Squatting

NLJ82 · July 2014

As far as a birthing "plan" goes, I don't really have one and I'm aware that whatever I do have in mind can change at any minute but I'm considering squatting which...being naïve...I didn't even know was an option lol.

Has anyone done this before or have pros/cons for it? In a parenting class H & I took we were told that you just do it wherever you want within the room and that it can add 1-2cm...and that sounds fabulous ;-)

missnacholover · July 2014

I have a friend who gave birth while squatting. She said it was very comfortable!

NLJ82 · July 2014

Forgot to ask....is this something you can do with an epi?

missnacholover · July 2014

NLJ82 said:

Forgot to ask....is this something you can do with an epi?

Not sure. The friend I referenced above did not have an epi.

mb314 · July 2014

Having an epi really limits your labor and pushing positions. I thought you couldn't squat and have an epi, but it may depend upon your hospital and OB/MW. Without having feelings in your legs, someone would have to really support you in the position, and it would be hard.

I had prepared to squat as my pushing position. I squatted daily during pregnancy to get my body used to it. In the end, though, I didn't feel like squatting when it came time to push. I ended up in bed, with the back of the bed pushed all the way up. Because I only pushed for about 20 to 30 minutes, I didn't need to switch positions.

There are a lot of unknowns in your labor, so the best thing to do is to have an arsenal of positions and techniques available to find the one that is right for you at the time. Squatting can be a great way to birth a baby, but there are a lot of other positions too that may be better for you in the moment. I would talk to your OB/MW about what they typically allow for positions/movement if you have an epi, and then also research the different birthing positions that may work for you with or without an epi.

NLJ82 · July 2014

Becks517 OH LAWD! Excellent point

rahkitt · July 2014

Becks517 said:

So...this doesn't really look comfortable to me, not that any part of labor is comfortable, but I also feel like I would be much more likely to have a BM in that position...

That's the whole point of labor. Pushing to poop is the same as pushing a baby out. It's probably going to happen, so best get used to it now.

I squatted with a bar and then gave birth on a birth stool with my first birth, but I got a second degree tear. The downside of squatting is that it can give your perineum less time to stretch. I would personally only recommend squatting is other positions aren't working. My second birth I was side lying and it was much more comfortable and it only took 2 little pushes (that probably had more to do with how fast I give birth and not so much to do with position). The good thing was that I didn't tear even though he came out so fast and had his hand by his face.

aodom52309 · July 2014

I'm an L&D nurse so I've seen deliveries in all different positions. Squatting works well because it helps with the natural sensation you will be feeling anyways and could potentially help you push more effectively. It may be difficult to squat if you have an epidural depending on how dense/heavy the epidural is and in order to squat you will need to beat some weight. As far as having a BM it doesn't matter what position you're in, if there is stool in your lower bowel it will come out. As gross as it sounds if you have a BM it lets the nurse know you're pushing effectively. Good luck with your decision.

momtojad · July 2014

I gave birth sort of like this. It opens up the birth canal and assist with gravity to help the baby down versus laying on your back where your baby needs to go up to get out over your tail bone. I would say an epidural would rle this out, usually you are confined to a bed with that.

Sarahbeth612 · July 2014

lissydee said:

Becks517 said:

So...this doesn't really look comfortable to me, not that any part of labor is comfortable, but I also feel like I would be much more likely to have a BM in that position...

you are likely to have a BM with pushing in ANY position. Seriously, I know its a fear of many women, but its actually a good sign if you do. It means you are pushing in the right spot. And FWIW, I never tell patients when they do poop. I clean it up right away so that they do not notice.

at the risk of TMI, I pooped with my first. No biggie.

Seriously. I was so scared of this with my first, along with tearing, that I didn't push as effectively as I could have. Also at the risk of tmi, our bodies are made to prepare for labor and early signs will be using the bathroom a lot to rid your system! I felt like I had a stomach virus along with contractions the day before she was born.

This is also naive, but I didn't know hospitals would allow any other birthing position than on your back with feet in stirrups. So glad I get a second chance at this

momtojad · July 2014

Becks517 said:

So...this doesn't really look comfortable to me, not that any part of labor is comfortable, but I also feel like I would be much more likely to have a BM in that position...

Lol you will most likely poop and you may have no idea. I was on my hands and knees to start and I could feel them wiping it away but no one is going to say anything or make you feel embarrassed. In that moment it really doesn't matter either.

MrsDL · July 2014

Becks517 said:

So...this doesn't really look comfortable to me, not that any part of labor is comfortable, but I also feel like I would be much more likely to have a BM in that position...

Ditto pp - it's likely in any position. FTR - I starting worrying about this issue months before labor - "OMG - what if" - veteran moms laughed at me and told me it would be the last thing on my mind. They were right - when the time came, it didn't even cross my mind. I'm not sure if I did or not, and I didn't care. It's gross but with all the stuff that has to come-out, some poop won't phase you (or anyone else).

PineApple85 · July 2014

lissydee said:

it opens up your pelvis by about 15%. It can definitely help get out a suspected larger baby, or one who is posterior. And lets face it, using gravity when pushing is going to only help.

This. I intended to push in a squat with DS but was ultimately too tired when push came to shove (he he :P). I know a woman who delivered in a squat and she said that it's "more intense".

As far as pooping, I'm pretty sure I did but they didn't tell me and I didn't ask. It's normal.

There are various positions for pushing. Look into all of them and ask your OB/MW how they are comfortable catching. Some old school OBs are only comfortable with you on your back, feet in stirrups. They each have their own benefits for different scenarios.

mamatohne · July 2014

NLJ82 said:
Forgot to ask....is this something you can do with an epi?

