OK... Positions please!

So we have finished our Antenatal classes and I feel good about the type of birth that the hospital encourages... ACTIVE!!!

I want to try and go drug free, and have an active birth - not tied down to the bed.

Can people give some advice on what positions helped you through the pain etc. What they found worked well and what didn't. I know everyone is different and what works for some wont others and vice versa, but I really want to 'practice' some positions before the birth.

Also some remedies... ie shower/bath etc that you found helpful???

Thanks heaps

all I can say is dont sit down I sat with my little angel birth and I still nealry 3 years on suffer tail bone pain

I was a dvised by a few friends who have just had #2 and #3 etc, that standing in the shower was the best thing they did, they didn't do this with any of their other kids, they recovered quicker didn't tear and wasn't as long when staying inthe shower, one even gave birth there and passed the placenta she said of her 3 this was by far the easiest

hope that helps, all I can say is dont sit, and what ever you do dont lay down :lol:

Yes, don't lie down...this makes labour more painful. walk while you can...and after that, lean into a beanbag or something ont eh floor, kneeling on a comfortable mat...it's great, because you stay upright, and in-between contractions, you can rest. Shower is great...if you have the chance, the bath is wonderful...I ended up having my daughter in the bath. She was a natural VBAC birth and it was wonderful....I can't imagine NOT birthing in water (but some don't like pushing in water, and feel they need to be more 'grounded' for delivery). Go with the flow on labour day, trust your body, stay up-right, and you'll aid a straight-forward birth. :)

Everyone has different shaped tailbones so your shape probably was one which had lots of pressure on it. Leaning forward will move the coccyx up.

New Active Birth by Janet Balaskas has some great suggestions, but some I find to be popular during labour, as well as beneficial:

* On a chair, backwards sitting (leaning over the backrest, perhaps with pillows)
* On a fitball, leaning over the bed with some pillows
* On a mat on the floor, leaning into a beanbag or your partner in a chair
* On the bed, headrest up, leaning over the headrest
* On the toilet is great for contractions but you will learn to hate it later LOL - I don't mean labouring there but just as a general comment!

Remember, during contrax, legs apart, knees bent, lean forward (45o is good) :) Oh and relax those shoulders!

and relax you mouth, too...and keep your moans loooow (and as loud as you want!)

I LOVED the fitball under the shower! I didn't want to leave this position and was there for hours and hours. I also leant over the bed and rocked my hips(about shoulder width apart) I was stuck to the bed for some time to which I really regret as it slowed things down sooo much. I couldn't walk to much as the pain in my back was unbearable thats why the leaning forward positions worked best for me.

WOW... that's great... thanks girls keep them coming!!!

Definitely rocking hips in a circular motion or back and forwards is great, helps get baby down and turning into a great possie.

If you have a posterior bub, there's a whole heap more you can do to help get bub turning, but the kids are about to kill the cat so I will have to post later LOL

I agree with Kelly - go get the 'New Active Birth' book....soooo encouraging to read, spech for first time mums. It has quite a few yoga positions you can practice in order to limber up for your labor/birth which are quite easy to do...no standing on your head or anything :)
I've told my husband he has to sit on the bed with a few rubber bands he can flick at me if I try to lie down!!! So maybe get a few of those too....
And good luck!

Thanks I just bought the book on Ebay!!!

Should get it next week...

If anyone else has more please let me know... it's great hearing others ideas!

The fitball is fantastic during labour, it really helped baby to move down and I found that leaning forward on it really helped with the pain.

Hi Mel,
I haven't read through everone's responses so sorry if I repeat...

I think it's good to be aware that every woman and every labour has a preferred position. Personally I found any type of sitting hideous. Fitballs were awful for me as were 'birthing stools', toilets eewwww for me. However I have seen women birth to their hearts content whilst rolling around on a brightly coloured ball!!!

I love to be in an upright position in early labour. I like to move around continuously. Hip swaying is fantastic to help the baby get into the right 'groove'. The motion helps with pain relief also. Showers are super especially if there are two nozzles. One for your belly and one for your back.

I love to hang or pull down during labour also. For instance putting your hands on the top of the door of a cupboard and pulling down. I found that fantastic. Many indigenous cultures have a special rope that is fixed or that other women hold the end of for this purpose. I like to squat during a contraction. Leaning into a bean bag often is helpful. All of my babies have been born whilst I was either squatting or on all fours. I liked that way best of all, and it just seems to be my way. I do the all fours thing and my husband knows it's time!

