Reply With QuoteSitting upright on a birthing stool until crowning then squatting on the floor holding onto the edge of the bed for final bit! Wouldn't do it again without a birthing stool- the b/centre provided it on request. Loved it!
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I didnt birth as such but i laboured to about 7-8cm and i did the whole lot sitting on the side of the bed with my feet on the ground.. every contraction i leant right forward, not too sure why... my body just did its own thing. I couldnt stand or lay down, so im not sure how i would have given birth.
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Sitting upright on a birthing stool until crowning then squatting on the floor holding onto the edge of the bed for final bit! Wouldn't do it again without a birthing stool- the b/centre provided it on request. Loved it!
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Cassius - out of curiousity, why did the OB want you to do that?
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Once the contractions started getting very painful, I couldn't stand like I wanted to, so I was on the bed, on about a 20 degree recline. I rolled over onto my side for each contraction (I'm not sure it helped, but that's what my body wanted to do - maybe because DH was on that side?)
My first push was while I was rolling back onto my back, then I pushed him out while I was on my back because I wasn't expecting my body to tell me to push. Like Negrita, it was like the pressure stopped once he was out - the only pain I felt was the contractions. I had grazing but no tear (of course, he wasn't as big as a "normal" baby so next time will most likely be a different story)
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He is a 'Normal' baby hun, just prem and in heaven. And he is gorgeous
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DS - On back - terrible.
DD - I was semi reclined - found pretty good, spent whole labour upright and squatting.
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Both times on my back, though with DD1 I had my legs in stirrups....
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DD1 i had no choie, i was home alone on the bathroom floor on my back (as per 000) with 1 leg up on the toilet bowl
DD2 i was on all fours when my waters broke, they turned me over to check bubs and asked if i wanted to move as i needed to push and i said no.... i just stayed on my back she was out 7min later.
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Same here plus I had each foot supported by a midwife's hip. I laboured on all fours firstly leaning into a pillow over a chair and then on the bed over pillows, then I was on my side and when I needed to push they turned me on my back. I wanted to birth DD on all fours or upright but I was so focussed on getting the baby out I didn't argue and just went with it because it happened quite quickly.
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DD2 i had my legs in stirrups by my request because the midwives wouldnt hold my legs back for me IYKWIM and i needed to have my legs back in order to push forwardBoth times on my back, though with DD1 I had my legs in stirrups
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On my back hooked up to too many wires to be able to follow my primal urge that told me to get up!
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I laboured sitting up in a chair. I'd planned to use a birth ball but DD was coming so fast (I went from 2cm to fully dilated in 90 minutes) that I needed the counter pressure of the seat.
When I reached transition, it took awhile to find something comfortable. I tried sitting on the birth ball, leaning on the bed, on the floor on all fours. The only place I felt comfortable was sitting on the toilet so that's where I spent the pushing stage (35 mins). I was in a supported squat the moment DD was born. I did end up with a 2nd degree tear and a couple of haemorrhoids. Because the midwife couldn't see what was happening, she couldn't help me to slow down to prevent tearing. But I am so grateful that she let me go with my body. Also, no drugs were involved.
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Ds1 - semi relined, slight tear no stitches
Ds2 - on my knees on the bed, tear with 2 stitches
DD - semi reclined, with monitors on, instructed by Ob and m/wife, no stitches, DD also had her cord around her neck which the Ob had picked up on the monitors so I was on bed rest for my entire labour, there was talk in the final stages of sending me for c/sect, DD was also a lot smaller then her brothers. Once DD had crowned the the doctor untangled her cord, DH actually delivered her onto my chest (was the most amazing thing for him)
I had the urge that I needed to move with DD but couldn't under instructions from Ob.
Listen to your body, it will tell you how you need to deliver.
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DD1 on my back due to episiotomy, second degree tearing, very painfull
DD2 i started on all fours (no drugs) but had to turn over because of some significant internal tearing happening as her head decended, i had to turn over, which wasnt easy and i didnt want to do, so birthed her semi reclinded and actually got to deliver her myself, was awesome!!
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I just realised... I don't know what this means. Would someone care to enlighten me?
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teni i actually got to grab DD under the arms and pull her onto my tummy by myself, im sure thats what mamaspice is refering to!
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Wow, thankyou for all the replies everyone. It seems different positions work for different people. I guess I better just go with what feels right at the time. I might be somewhat limited though as the hospital does want EFM because of my vbac but they did say I should be able to get off the bed and be on the fitball etc if I want.
It's interresting to see that it seems a lot of you who birthed in the semi reclined position had minor or even no tearing.
My friends Ob did the exact ame thing. And it pretty much comes down to because it's more convenient for the OB if the mum is on the bed
yes this is exactly what I'm refering to
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yeah as mamaspice mentioned it is the convenient thing for them. of course for me however it made it harder. i had not been in labour for long so was not too tired to squat on my knees IYKWIM. i could understand that the recline would be good if your legs were exhausted but in that moment for me, it would of been easier squatting.
basically they drop the last bit of the bed down and the ob sits on a little stool in the 'firing line'. this way you are all on show and they dont need to move.
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