No once you have an epidural you are required to stay in bed, lying down.

wildflower75 · July 2014

I know someone who squatted and they loved it.
I wanted to squat and use a medicine ball during labor but it didn't work out because they put me on cervidil as soon as I was admitted and I also needed to be hooked up to an IV for antibiotics (group B strep) and monitors were attached to me to track the baby's heart rate (which is actually good because it took a dive at one point, which was scary for about 10 mins).

mamatohne · July 2014

lissydee said:

tarynleann said:

NLJ82 said:
Forgot to ask....is this something you can do with an epi?
No once you have an epidural you are required to stay in bed, lying down.

not true! again depends on how dense the epidural. Trust me, I get my patients in all sorts of positions (within reason) when pushing. The stool, the bar (not squatting, usually propping up their feet while semi fowlers or lower, or while on their sides), hands and knees over the back of the bed (again, depending on how dense the epidural is). A good labor nurse will help you into whatever position they can to help get that baby out. Keeping you in one position while pushing is just setting yourself up for trouble.

Maybe it depends on the hospital. They will not let you leave you bed, at the hospital my sister had her babies at, once you have an epidural. No birthing tub either. I had a scheduled c section so I don't know from personal experience.

ShelleyElla22 · July 2014

My hospital won't let you get out of bed at all once you have an epi. I have had one birth with an epi and one without. I stayed on my back for both (with DH and a nurse pushing my legs back pretty much behind my head, lol)

IMO I don't think I could have made it into a squatting position once it was time to push due to the pain. I could barely roll over

TMI but I also pooped both times...completely unavoidable and not something to stress about!

NLJ82 · July 2014

ShelleyElla22 which did you prefer? I'm sure not feeling the pain was awesome but am curious about how the experiences differed.

missnacholover · July 2014

ssstephanie214 · July 2014

I would really rather have gravity help me. My hospital also says once you get the epidural you're limited to lying down. I am really torn (ugh tearing, torn) about what to do.

Some days I feel like I can take the pain, though i have no idea what it will really be like. My number 1 fear is a bad tear that I have to take care of in addition to regular recovery.

lil_shocker · July 2014

Look at it this way, if you poop during labor, your next poop won't be for a while after. Gives you some time to start healing/pain meds to start working.

Seriously though, I was so scared of the first poop after birth. I didn't give a rats behind about pooping during. But I was so worried about it hurting, especially since I was in such pain from breaking my tailbone.

phdprocrastinator · July 2014

I had an epi and didn't end up on a squatting stool, but they removed (? I can't really remember how this worked) the lower portion of my bed and brought in the bar pictured above. I was able to hold on to the bar and push. We also played tug of war to get the same action going.

DD was posterior though, and I ended up with a vacuum delivery and 2nd degree episiotomy after 4 hours of pushing.

phdprocrastinator · July 2014

Wait... I just realized my final sentence could be scary to FTMs!

What's good to know is that the first 3.5 hours of pushing were really a breeze! I didn't realize it had been that long! And the episiotomy didn't hurt at all at the time and I barely noticed it while healing.

carcrashheart · July 2014

Labor tears us up. Even minor tears are going to cause recovery. For weeks I walked carefully, sat on blankets, used my sitz bath, was afraid to wipe (I patted and used the spray bottle), and generally felt like my lady bits were torn to shreds. And all I had was a minor tear. And as far as I know, there's no real recovery difference for major tears, except more pain. We all get sewn up and sent off to heal. Most won't have complications, but it's always possible.

I couldn't have squatted, but that was from weakness, not the epi. My epi wasn't awesome. I don't know if I pooped. They broke my water so I could feel the leaking the entire time and I know they kept wiping that up when it was in excess.

I intend on learning how to make my own diaper relief thing that the nurses make in L&D!!

Ineedmorecoffee · July 2014

I didn't have any drugs with my son, and was told by everyone that the worst way to give birth is on your back. But, strangely enough when I was pushing, all I wanted to do was lay on my back, so thats how I did it. I am a big fan of just doing whatever your body tells you to do in that moment, so I am not planning anything this time.

ShelleyElla22 · July 2014

@NLJ82 I have been debating that question myself

My first L&D lasted 26 hours (I was induced via catheter). My epi was fabulous at first...and then wore off some 1-2 hours before I started pushing (they gave me some sort of booster meds in my IV to help me through). I also spiked a fever and ended up puking on DH. I pushed for 45 minutes and DS came out not breathing with a falling heart rate (which seriously freaked us out but he was completely fine!).

My second L&D lasted 16 hours (I was induced via the pill they place on your cervix and pitocin). The dr on call refused to give me an epi until I hit a certain threshold of progress. I ended up dilating from 4 cm to 10 cm in 20 minutes so was unable to get the epi. The pain was horrifying (I was literally on my side clinging to the bed rail) and had to be physically rolled over by the nurse. I only pushed for maybe 10 minutes though and DS2 had no issues.

Here are the main reasons I might try for no epi this time:

-recovery after was WAY easier and quicker with no epi

-DS2 had a much better latch and was breastfeeding within minutes after birth (DS1 had a lot more issues)

-everything seemed to go faster once I was pushing...probably because I had a better sense of what my body needed to do

ColtiersMom · July 2014

I'm a nurse and have seen a woman do it but it wasn't pretty. She was actually leaned over the bed a little bit squatting and the baby just fell out into the dr.'s hands. I would squat during labor but not delivery, personal choice though.

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