Hands and knees position is also good for slowing a fast labour too, if you find it's all happening too quickly it can be helpful.

I wish hospitals had suspended squat bars like you describe! They would be great for the pulling down urge some women get.

Yes, I agree Kelly, though you can improvise. Some hospitals are actually looking into this however due to litigation I don't know how it willo go. It seems there is some concern about back injury and women falling. I can see the reasons but it does take us away from our primal birthing urges. Let's hope a balance can be reached.

The safety handles that are installed in hospital showers are great to hold onto and squat and pull down at the same time. I have used this myself and it is a great 'labour tool'. Another option is to lower the bed if you are in a regular hospital as low as it will go. Encourage the birthing woman to pull down on the triangle that is used to hoist yourself up on when you are in bed (do you know what I mean?). This is a really helpful tool also that women seem to benefit from. However I haven't done that one myself!

Fitball in the shower would be my perfect combination! That is what I am planning for #3!

With Olivia I spent HOURS in the shower, leaning into the corner of the shower with the hot water pointing at my back/hips, and although I came out wrinkled like a prune, the relief/distraction was ideal, & it was a good position for me to rock/rotate my hips. I then moved onto a fit ball and it was wonderful. I also leaned over a bar fridge and rocked/rotated my pelvis....it was just the right height!

With Charlie, the shower was good, but not hot enough, nor was the water pressure strong enough, so I found it more irritating than helpful.

I spent practically my entire labour with Charlie on the fitball....& then stood/squatted to give birth...

So with the fitball, your sitting on it, and rolling it around???

Does it hurt more, when you are sitting on the area where bubs is pushing down on?

And do your legs get really tired from walking and swaying, or is it the same as when your not labouring???? (does that question even make sense?)

Thanks again for all the ideas, they're great!

With the fitball I had the midwife lower the bed, and I sat on the ball with my knees wide apart leaning forward onto the bed. I didn't move all that much, gently bounced a little bit and swivelled my hips a bit but it was more just being in that position that helped :)

Yep, I just sat on the fitball with my legs apart (ummmmm, dignified!) and rocked and bounced & moved....I honestly didn't get the feeling of tired legs or anything......I think I was that pre-occupied with the contactions and labour pains in my back to notice. I used the side of the bed to lean on and DH's hand to squeeze on as contractions came.

When I actally came to the pushing stage with Charlie, I got off the fit ball and onto the bed for an internal, but then got off straight away (no WAY was I lying down!!) and I pushed from a standing/squatting position, again, squeeezing DH's hand and a midwife was on my other side....

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Don't be afraid to make noises if you need

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My language when giving birth to Charlie was "colourful" to say the very least. My OB commented afterwards...."Ummm, not too posh to push, nor too posh to swear like a trooper!" It must have helped me!!

LOL Lucy... I can just imagine what will come out of my mouth!!!

Thanks heaps for all this, I am feeling much, much better about it all... having some ideas in your head is good I think... they really didn't tell us much about positions in the AN classes.

If there is any more to add please do, there are a few first timers here that want to know EVERYTHING!

I tried the fitball but dont recommend it if your waters have broken, it can make for some funny looking scenes that had my husband in stitches!! (we were at home at this stage so no-one else saw me going a- over t-!

I liked the shower on a seat for my first labour, an din my second labour I LOVED the tub! bubs was posterior so spent every contraction on my knees or hand and knees with hubby washing warm water over my lower back it was great!

Delivered Cole leaning over the raised beadhead, kneeling, it was great.

Good luck Mel!

Are you going to have access to a bath? I used water immersion for #1 and #2 (and #2 resulted in a waterbirth - just loved it!)

It felt a little weird when I initially got in the bath because all the weight was taken off my belly so the ctx felt weird. But by the 2nd ctx I was getting use to it and it was a lovely pain relief.

I had many positions that agreed with me in labour. I needed to change positions to find the relief I was seeking. I would get into a comfortable position, stay there until it didn't work for me any longer, then find another position. So make sure you have a whole bag of tricks to try .Maybe write some positions down and give it to your support person so that they can suggest positions to you if you need ideas.

