Positions You Should Be Birthing In (Part 2)

With my last post, I had a couple people commenting about positions I left out. I should have put the intent to continue the list of positions in a second post at the top of my post, instead of at the end. The other day I left off at Squatting, and I plan to pick back up with Side lying today.

To check out the first post of birthing positions, check the link out.

Side-Lying

Pros :

• The side lying position helps to increase the oxygen to the baby.
• It is also a great position for resting.
• It is a position in which you can use an epidural with.
• Side-lying can be very helpful in mothers who have increased blood pressure.
• It can help to make your contractions much more effective.
• The position offers good access to the perineus
• It lowers your change of tearing or needing an episiotomy.
• Easier to relax between contractions during the second stage of labor.
• Your partner can assist in your birth experience by holding your legs or supporting your legs.

Cons :

• It may be hard for your health-care provider to access fetal heart tones.
• You have feel too passive to push while in this position.
• You will have no help from gravity.
• If you do not have anyone to help by holding your legs, you will have to support them on your own.

Leaning or Kneeling Forward with Support :

Pros :

• This position helps to shift the baby if needed.
• Helps to use gravity.
• Less strain on your arms, and wrists by supporting yourself.
• A birth ball often helps in this position.
• Contractions are often less painful, but more helpful and productive in your labor.
• Helps greatly if you are experiencing back labor. (Believe me, I know!  I had it with my second child)
• Baby will be well aligned with your pelvis.
• Position is more restful than standing positions.
• Provides less strain for your arms and wrists.
• Easier for your partner to help relieve back pain, and help to support.

Cons :

• May be hard for your health-care provider to help with the birth.

Knees to Chest :

Pros :

• This position is helpful to those experiencing back labor.
• Helps to assist with the rotation of the baby, if it is needed.
• Helps to take the pressure off of hemorroids.
• Can be helpful if fetal heart tones are low.
• Good delivery position for a large baby.
• A great position to help preventing tearing or an episiotomy.

Cons :

• Hard for your support team to maintain eye contact with you in this position.
• This position may make it hard for you do see what is going on yourself.

The above video, provided by Gurgle shows why and how some of these positions are helpful to laboring mothers. Getting off of your back is very important during labor.

To look back on my childbirth education Journey thus far check out these posts :

My Journey to Becoming a Certified Childbirth Educator
Passion For Birth Training
Holy Expensive Books
Working on my Journey into Childbirth Education
Labor Day!  The Stages of Labor
Lamaze Isn’t Just About Breathing
Positions You Should be Birthing In

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