I had no staining when my waters went but some appeared closer to birth. We were at home, DD's head was visible, they had no option but to catch her! I was on my back to deliver because i'd laid down for a VE (next time i will tell her if she can't do it when i'm kneeling on all fours then she can't do it at all!).

I found sitting backwards astride a dining chair, leaning over the back of it (with a pillow over it to rest arms/face on) was really great. DP sat right in front of me and got me through contractions, my birth assistant Jen sat behind me at some points and rubbed/pressed my back, and the forward-slung bump helped DD turn from a bit posterior to anterior in under 2 hours.

It also (might not be a consideration for you) helped me keep control in what was an extremely fast labour. At 2.30pm i was 2-3cm dilated and 25% effaced, at 6.20pm DD was born after 2 hours of me bellowing so i didn't push and one half-hearted push when i realised, at the height of the contraction when i was on my back, what "crowning" actually MEANT. She SHOT out!

Walking around, squatting, rocking on my knees were all good in early labour, but once my body started to move it MOVED and the chair was my best friend - kept my pelvis open but allowed me to sit still and try to surf on the waves instead of drowning.

B