What position did you push in?

BabyCakes3

I was forced to lay on my back while pushing with DD. I got to the hospital at 9cm & had it under control until pushing. My body had a HUGE urge to sit up more & it felt so wrong not doing that.

So, I plan on talking to my dr about this tomorrow. I want to try squatting or a birthing stool (do they have these?). I'm worried about her reaction.

OregonMama

I pushed on my knees, back to the midwife, hugging the bed that was at an incline.

BabyCakes3

OregonMama:

I pushed on my knees, back to the midwife, hugging the bed that was at an incline.

So like backward squatting leaning on the bed. I like that. But I pooped a lot while pushing with DD. That seems really nasty in that position

monkeyqueen

I used the squatting bar with my first two.  With my last, I sat up and pushed.   The hospital where I go does not do the laying on the back thing - they prop the bed up and put supports behind you so that you are completely up right - they also have the squatting bar, and accomodate pushing in whichever position feels right.... I didn't know people actually still laid on their backs until reading on this forums.

randalin

I was in the water, but pushed on my hands and knees and then on the birthing stool and then on my back floating with my partner supporting me from behind. That was one of the great benefits of being in the water - it was really easy to change and try different positions.

yeshuahamasshiah

I pushed for about 20 minutes total in water, squatting.

robyn2201

I pushed mostly on my back at a good incline for most of it. Towards the end my dr asked for me to lay back more which I agreed to. I didn't feel like it made it harder but who knows. Next time around I think I might like to try squatting. Total pushing time was about an hour, 30 min of good actual pushing once I got the hang of things.

marriedinaugust

2 hours of pushing while squatting (LO was sunny side up so we were working on turning him).  I leaned back and they popped my water and he was out within a couple of minutes.

~adamwife~

On my back both times because I was in a hospital and that's how they wanted me.  With #2 I started pushing while sitting on the toilet and the nurses made me move up into the bed.  I was so mad, because I could have just pushed him out right there and it would have been a whole lot easier.

OregonMama

BabyCakes3:

OregonMama:

I pushed on my knees, back to the midwife, hugging the bed that was at an incline.

So like backward squatting leaning on the bed. I like that. But I pooped a lot while pushing with DD. That seems really nasty in that position

Yup, just like that.  I actually pooped a lot I guess.  DH said it didn't matter, I had to get her out and my body just had to do what it had to do.  Thank goodness he was so easy going about it.  I couldn't even think about it at the time though, I just knew it was the only position that worked for me.

MrsTiara

I was laying on my side with one leg propped up on the assistant midwife's shoulder.  It worked for me only because I was so exhausted that I slept between pushing contractions.  This time I hope to actually make it into the water and squat.

Jennicap

My midwife would have allowed me to birth in any postion, even standing by the bed BUT I felt most productive on my back with my legs on the birthing bar and using the handles to push. Now I wish i had squatted but my legs were tired and I didn't want to push like that anymore.

ridesbuttons

DS#1: pushed on my back, then my left side, then my right side, then squatted

DS#2: I was slightly rolled from my back to my right hip/side

*speedracer*

i really worried about this, i asked my dr and the hospital and they said i could push in any position i wanted. 

however, my labor went REALLY fast and i had the baby laying down in the triage gurney.  i don't think i could have held myself up in another position if i'd had time.  laying down didn't feel wrong or uncomfortable to me...but then again i really didn't have to push, he just kinda came out on his own!

missfire

I was mostly floating in the water -- I don't remember my feet ever against the tub. I didn't have to push much, though, because DS came out so fast. It felt like being weightless in the water took all the resistance away from him.

Jovive

We're going to have to birth in a hospital (MW just became legal and insurance in our state hasn't really caught up) so we're looking for a place that will specifically allow us to birth in different positions. On the tours, ask the nurse what positions the bed supports... it will help you make a decision if you are going to a hospital. Also have that birth plan handy and give it out to every shift.

