XP- low intervention mommas, birthing positions

thetwistedwillow · September 2009

I wanted to cross post from the low-intervention post. And this isn't just for low-intervention mommas either. What birthing position have you thought about trying or doing while during the pushing stage of labor?

I personally hope to try squatting. Everything I have read about it has shown to be very beneficial, opens the pelvis nice and wide and prevents/reduces tearing.

So what about you?

Bonzer · September 2009

the one that gets my baby out safely

JillBMama · September 2009

squatting and hands & knees both seem appealing. I use the work appealing very loosely.

thetwistedwillow · September 2009

Bonzer:
the one that gets my baby out safely

And which position would that be? Because pushing on your back/semi-sitting is NOT the one that gets baby out the most safely.

Bonzer · September 2009

no really, whichever one gets my baby out the safest. I don't know how I'll feel if and when I go into labor and maybe I'll want to crouch, squat, stand, lay down, be on all 4's I have NO CLUE.

As long as it's not a dangerous position, I'm just going to go with it at the time. I honestly haven't thought about it until this post! LOL!

thetwistedwillow · September 2009

Bonzer:
no really, whichever one gets my baby out the safest. I don't know how I'll feel if and when I go into labor and maybe I'll want to crouch, squat, stand, lay down, be on all 4's I have NO CLUE.
As long as it's not a dangerous position, I'm just going to go with it at the time. I honestly haven't thought about it until this post! LOL!

Yeah I didn't think about it until this pregnancy. Some doctors/midwives do have you try different pushing positions (unless you have an epi and are on your back on the bed). I think it's great you're willing to try different positions, too.

divamommy4 · September 2009

when I did my last child naturally, I did most of my labor at home, until 8cm and I did a lot of sqautting, being on all fours and rocking back and forth and leaning over the couch. Wanted to ad too, with my last child she wouldn't come out pushing sitting up in the bed so I actually pushed her out laying on my left side.

joesbridezilla · September 2009

I had my last baby in three pushes so I really didn't have a chance to try any positions to push in. But I did stay home as long as possible for labor and sat on my exercise ball for most of labor until it got pretty close to going into the hospital (I swear this helped move labor along)and then I faced my husband with my arms around his neck like we were hugging only I was putting my weight on him and then rocked side to side through each contraction. When we got to the hospital (only about a ten minute drive) I only had time to check in, be checked and the doctor told me it was time to push.....

I think this time I will try whatever feels comfortable, although I think you have to be a little assertive about this if you don't have a midwife or doula because no one asked me what position I wanted to push in they just told me to push on my next contraction.I think they are really used to epiural deliveries nowadays and that is why they don't ask.

thetwistedwillow · September 2009

joesbridezilla:
I think they are really used to epiural deliveries nowadays and that is why they don't ask.

I agree! I also believe that the lithotomy position offers the OB the best view of the baby coming out and that's what they prefer. I wouldn't mind giving birth on all fours, on the bed or side-laying as another commenter mentioned. We'll have to see how it goes!

emmyloustu · September 2009

I hope to have a water birth, but I will try whatever feels good at the time - squatting, all 4s, birthing stool, sitting on the toilet, laying on my side - some combination of all of the above...

lovesazzie · September 2009

I did hands & knees at first but delivered in a side lying position. Never thought I'd do side lying but it was awesome.

NicksKysmett · September 2009

For me rolling around on the birthing ball worked the best. I just put my head and arms on a chair or a bed during most of the labor. It's nice to have someone put a cool washcloth on your forehead too. I tried the squat bar during transition labor, but was too ancy to use it. I think for pushing it could be very beneficial though. I think a lot depend on what type of labor you are having. Baby #2 came too quickly to get into a recommended position. They checked me and I was pushing.

Probably TMI, but other than birthing positions my other little recommendation to you would be to try to remember that really only you know when to push, for how long, and how hard. Listening to your body will probably prevent tearing. With my first baby I had an epi and couldn?t feel a thing. I pushed when they told me and totally tore. With the next baby I pushed when I felt like it and had no tearing at all. She was a much, much larger baby.

NicksKysmett · September 2009

sazzie:
I did hands & knees at first but delivered in a side lying position. Never thought I'd do side lying but it was awesome.

I might totally have to try that this time around.

userdeleted · September 2009

I'm willing to try anything. My OBs/midwives are known for being really open to all kinds of positions, so I think we'll just see what happens when we get there!

thetwistedwillow · September 2009

NicksKysmett:

Probably TMI, but other than birthing positions my other little recommendation to you would be to try to remember that really only you know when to push, for how long, and how hard. Listening to your body will probably prevent tearing.

This is on my birth plan- that I wish to do mother-directed position as opposed to holding my breath for a count of ten. Hopefully they respect that and aren't shouting 1-10 in my ear.

smilelari · September 2009

Seems like squatting or hands and knees is probably best. We'll see how I feel. Definitely nothing that involves sitting on my tailbone. I've seen a few birth videos where mom was upright on her knees - that would require a little less energy than squatting

ClaireBennett · September 2009

I'm thinking I'll try squatting. It feels good even now to stretch that way. I think the labor ball will help a lot until it's time to actually push. We shall see

Reagan's Mommy · September 2009

I'm posting here super late, but just wanted to add for anyone looking here for ideas.....

One thing I read recently about being on all fours to give birth: if you want to touch/hold/help birth the baby, it's hard to do that in this position because you need your hands to support your weight. So, you might use this until just before the actual birth, then switch to something where your hands are free to reach down and grab your baby (if that's what you want to do).

Carry on. :-)

mcgee · September 2009

I am willing to try anything but hands and knees. Anytime I get on my hands and knees lately, I get sharp sciatic nerve pain shooting down my left hip and butt cheek, and my lower back kills me.

BakerMommy · September 2009

As soon as they said "hands and knees has the lowest instance of tearing" it moved to the top of my list!

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