To rock your labor in these positions, you will need an open mind, sense of humor and a little flexibility. Don’t wait until crunch time to check these out!
Let’s face it; LABOR is hard work and requires creativity and instinct to help move the process along. Giving birth is not a sedentary sport. Active involvement can lessen your birth time, reduce pain, and decrease the need for medications. Overall, satisfaction with the birthing process comes from freedom of movement and allowing your body to do what comes naturally.
Contrary to images you may have seen in movies or books, the lithotomy (laying on your back with feet in stirrups) position is not the ideal choice for women. However, many factors can influence the mother’s position decision, including setting, mother’s choice & comfort, caregiver preference, or medical intervention. For a healthy mother & baby choosing to have an unmedicated birth, no position is off-limits. Experiment and rehearse what works for you.
Checklist to Rock Your Labor
Create an environment conducive to allow versatility for greatest achievement. Don’t skimp on preparations for an advantageous experience. Start with these tips and add what you personally enjoy for comfort.
- partner
- doula
- open space; free of debris that may get in your way
- environment settings; bright, dim, warm, cool, quiet, busy, etc.
- pillows
- bed
- rocking chair
- birth ball
- tub, shower
- towels, sheets
- birth stool
- squat bar
- music
- essential oils
Positions to Rock Your Labor
1. The Squat
Birth stool, toilet, bed bar, wall bar, and supported with a partner are all optimal choices. Practice before your due date to get familiar with what feels right for you and build your quads to avoid fatigue. Ideally, your heels would be propped up with something whenever you assume this position if you can’t put them on the floor.
Benefits
- Gives good pelvic alignment
- Helps baby use gravity and descent
- Better rotation
- Can provide 10% more room for baby to move out
- Less work for pushing
- Gives best fetal circulation
- Increases urge to push
- Takes pressure off the tailbone
- Decrease need for episiotomy, forceps or vacuum
Drawbacks
- Fatigue
- Need a reliable partner when using a supported squat
- Some studies suggest excessive blood loss for some mothers
2. Side-Lying
It’s best to stay upright as much as possible, but sometimes relaxation does the trick after working so hard. Try not to lay flat; use the incline position for better gain. To utilize this effectively, place props all around you and between your knees. Take a deep breath and let everything else genuinely support you.
Benefits
- Rest
- Comfort
- Helps baby rotate when needed
- Great fetal circulation
- Balances moms blood pressure
- Good for a medicated birth
- Takes pressure of tailbone
Drawbacks
- Can slow labor if left side-lying too long
- Pushing in this position can be awkward but sometimes useful for a baby finding himself in a challenging place.
3. Standing, Leaning, Walking, Lunging, Stair Walking
Typically, when the mother uses movement, she feels productive throughout labor. Since walking comes naturally to her, and the baby is used to being “rocked,” this exercise can be the most beneficial. Intermittently try stairs, lunging, leaning, and standing still.
Benefits
- Helps labor progress
- Keeps optimal pelvic alignment
- Aids baby with gravity
- Gives baby a better chance to correct a poor position
- Increases strength of contractions
- Decreases pain
Drawbacks
- Fatigue
- Usually cannot do too much with a medicated birth
4. Hands and Knees, Kneeling, Asymmetrical Kneeling
You can do this on any safe surface that gives a little cushion for comfort. Use pillows or blankets on the floor if you find yourself there. Be sure to have a support person around to help you up.
Benefits
- Takes pressure off the tailbone
- Helps baby rotate
- Better fetal circulation
- Increased oxygen
- Decreases need for episiotomy, forceps or vacuum
Drawbacks
- Fatigue
- Sore knees
- Sore arms
5. Sitting, Reclining
The resting position with gravity still on your side. Using this option periodically throughout labor and pushing can aid you in getting a resurgence of energy. There is nothing wrong with taking occasional breaks. Listen to your body.
- Increase blood pressure
- Easy monitoring
- Less chance of tearing
Drawbacks
- Can slow labor when resting too long
You’ve Got This!
If labor wakes you in the middle of the night, and you are a low risk, normal, healthy woman- try to stay resting or sleeping as much as possible. Use your circadian rhythm to guide you as to when to take action or not. Alternating between resting positions and active movement throughout the labor and birth process can expedite your experience.
Take time during pregnancy to practice getting into these positions with and without props and a partner. If you make an effort now to perfect these -sometimes awkward- positions, they will become instinctive rather than stressful. There is no right or wrong way to give birth, listen to your body. You can rock your labor in these positions and any that feel best for you.
Happy Parenting-to-be!