My hypnobirthing information also suggests that simply laying on your side in a calm/relaxed state also helps you labour.

The analogy they used, is that you don't see cows, dogs and other animals up walking around when labouring...they are laying in a trance like state.

It's something i truely believe...laying calmly and doing relaxation could be totally as beneficial as the walking and showering etc, just from my research.

Am yet to 'test' it out thow..LOL

Ask me in a few months time.

:)

I'd love to hear the positions for a posterior bub Kelly when you've got time to post ;) Gemma was posterior, just wish I had known it and could have tried something to help!

Hi Chrissy,
I live next door to a dairy farm and the cows most certainly do move and pace whilst they are in labour. Just before second stage they go to ground and yes that spaced out look happens but prior to that movement is a big thing.
I have not used hypnobirthing and it has some really great concepts however it is shown that an 'active' labour, one where the mother is able to move about at her own desire (that may be that she doesn't move at all!) and use and change position as she feels she needs to that labour is shorter and less painful. Certainly laying on your side is helpful for some women in some labours but generally speaking being horizontal is often more painful. When you think about it, we are working against gravity. Being upright works with gravity. Hip swivelling and squatting helps to get baby into an optimal position (great for a posterior birth). During all of my labours the mere thought of laying down was frightening. I just couldn't do it. That does'nt mean that 's the case for every woman. Each woman will find the best way to labour for them. I do think it's important to look to the animal kingdom - should I say the mammal kingdom they have such primal instincts unfettered by all the folklore and fear that us humans have!

Thanks Deb!
It all makes sense.

I guess the hypnobirthing theory is more to do with relaxation = less fear = less tention = less pain.

I will be going with the flow..LOL

i didnt try this but a friend of mine leaned up with her back towards her husband while he held her up and she gave birth that way she said it was 10 times eaiser than laying down
i found that with my first i stood up in the shower and swivled my hips helped aswell just try a few different things and you should find whats confortable for you good luck i hope it goes well for you just be open to try what ever your told by the midwives there great in labour rooms and they have ideas aswell
good luck
raewyn

Rae, that is exactly how I had DD2 and it was fantastic. with No 1 I was in bed, epidural, and with 2 I started leaning over fitball and HATED it. I felt so exposed and uncomfortable. I turned around and had arms on DH, and was on a mat on the floor. Was SO much more comfortable, and bub was born in less than 8 minutes from then!! xo

With my DD I laid on my side pretty much the whole time. Whenever I stood up my legs shook violently & I felt light headed & like I was going to vomit.

I did jump in the spa at about 5cm dialated but found the jets were so strong I was getting swished around too much, that made me feel sick as well :rolleyes:

This time around I will go with the flow & see what is most comfy!

Some great ideas thanks...

I received my New Active Birth book... your so right Kelly... it's awesome. Dh and I are going to practice some of the positions so that if I am becoming a raving lunotic, DH can pull me back in line with some suggestions of positions.

The Bath at my hospital, is just a normal houshold small bath, and it's in a small room down from the birth suite, and they also use it for some storage... not the nicest of rooms... so I will be hoping that I can manage in the shower... the midwives don't mind getting wet (well most of them) so if I am comfy in there that's where I will be staying...

I am just trying to picture what I will look like in labour... seems quite funny, the picture I get in my head!!!

Thanks again guys... it's a real help!

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My language when giving birth to Charlie was "colourful" to say the very least.

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Lol Lucy, I alternated between swearing my head off during contractions and then apologising profusely in between them for my potty mouth ;)

Yep we need more angry women getting in those baths and pools and sitting on the bloody plug and refusing to get out! They need to know this is what we want (if we do LOL). It's a good way to find a good birth centre or hospital - if they allow waterbirth, then what does it tell you about their philosophy of birth? :) They more likely trust it.

What a fantastic thread. I brought and have read the Active Birth book but I have been keeping my natural. active birth hopes to myself for fear of hidicule. I have only one friend / family who has had a mostly drug free, mostly pleasant birth. She is the one who recommended the Active Birth book! It makes such good sense and is definately my first option for a birth plan.

I am just so reassured to hear all these suggestions and stories of real women giving birth everywhich way but on their backs! My only concern is if I can let myself be so physically undignified. I mean on all fours, hanging from the shower rail etc I hope the primative urge is stronger than the 'sit like a lady' instructions I am sure we were all raised hearing!

