did you birth in the squating position?

KatelynEA90 · August 2011

My sister had her baby almost two months ago but this has kind of been bugging me so I figured I would get some feedback. She didn't get an epidural or have any pain meds but was given some pitocin. When it came time to deliver the baby, she was most comfortable in the squatting position but her doctor told her it was impossible to deliver that way and that she needed to lay on her back.(I was in the room.) I swear I read somewhere that lying on your back is just the easiest way for the doctors to deliver. So, my question is, how many of you delivered in the squatting position?

CTri17 · August 2011

yep I did

christinaramirez08 · August 2011

The doctor said it out of convenience for him. Out of all of the videos and literature I've read, squatting is the most natural position to give birth. Brazilian women do it all by themselves, completely unassisted. The baby even turns on it's own and then the mom pulls it out the rest of the way. It is amazing. I will not let my doctor dictate to me what position I need to be pushing in. You should do the same!!

asweeney07 · August 2011

this is why I'm going with a midwife. you're fighting gravity on your back. gravity helps you if you stand (or squat).

Temp76535187505890 · August 2011

I was free to birth however I felt necessary and chose to lay on my side. Some women prefer squatting, some prefer all fours, and even some on their backs. It's all about what feels right to you at the time, not what you hear or read or are told is right, wrong or otherwise.

forensicmama · August 2011

Wow. Yeah, it sounds like the doctor was saying that because it would be more convenient for him. My sister delivered squatting and I think that I'd love to try this time around as gravity helps bring the baby down.

wifeofadam · August 2011

I was squatting in the tub with my last baby.

But I will say that being on your back isn't all that bad. I actually preferred it with my second baby. It all has to do with the baby's position and how tired you are.

KatelynEA90 · August 2011

Thank you.

I didn't think it was quite right but I wanted to be sure before I end up telling my doctor to shove it when he wants me to lay on my back. My sister was miserable laboring on her back, luckily for her, she delivered in 3 pushes so she wasn't on her back for long for the delivery.

The hospital she was at was kind of weird, IMO. The minute she was admitted her nurse was like "Okay! Let's get pitocin and an epidural!" to which my sister told her no and she looked stunned. Hours later, a different nurse checked her and proceeded to say "you're doing great! I'll get you started on some pitocin!" my sister replied no and she looked confused.

middlemarch26 · August 2011

I used a "birthing bar" that they attached to the hospital bed, so I was able to squat but it was still convenient-ish for the doctor. I thought it was great and highly recommend! My hospital wasn't very natural-birth-friendly, so if they had one I would imagine most hospitals do.

iris427 · August 2011

With my first, I was pushing in a squatting position (with an epidural) and then my OB came in and had me get on my back. There was no reason except that it was easier for her. I hated being on my back. Hated it. Anyway I ended up with a c/s for failure to descend and I still think I maybe could have gotten her out if I had put my foot down and said I wanted to keep pushing in a squatting position.

With my VBAC I gave birth on my knees leaning over the side of the birth tub. So not squatting but still an upright position. I'm a big believer in listening to your body when it comes to labor and pushing.

asweeney07 · August 2011

starrynight62:
I used a "birthing bar" that they attached to the hospital bed, so I was able to squat but it was still convenient-ish for the doctor. I thought it was great and highly recommend! My hospital wasn't very natural-birth-friendly, so if they had one I would imagine most hospitals do.

Wow that sounds awesome, I'll have to look into that. My hospital thankfully has a birthing tub and the big ball things, but hey, give me options! I'll try anything to get the baby out as painlessly as possible (short of a needle in my back).

ridesbuttons · August 2011

I pushed most productively with my first squatting (with the aid of a birthing bar attached to the bed), but actually delivered on my back (last push or two). Doc asked me to lay back so she wouldn't drop the baby. An easy decision for me and the baby was most of the way out at that point.

My second was delivered with me mostly laying on my back/one hip. My choice.

middlemarch26 · August 2011

asweeney07:
starrynight62:
I used a "birthing bar" that they attached to the hospital bed, so I was able to squat but it was still convenient-ish for the doctor. I thought it was great and highly recommend! My hospital wasn't very natural-birth-friendly, so if they had one I would imagine most hospitals do.

Wow that sounds awesome, I'll have to look into that. My hospital thankfully has a birthing tub and the big ball things, but hey, give me options! I'll try anything to get the baby out as painlessly as possible (short of a needle in my back).