A key question I've found useful is "how do you approach natural birthing". Ask the nurses specifically and watch their reaction. At the first hospital,  I got a "yeah, like whatever you want" kinda pose that was really noncommittal. At the next I got, "Oh yes, we have a whole group of nurses here who are doula trained who love natural births. We even have some whirlpool tubs, you can't deliver in it, unfortunately, but you can labor in it.". She gave me a happy smile. She also offered to help us find a natural friendly OB that attended that hospital. We have a few more places to tour, but I think we'll be going there.

AutumnBride929

Hands and knees

carpozi

Don't know yet how I will push, my advice is don't be "forced" to do anything.  YOU are the patient, YOU are giving birth.  Who cares what's convenient to the dr!  Tell them "no."  What are they going to do, kick you out? 

Your pelvis opens 30% less when you're flat on your back than it can when you are in other positions and it can usually cause more pain and discomfort that way, not to mention be difficult for the head to come out if it's at all twisted a little bit.  Laying on your back is the most inefficient way of getting the baby out (although some people really find this way comfortable and choose to do it on their own.) 

MrsWindyCity

On my back.  If you would have asked me before, I would have never, ever in a million years thought this would be the case.  But, I tried it (figuring I could always move), was comfortable enough, and DS came so quickly, I never even changed positions.

brittm87

I was squatting whith my back to my midwife until my legs started shaking so bad i moved to my knees.. I tried first on my back and told my midwife no way! It felt best when i was in an upright position.

Fun2Dream

I used a birth bar, kind of semi-squatting.  It was really uncomfortable for me, and I hope to birth in water or on a birth stool this time, if not on all fours or some other suggestion my MW has for me.

AshasaurusRex

I pushed in every position known to man, but ended up delivering on my back because of my low pubic bone. I hated it and do not recommend delivering flat on your back! I couldn't see my baby being born, and even though they placed him directly onto my chest I wasn't really holding him, he was just lying on me. I told my MW this time even if I have to deliver on my back again I wanted to sit up after the baby crowns so I can see what's going on!

Temp34783000004059

I had a homebirth, and was in the tub on my knees, leaning over the edge and holding my husband's arms, when my body started to push. I stayed like that for a while, but had to turn over and sit up on my butt because he had a nuchal hand and a big head (nuchal hand = hand by face), so they needed me in a position that was easier to open my legs more and easier for my MW to see.

KLDanford@gmail.com

To you ladies who pushed (and/or delivered) in water - did you poop in the water? 

I don't mean to be gross, but I'm just wondering what the protocol is for water births in that situation cuz i know a lot of people do poop during labor...

SissyKate21

Katediggs:

I had a homebirth, and was in the tub on my knees, leaning over the edge...

This is how I did it.

KLDanford@gmail.com:

To you ladies who pushed (and/or delivered) in water - did you poop in the water? 

I don't mean to be gross, but I'm just wondering what the protocol is for water births in that situation cuz i know a lot of people do poop during labor...

I personally did not poop in the water. But they had a net on-hand for scooping it out if I had. 

Cilley

lying on my side because I refused to be on my back due to too much pain during pregnancy.

BlueRidgeMama

My doctor would have let me push in any position, but I wanted to try jut doing it on my back so that he could massage my perineum to prevent tears (I had torn with DD). The bed was propped up quite high so it wasn't like I had no leverage. I only had to push like 3 or 4 pushes before DS was out. If I'd had trouble I would have moved to squatting and then to all fours. I also pushed DD out quickly while on my back.

NewzieMom

All three I pushed while in my back and had them with in 5 mins.

lindsayll

My MW asked me when it was time what position I wanted, and I couldn't answer.  So she had me roll to my side.  It worked.  15 minutes and done.

coey03

I was sort of on my side and diagonal in the bed. DS said that Lo was born on the bed because of the awkward position. I'm just thankful that my midwife was so flexible!