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Laying on your back is the least productive position to deliver in. It actually makes the opening in your pelvic bones smaller. Most women deliver that way because it is convenient for the doctor, not because it is helpful in delivery.
I definitely don't plan to give birth on my back. I plan to use the tub and imagine I'd either give birth with DH behind me and supporting me, or on all fours in the tub. If I'm not giving birth in the tub, I plan to use a squatting bar on the hospital bed. Thankfully the midwives and dr's in my practice are all supportive of alternative birthing positions, as are the hospital staff. Being upright allows gravity and your contractions to work together to speed labor up, but also to allow your body to stretch as it needs to. You are much more likely to have an episiotomy or tear if you give birth laying on your back.
You can deliver in many different positions, not just lying down, just like you can labor in many different positions. Some hospitals/birthing centers even offer squatting bars or stools to help support women birthing in that position. Definitely something to ask about when you do your hospital tour!
@Mrs. Spring: The book says something about when in the quatting position "use your coach as your support or turn to the squatting bar" I think I'll choose the bar... lol.
I requested a squatting bar, did a ton of squats during my pregnancy, but I didn't deliver in a squat. My doctor said baby wasn't descending and had me do one where I was more in the "classic" pose, but I sometimes still wonder if it wasn't for her convenience, even though I really like my OB.
I think the reason you usually don't see squat is b/c very few people in the US actually make it 100% natural, and you can't do most of the positions if you were induced and/or had an epidural.
I spent as little time as possible in the actual bed. Though, I did labor some at home on the ground, laying on the floor. My dog was being SO cute and kissing me. <3
@cannotwait: Since I do want to squat, I'm having a hard time deciding the level of medication (if any) I want to be on during the process. They have the walking epidural that literally is an epidural which you can walk around while you're on it. I'm leaning towards that.
I tried all different kinds of positions, the one that was most productive and comfortable for me was on my back. I tried squating variations, on my side, on all fours but they weren't helping me at all, so i went back to laying on my back holding my knees.
@firsttimemom: The problem with the "walking epidural" is that they cannot guarantee that you will be able to walk, depending on how you react to the medication. It isn't quite that easy. If you go that way you will have to accept the risk that you will be largely immobile.
My OB told me even with a walking epidural I'd have to be in the bed. And then I switched to a midwife.
@tiramisu: What are some of the advantages of having a midwife over an OB?
@firsttimemom: I could go on for pages and pages about this decision... but I think it's a pretty personal one. I did a lot of research, and I can recommend That Wife Jenna's birth posts, the documentary "The Business of Being Born" and here are some good books to get you started if you're interested:
Your Best Birth (Ricki Lake and Abbi Epstein)
Pushed (Jennifer Block)
Born in the USA (Marsden Wagner)
Birth: the surprising history of how we are born (Tina Cassidy)
Your Best Birth was my all time favorite book to read during pregnancy, really opened my eyes up to all my options. I had my daughter on all 4's and i only pushed for 6 minutes!! Because it was so fast, I wasn't really "pushing" my body just took over.
@firsttimemom: I know you didn't ask me but I chose a midwife over OB because I am not good with doctors, (to me) they never seem to care at an emotional level. I had such a wonderful relationship with my midwife! she would call me regulary just to see how I was feeling and if I had any questions or concerns. I felt like it was more of a passion and love of women and children that made her do what she did and not the paycheck, and that was huge for me. I am not saying that all doctors are bad and not caring, I just felt more comfortable and welcome at the midwifery. My daughter is already two and I am still friends with the midwife =)
I was just talking to my husband about this and how I think its totally crazy to try to give birth laying down.
I told him I want the birthing bricks like back in the day!
@firsttimemom: I chose a midwife over an ob for a few reasons. First, I wanted someone who would be a little more involved throughout labor and delivery, not someone who was literally showing up to "catch the baby". All of my appointments with the midwives were 20-30 minutes and I didn't have to wait very long for my apts. The apts I had with the dr's at our same practice were ridiculous. At the first apt with a dr, I waited 30 minutes to be brought into a room, then another 15-20 mins for the dr to show up, since she wasn't even in the office yet. I saw her for 5 minutes. She was nice and all, but I just liked the more friendly, relaxed and hands on approach of the midwives. Also, I want to have a natural childbirth if possible, and the midwives are more helpful through that process, making suggestions on positions and helping you through the pain. I want the minimum amount of medical interventions possible, which again, the midwives are more supportive of.
The only way I can describe my delivery postion is to say 'Child's Pose' - which you'll understand if you do yoga.
I tried my 'first' push on my back because they had just checked me and given me the ok. I knew right away that was not going to work. I could feel I couldn't get the right leverage and my push did NOTHING.
The midwife got out the squat bar right away and was trying to do some towel twist thing - she was explaining it to my doula. As soon as I got up on my knees I asked if I could just try a push like that. They said 'sure'. So the squat bar was across the foot of the bed. I was on my knees facing the bar. I held onto it with my hands and then pushed by butt back like you do in childs pose. So my head was down inbetween my arms. It was perfect. I didn't count how many pushes it took - but he was born about 10 minutes later. He literally shot out - all in one push - and landed on the bed. Even though my midwife and hubby were 'back there' - she was busy explaining to hubby how to catch the baby and they were not expecting his speedy arrival.
I was in a practice with a DR and midwife - and luck of the draw was in labor while the midwife was on call. I know my DR supports natural childbirth and would let me work with different postions but I don't feel he would have been as quick to try things.
My midwife arrived to check me when I was a 9.5cm (I hadn't been checked since I was admitted) and she did not leave the room again til he was born. Her and my doula helped me through the last set of contractions with both of them pushing on my hips during the contractions and helping me relax between. It was a great! I just can't imagine my male DR in the same situation :) He wouldn't have been as hands on with the support.
@SecretName: You just made me want to read The Red Tent again...such an amazing book.
When it's my time, I am going to do everything I can not to be on my back. It doesn't seem practical or comfortable to me at all. I want gravity on my side!
@jilian:I love child's pose! I actually centered my moves around child's pose this morning during my sunrise yoga practice because well, I was feeling lazy :p
No, but seriously, that's awesome.
@firsttimemom: You taught me something new. Its nice to know there is a walking epidual I looked it up and it sounds rather nice. Thanks a bunch for mentioning this.
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We always see in the movies and on TV the traditional woman on her back, sitting up ad pushing her baby into the new world. It made me completely blind to the other positions one can deliver in. I was reading WTEWYE yesterday and saw the 2 whole pages dedicated to the different positions. To me, it always (even before I saw the book) made the most sense to deliver while squatting. Throughout LABOR you lie traditionally, and only when you're ready to push do you get up on your legs and let gravity (and the pushing of course) do the work. Have you thought of giving birth in any other position than "the norm"?