I think I was the first person at this hospital to use it, LOL. DD was crowning and the nurses were messing around trying to figure out how to attach it. It really was awesome because it gave you something to hang onto/leverage while pushing.

giamarie05 · August 2011

I just had a doctor tell me that it would be easier for me to deliver from a squatting position and followed it up by saying that I need to think about them and how uncomfortable it would be to have to catch the baby. I was shocked.

TheQuietGrrrl · August 2011

+adamwife+:
I was squatting in the tub with my last baby.
But I will say that being on your back isn't all that bad. I actually preferred it with my second baby. It all has to do with the baby's position and how tired you are.

This. It's not for everyone or every occasion, it should never have to be a default, but it has its place. I wouldn't dismiss it out of principle. I was beyond exhausted before pushing even started just from sleep deprivation. At least in between pushes I could collapse completely. No way in hell would I have had the energy to keep myself upright. Squatting wasn't really feeling effective and other positions were flat-out excruciating.

HSartteach · August 2011

When we were on the hospital tour for DS, I asked how far forward we could tilt the bed. They gave me a limit. It wasn't as far forward as I would have liked. I assume now it was for the convenience of the doctor.

LindseyJW · August 2011

KatelynEA90:
My sister had her baby almost two months ago but this has kind of been bugging me so I figured I would get some feedback. She didn't get an epidural or have any pain meds but was given some pitocin. When it came time to deliver the baby, she was most comfortable in the squatting position but her doctor told her it was impossible to deliver that way and that she needed to lay on her back.(I was in the room.) I swear I read somewhere that lying on your back is just the easiest way for the doctors to deliver. So, my question is, how many of you delivered in the squatting position?

see, this is why we must be educated going into birth. so sad that we must be, but clearly we must.

impossible? really? like, the doc seriously said that?????

i was most comfortable on my side or on my back during the birthing stage with my first (which ultimately ended in surgery). i was most comfortable in a semi-reclined position with my second, but ultimately leaned forward into a frog squat to birth her.

smilelari · August 2011

I did most of my pushing while squatting but the douche that delivered LO asked me to get on my back when crowning (she actually said "I'm not delivering in that position")

KatelynEA90 · August 2011

LindseyJW:
KatelynEA90:
My sister had her baby almost two months ago but this has kind of been bugging me so I figured I would get some feedback. She didn't get an epidural or have any pain meds but was given some pitocin. When it came time to deliver the baby, she was most comfortable in the squatting position but her doctor told her it was impossible to deliver that way and that she needed to lay on her back.(I was in the room.) I swear I read somewhere that lying on your back is just the easiest way for the doctors to deliver. So, my question is, how many of you delivered in the squatting position?

see, this is why we must be educated going into birth. so sad that we must be, but clearly we must.

impossible? really? like, the doc seriously said that?????

i was most comfortable on my side or on my back during the birthing stage with my first (which ultimately ended in surgery). i was most comfortable in a semi-reclined position with my second, but ultimately leaned forward into a frog squat to birth her.

Yes. She really said that. Her reasoning was that she wouldn't be able to get the shoulders out in that position.

stahlop · August 2011

I tried delivering on a birthing stool (which is basically a squatting position) but because my LO was posterior, it didn't really work. I ended up on my side (almost my back) just because that was the least painful position since I had major back labor going on. For what it's worth, the squatting position actually took a lot of pressure off of my back, it just wasn't conducive for birthing posterior. A normal birth, it's actually the best way. If you can find the video's of the Brazilian women giving birth while squatting, it's amazing.

roundtheworldgirl · August 2011

I didn't, but I didn't deliver lying on my back either (OUCH!) I delivered DD1 on all fours on my bed, leaning on a birth ball. I delivered DD2 in the semi-reclining Bradley position, with both knees pushed up to my chest.

emberlee3 · August 2011

No, I was lying on my side. That was most comfortable for me, and my doctor was fine with it.

Mrs.Handy · August 2011

I was too exhausted to even try it. I was most comfortable just lying on my back or side. DS was delivered at 6:12AM so I had been laboring and pushing all night long. Although I think my midwife would have been open to it. I might try it for the next. one.

aliciaroset · August 2011

that doc has it backwards.

squatting shortens the birth canal, in addition to using gravity to help move the baby down, so it's a very efficient laboring position. The only drawback to it, other than the fact that most westerners have 0 practice squatting and thus can't do it for long, is that it makes it tough on whoever is catching the baby.