Cee, it can be just as problematic as lying on your back to be anxious / terrified / inhibited as far as birth goes! Hormones take no mercy! If you are feeling that way, adrenaline is produced as part as the flight or fight response we have when feeling scared, anxious etc and stops oxytocin (labour hormone) production in it's tracks. Way back when in the very ancient of days, if a woman was birthing and was in danger, this was useful as her labour would stop and she could move to a safe place to continue birthing. However if this happens in hospital, you can't leave and find a safe place! It will be the people around you that will need to work hard to help you feel safe, which isn't something an Ob or midwife would do as they just aren't by your side the whole time during labour.

Clearly you need to find a place and carer who will respect your need for privacy and you will need some trust in your body - so you can surrender and let your body birth your baby. Have you been doing any good pre-natal education? Private classes are best, a birth attendant or private midwife, some relaxation, massage, pre-natal yoga is ideal for someone who needs help with relaxation - so many things! You have a great book to provide you with information on how to birth well, now all you need is to get your mind joining in with your body ;)

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My only concern is if I can let myself be so physically undignified

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Claire......I can totally relate to this. I always used to oke with my DH that my biggest fears in labour were doing a poo as I pushed, and I was always joking with my OB about how I would like to give birth with my undies ON please.

However, when it came down to it, the hormones must have REALLY kicked in. I was at home, with contractions about every 5 mins, when I realised I ought to go to the hospital. DH was all fired up, ready to go, and was astounded that I felt no need to get changed or put some face on.....(normally I would NEVER go out of the house without my face on or without a decent outfit on)....I looked down at my big floppy maternity moo, and realised that I couldn't give a rats. And from that point on, all my inhibitions left me..........

I apologised to the midwive the next day (after giving birth to Olivia) for nearly ripping her uniform off her, and for swearing etc, and she laughed and said "It is healthy to lose yourself in the birth".........
(I have since reverted to "type" and am again a lady with polite and gracious manners, but I know that when I give birth to #3 I shall be happy to squat, swear, let it all hang out......whatever it takes!! LOL!)

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Don't be afraid of losing your lady-likeness! As soon as bubby is out you regain all of your dignity again and you can be a lady all you like

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So true......you feel like a lady too, because the babymoon period in hospital is lovely.....hopefully your little bub will sleep a fair amount as they do when they are just a few days old, and all your meals are served to you, and it is so peaceful and nice.....when I was in after Charlie was born the midwives teased me about my nice music and my pampering beauty products and my tidy room......but it was bliss, because I was in my own little "deep bone contentment" state, just me and Charlie....all I had to think about was boob feeding him peacefully...........

I hear you with the all fours... I am wondering how I will go, as I am quite private with my body...

At my hospital they put a nice soft mat on the floor so I might use that to try the all fours, as at least when the door is opened, my a$$ wont be the first thing you see!!

I have already spoken to my OB about an active birth, which he and the hospital supports. Unfortunately I am a type 1 diabetic, which means I have had to accept that intervention might be the case (although OB and I are still trying for as little as possible intervention). It has made it difficult to really get into a mind set of an active natural birth and preparing to let go of all my inhibitions. The reality might be a schedule c-section at 38 weeks. My whole labour preparation is divided in two. The ideal natural birth where I let the hormones do the talking and the reality of been a diabetic.

I have had great control of my diabetes both immediately before pregnancy and throughtout (so-far). To date I have had a great pregnancy and baby XX is healthy. I have a good OB, Diabetic Midwife and Obstretric physician who are all supportive of me been a normal pregnant women until I prove to be a 'diabetic pregnant women'. His only hard and fast rule is that OB will not let me go over my due date (I understand and support this). I am a medical researcher by profession so have the skills to make myself very aware of the facts without the hype. This is both a blessing and a curse.

So cross you fingers that I remain a normal healthy pregnant women who goes into labour naturally between Nov 1 and 10 and gets so overcome with hormones she proudly hangs from the shower rail.

Good Luck Cee... I hope you get your wish... Just like I hpoe I get mine....

A 6-7 pounder, 5 hours labour, and a week night birth!

Sounds good Melissa. I will add your requests onto mine.:pray: :pray: