleasant in general.
Even if you don't want a water birth, sitting in a fairly warm bath or standing in a hot shower can not only help ease any discomfort but have been shown to help almost as much as pictocin in early labor. Your blood pressure CAN drop from these, but not in a negative way, but be aware of that in case your doctor tries to freak out when you step out of the tub.
Try packing a rice pack and ask a nurse to pop it in the microwave, bring a birth ball (if your hospital doesn't already have one), and buy a cheap, battery-operated massager at the store in case you have back pain. Even if you're not opting for the hospital, obviously these all still apply.
If you feel you have to lay on your back, try to either sit the bed as upright as you can handle, or consider laying on your side, even with pillows propped behind you. Get creative! Don't let hospital procedures ruin your birth.
One person's comment to the article I posted about (the stars bleep out cafe and mom in case you wondered or you can probably find her article by typing in the title over there) really touched a cord with me. Because I don't want to be THAT natural birther that she is talking about. We must be supportive of any choices a mom makes at her birth because it is ultimately her birth whether she plans elective cesarean or induction or epidural, etc. I think we present the facts and then Momma decides what is best for her. Of course I passionately push natural birth because I'm EXCITED about it, not because of a superiority complex but online things get lost in translation as we all know. Anyway here is the comment:
"Yeah, of the naturally birthing parents I know of, they do have a superiority complex. They do look down on other's birth experiences. For instance, BFF had baby #2 vbac in a hospital completley drug free, completely complication free. In our circle of "friends" or acquaintances, it was not to be compared to their birth center or home births. She was treated as another one of "those women" who had their babies at a hospital tied down to a bed. Was not the case. Baby #3 was born, in an hour, in an unplanned homebirth in her bathtub. Seriously. NOW she's part of "their" club.
In my personal experiences and observations I have noticed that mothers who have chosen the med free option think they are better. It's seems kind of like "I would never think of putting anything other than name brand clothing on my kids. And anyone who does is not worthy of being a parent". And yes, i'm aware clothing and medical decisions are not the same. This divide between women and their choices is comparable to the arguments between WOHMs and WAHMs. its sad and ridiculous. Getting the education out to Dr's is a lot more important than judging women who may have never known that they could make their own choices than to argue about what's best and put others down for making a different decision."
"Yeah, of the naturally birthing parents I know of, they do have a superiority complex. They do look down on other's birth experiences. For instance, BFF had baby #2 vbac in a hospital completley drug free, completely complication free. In our circle of "friends" or acquaintances, it was not to be compared to their birth center or home births. She was treated as another one of "those women" who had their babies at a hospital tied down to a bed. Was not the case. Baby #3 was born, in an hour, in an unplanned homebirth in her bathtub. Seriously. NOW she's part of "their" club.
In my personal experiences and observations I have noticed that mothers who have chosen the med free option think they are better. It's seems kind of like "I would never think of putting anything other than name brand clothing on my kids. And anyone who does is not worthy of being a parent". And yes, i'm aware clothing and medical decisions are not the same. This divide between women and their choices is comparable to the arguments between WOHMs and WAHMs. its sad and ridiculous. Getting the education out to Dr's is a lot more important than judging women who may have never known that they could make their own choices than to argue about what's best and put others down for making a different decision."
Jen- take comfort that that is probably going to be the ONLY natural birth those student nurses see. It may have even inspired some to pursue a career in obstetrics. I don't mind students around if it helps them understand more and learn about the process. Though being SURPRISED like that is kind of annoying, I'm sure!
Chantal- yes they would have sectioned you. Zoë was also facing the wrong way but I pushed her out anyway. I screamed and pushed her out in under a minute because I knew the pain would stop when she got out. While I ached and was sore (of course) that horrible ring of fire was finally OVER! LOL!
Christie wrote another article called "Natural Birth Isn't About Getting a Gold Star". Most people think natural birthers are martyrs or just want all this attention but of course it is ultimately about preventing disaster and having SAFE birth. Read the article here:
http://thestir.*******.com/pregnancy/115815/natural_birth_isnt_about_getting?utm_medium=sm&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=haskell_fanpage
Chantal- yes they would have sectioned you. Zoë was also facing the wrong way but I pushed her out anyway. I screamed and pushed her out in under a minute because I knew the pain would stop when she got out. While I ached and was sore (of course) that horrible ring of fire was finally OVER! LOL!
Christie wrote another article called "Natural Birth Isn't About Getting a Gold Star". Most people think natural birthers are martyrs or just want all this attention but of course it is ultimately about preventing disaster and having SAFE birth. Read the article here:
http://thestir.*******.com/pregnancy/115815/natural_birth_isnt_about_getting?utm_medium=sm&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=haskell_fanpage
jen, oh no!! I can't imagine having just given birth and then turning around to see nursing students in the room. Awkward much? lol
I delivered my third baby on all fours. He was "sunny-side-up", as they call it, which should have resulted in terrible back labor. But to be honest, it was fastest and least painful birth of my four. It was funny, b/c with my first they asked me to get on my hands and knees and I found it VERY awkward and uncomfortable. But with Eli, I just got that way on my own. My midwife kept asking, Do you want to lie down now? and I was like NO! I just knew that was the way I needed to be, and it worked out great.
Not so great?? Delivering the baby, then turning over to find a class of nursing students in the room. Yipes!! What a sight THAT must've been. :/ I don't remember agreeing to that, although I guess I probably did...LoL
Not so great?? Delivering the baby, then turning over to find a class of nursing students in the room. Yipes!! What a sight THAT must've been. :/ I don't remember agreeing to that, although I guess I probably did...LoL
I have never heard of her before Joy, but glad I came across the article! Under the right circumstances, our bodies know how to birth babies. I always think back to my first, and had I been in a hospital, my midwife was almost certain I would have had a c-section. I was stuck at 9cm for almost 6 hours. But then we knew it was due to his head coming down crooked and I tried different positions and rocking to get him to turn, but he never did. (we even tried these methods before labor because she could feel he wasn't in the right position.)
Thankfully, I pushed through it, it was hard, but he eventually made his way out. lol If I wasn't able to get him out in that next hour or so, we would have gone to the hospital but my midwife knew it would work out. She wouldn't put me in harms way, and I trust her.
I think at a hospital, after so many hours if you haven't progressed, they talk about c-section, correct? Thankfully my second was MUCH easier. Hoping this one will be too! :)
Thankfully, I pushed through it, it was hard, but he eventually made his way out. lol If I wasn't able to get him out in that next hour or so, we would have gone to the hospital but my midwife knew it would work out. She wouldn't put me in harms way, and I trust her.
I think at a hospital, after so many hours if you haven't progressed, they talk about c-section, correct? Thankfully my second was MUCH easier. Hoping this one will be too! :)
I read this article on The Stir by ******* just the other day. I LOVE all of Christie's articles. Her articles are evidence-based as well, even if she doesn't always cite sources. Women need to take back their births. It is so much more than the medical community has made it out to be. Our bodies can rock it and we are more powerful than we give ourselves credit for. Okay stepping off the soapbox now...
Hopefully it can at least help a bit when we go into labor, or maybe help someone we know.
With my first 2, all I wanted to do was be on my back when it came time to push. With my first, I pushed for 1 hour and 20 min. but he was coming down crooked, basically the side of his head was coming out first, that was painful!! I wish someone would have told me to try different positions during that hour and 20 min!! Once his head was out, I had to get on all fours (that was hard to do!! lol) because he was a big boy and the midwife said it would make it easier for him to come out...well gee...maybe that position would have been better the entire time! haha
And with my second, he came out in four pushes and I was tired, so I was on my back, but it was only for a matter of minutes..I think about 7-8 min to be exact!
This time around, I really hope I can use some of the tips in the article and maybe even avoid being on my back this time around. We will see! I know some things never go according to plan, but I want to at least try this time around.
With my first 2, all I wanted to do was be on my back when it came time to push. With my first, I pushed for 1 hour and 20 min. but he was coming down crooked, basically the side of his head was coming out first, that was painful!! I wish someone would have told me to try different positions during that hour and 20 min!! Once his head was out, I had to get on all fours (that was hard to do!! lol) because he was a big boy and the midwife said it would make it easier for him to come out...well gee...maybe that position would have been better the entire time! haha
And with my second, he came out in four pushes and I was tired, so I was on my back, but it was only for a matter of minutes..I think about 7-8 min to be exact!
This time around, I really hope I can use some of the tips in the article and maybe even avoid being on my back this time around. We will see! I know some things never go according to plan, but I want to at least try this time around.
When I was at home I was just sitting in my chair and it was good for me. I started out kinda rocking my pelvis at the same time of contractions. At the hospital I laboured on the bed but it was in the upright position and I leaned over the back of it that way. I had to have a pillow for my belly but it was great. I was that way for 2 hours. I think the best thing to do is tell yourself to relax once a contraction hits. I would tense up at first but once I relaxed and talked myself through it, it was much better.
This is interesting to read. I personally could only labour on my back. Everything else hurt so much, especially lying on my side and leaning forward.
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