Your back is pretty much the worst possible position to labor. I'm talking about laying down on your back. The most common laboring position, and a very effective one, is sitting leaning up against something so you're sitting almost upright with your knees pulled up by your shoulders.

When the previous poster was talking about being able to just trust doctors and what they tell us, this is exactly the kind of thing she needs to think about.

ILoveRunning · August 2011

iris427:
With my first, I was pushing in a squatting position (with an epidural) and then my OB came in and had me get on my back. There was no reason except that it was easier for her. I hated being on my back. Hated it. Anyway I ended up with a c/s for failure to descend and I still think I maybe could have gotten her out if I had put my foot down and said I wanted to keep pushing in a squatting position.

Iris, I know our birth stories are fairly similar, but I am surprised to hear that you also squatted with an epidural. I did for the first 40 minutes, but even with the epidural turned off my arms were doing 90% of the work to keep me up (I used a squatting bar) and I am not known for my upper body strength. We tried pushing on my side for the next hour and a half before I tried squatting once more. After I was done pushing but prior to the c/s (and getting the spinal) was the most painful hour of my life.

chicsub · August 2011

It's funny b/c I planned on doing anything but being on my back, but I ended up in kind of a sitting position and it was very comfortable. My doula kept on asking me to try something else, but I was just so comfortable and pushing didn't hurt at all and I was able to take a little snooze in between pushes. However, I was encouraged to push however felt best for me.

Mrs.Greeko · August 2011

I delivered my first at a hospital with an OB. I had spoken to my OB about it when I was pregnant and specifically asked if I would be allowed to push in any position. I was told yes. At the hospital they had me lay down and when I said my doctor told me I could push in any position they laughed and told me the only way my OB would deliver was if I was lying on my back. So I was in the typical hospital position with knees to chest. I had a third degree tear.

I asked my OB about it about 6 months later and asked if next time if things would be different or if I could expect the same. She basically told me that the only time she had delivered a baby in any other position was because the mother was too drugged out on meth or something and wouldn't listen to them to lay down. So basically I could expect the same again. I never went back to her.

My second I delivered sort of squatting in a birth tub at a birth center with a midwife. Way better experience for me. No tearing.

superned · August 2011

I was on my back, in a hospital. The nurses suggested it and at the time it seemed to work for me.

However, I ended up separating my pelvis (pubic symphysis diastasis), which was almost worse than labor. I was in constant pain for weeks after birth. I know it has to do with how I delivered DD (and that she was on the larger size - 8lbs, 8oz - and I'm petite).

If there is a next time, I will be using the squatting bar at the hospital, for sure.

katiewhompus · August 2011

My doctor offered to have me try squatting, much to the surprise of the L/D nurses as they had never attended a non-medicated birth, but at that point my body had no strength to support myself. I did change my feet/legs position several times as well as curling into a C which was not bad.

seethesmiles · August 2011

I delivered both of my LOs in the squatting position. It's definitely NOT impossible!

tokenhoser · August 2011

I delivered on all fours. With a doctor, in a hospital. She was cool with it.

CalinsBride · August 2011

I hope to labour in the squatting position. I actually wasn't sure about what position would be best to actually deliver in, I'll have to talk to my midwives about it. Last time I delivered on my back because my stupid epidural froze only my legs, so I felt all the pain, but couldn't get up. That was fun. I also wound up having a pretty bad episiotemy and a LOT of stitches

StacieJane · August 2011

KatelynEA90:
Thank you.
I didn't think it was quite right but I wanted to be sure before I end up telling my doctor to shove it when he wants me to lay on my back. My sister was miserable laboring on her back, luckily for her, she delivered in 3 pushes so she wasn't on her back for long for the delivery.
The hospital she was at was kind of weird, IMO. The minute she was admitted her nurse was like "Okay! Let's get pitocin and an epidural!" to which my sister told her no and she looked stunned. Hours later, a different nurse checked her and proceeded to say "you're doing great! I'll get you started on some pitocin!" my sister replied no and she looked confused.

Hope you're staying far away from this hospital and OB! I was at a hospital that was not very "natural birth friendly" and was still told that I could deliver in any position I wanted to (ended up on hands and knees).

Also, good for your sister! Standing up to that kind of pressure in labor is not easy.

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