What position did you birth in?

As the title suggests, I'm wanting to hear about what position you gave birth in, or what position did you find it most comfortable to birth in?

I know that positions like all fours are probably the most practical and help the most with preventing tearing but I just cannot see myself doing it that way :dunno: Unless of course a primal urge to do so overwehlms me.

For some reason I can see myself sitting upright. And maybe even delivering my own baby onto my chest. A waterbirth would be my first choice but my hospital does not allow this for vbacs :(

So . . . What worked for you???

With DD1 I was kinda on my side.
With DD2 I was over the end of the bed sorta on all fours, but had the bed head up.
With DS over a beanbag was most comfortable, I had horrible back pain, but when I had to have the monitors on I was put on my back & too buggered to move again.

All fours, or over a beanbag/exercise ball should take the pressure off your back if you have back pain. Just a tip :)

I was semi reclined with all of mine, probably a 45deg angle, so not sitting up fully. It was just the position I felt I *needed* to be in. I felt like I could push better.

On my back for the first (not recommended, esp with a posterior bub, but my OB was in charge) but all fours for the second, leaning forward onto pillows (birth centre, I was in charge). If left alone, you will just naturally move to whichever position feels best on the day....

my first - sitting <... The best position I think!
Second - Lying down <... Ughh so much harder to work with!

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I was semi reclined with all of mine, probably a 45deg angle, so not sitting up fully. It was just the position I felt I *needed* to be in. I felt like I could push better.

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Me too. I could not move during any of my labours and this was the most comfortable position for me.

DDs1 and 2 were both all 4s

DD3 was sitting like Trillian and Tinks because I couldn't move

Flat on my back attatched to a ctg machine! was absolutely wonderfull!!! NOT!! ive never been so uncomfortable in my life!!!
FWIW DD1 no tearing
DD2 2nd degree tear but she was born looking up at the sky :)

Each time I got a contraction I'd upset the OB by getting off the bed. I birthed standing, leaning over the bed. Lucky my midwife was good, and arranged pillows and towels under my feet so it didn't get too slippery to stand. And also lucky she was good at catching! However, my actual birth plan was for all fours ...

all fours leaning forward onto the bed head was THE most comfy position for me. i didnt even feel DD come out, no ring of fire, just immense pressure that suddenly disappeared once she was out (nope, i had no drugs or tears either) :D

#1 supported squat
#2 semi reclined - posterior
#3 unsupported squat in the water

no tears

On my knees with my hands pushing against the side of the bath tub. I *think* one of my feet was up on a stool of some description at the actual time of crowning though.

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I was semi reclined with all of mine, probably a 45deg angle, so not sitting up fully. It was just the position I felt I *needed* to be in. I felt like I could push better.

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Me too.

Like Alioops as well I honestly couldnt move from there even if I wanted too.

I had a first degree tear.

I was in a deep squat on the birthing stool. I spent the whole labour upright, squatting or leaning over pillows on all fours. I could never have been sitting or on my back. I even went to the hospital leaning over the back seat in the car rather than sitting- no way!

I stood for DS' entire 22 hour labour. Even when my contractions first started I could not sit or lay down. I gave birth to him standing next to the bed, leaning onto my hands. I would never have thought I would give birth standing up but it was just the most comfortable position. I had no tears either.

I birthed both of my kids on my left side. Both times my upper leg was supported by me or my midwife or OB.

in a semi-recline for the vast majority with my legs held up by either myself, DH or the middy. i started out on my knees leaning over the bedrail and found this to be amazing. but OB walked in and had me lie/sit back. i found once i was in that possie that i didnt have the same effect with the bearing down and found the going a bit harder.

i birthed on my knees, over the end of the bed.. i think the hwole gravirt thing helped LOT. I also spent the majority of my labouring on a gym ball rocking from side to side which i think helped alot.
i ened up wirh a tear that needed 2 stitches.
i will def be trung this way again.. i COULD NOT lie on my back it was far too painful :(

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.

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!

Cassius - out of curiousity, why did the OB want you to do that?

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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(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 :hug:

DS - On back - terrible.
DD - I was semi reclined - found pretty good, spent whole labour upright and squatting.

Both times on my back, though with DD1 I had my legs in stirrups :rolleyes:....

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 :rofl:

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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I was semi reclined with all of mine, probably a 45deg angle, so not sitting up fully.

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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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Both times on my back, though with DD1 I had my legs in stirrups :rolleyes:....

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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 forward

On my back hooked up to too many wires to be able to follow my primal urge that told me to get up!

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.

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.

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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And maybe even delivering my own baby onto my chest.

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I just realised... I don't know what this means. Would someone care to enlighten me? :)

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!

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.

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Cassius - out of curiousity, why did the OB want you to do that?

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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 :rolleyes:

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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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yes this is exactly what I'm refering to :) My student midwife actually suggested it to me and I really love the idea.

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Cassius - out of curiousity, why did the OB want you to do that?

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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.

DD1 - I was on all fours, very comfy, and was made to lie on my back to slow her down a bit, they needed to cut the cord before she was born. I grazed.

DS1 - on all fours leaning into a beanbag again, very comfortable, no tears

DD2 - on my back :rolleyes: Midwife wanted me reclined because she was worried about cord prolapse. In hindsight I could have moved after my waters broke & she descended, but it happened fairly quickly & I wasn't really thinking clearly :lol:
It all happened in the space of about 5 minutes and when it did she could have let me move onto all fours or something, instead she lay the bed flat & made me push like that. It's my one regret, that I wasn't more in a state of mind to say 'hey - no' to her :p
I had a second degree tear.

MamSpice, re the monitoring - you should still have a fair few positions you can try, I had monitoring with 3 of my 4 labours & moved around quite a bit (except for the last).
With DD1 I had monitoring due to epidural & I was on all fours, probably would have stayed like that if they didn't have to slow her a bit.

With DD laboured mostly on the edge of one of those plastic chairs in the shower and also on all 4s on beanbags. Last few pushes standing upright leaning on the bath. I tried everything not to tear, including prenatal 'stuff' and had a 3rd degree.

Good luck hun, hope you get the birth you are after x

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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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Oh, that's gorgeous! I'd love to be able to do that!

DS1- Semi reclined, on my back (in hospital) - 1 hr and 15 mins of pushing like buggery. 2nd degree tear and perenium haematoma (with 6pound 6oz baby)

DS2- On cushy birthing mat, down on left knee, right leg out to side, with the foot of my right leg firmly planted on the floor to assist pushing. Hands gripping DH! (at Birth Centre).
30 mins of 'birth breathing' - not heavy pushing, with essential oils = NO tear/stitches and a 7pound 15oz baby that I was able to pull up into my own arms!

What they say is TRUE - don't lie flat on your back! Gravity is your best friend!!