Active birth positions for each stage of labour to help you have a better birth.
Posted: 26 October 2010
by Anne Richley, midwife
We all want a quicker, easier birth. And the great news is that being in upright positions and moving around during labour can really help. Here are positions for each stage of your labour, and the benefits they can bring you. And don’t worry if you need to have continual monitoring of your baby; there’s no reason you can’t adopt any of these positions close to the machine.
First stage of labour
There are huge advantages to lying flat during the first stage of labour. If you’re in an upright position, your baby’s head puts pressure on your cervix, helping it to dilate, and it encourages him to move lower into your pelvis.
It can also help your baby to rotate into the best position for birth– particularly if you can lean forward with the contraction.
Position to try: Using a chair
Sit facing the back of a chair with a pillow in front of you, leaning forward.
Benefits:
- Allows access to your back so your midwife or partner can massage you.
- You can use gas and airwithout feeling too ‘wobbly’.
- Opens your pelvis, encouraging your baby to move down.
Position to try: Stand and lean
Put your arms around your birth partnerand lean forward. If you don’t want to be touched during a contraction, lean over a work surface or bed on to a pile of pillows.
Benefits:
- Encourages your baby into a good position, particularly good if your baby
is lying ‘back to back’ (ie, with his back against your back).
- Allows access to your back so your midwife or partner can massage you.
- Gravity may help labour progress.
- You may be able to use this position with a mobile epidural.
Position to try: Birthing ball
Sit on a birthing ball with your knees open, or lean over the ball with your knees on the floor. You may find you instinctively rock your pelvis with the contraction, encouraging your baby to move lower.
Benefits:
- Opens your pelvis, encouraging your baby to move down.
- Provides support while enabling you to move your pelvis.
- Allows access to your back so your midwife or partner can massage you.
Mums’ stories
“It felt quite intimate!”
“I found sitting on a chair much more comfortable than the bed. My husband sat in front of me, stroking my hair and wiping my neck with a cold flannel. It felt more intimate sitting together – I didn’t feel like I was on display!”
Christine, 32, mum to TJ, 4 months
“Rocking was the answer”
“The ball kept me active, bouncing gently between contractions and rocking with them. My midwife said getting a baby through the pelvis is like getting a table through a door – it needs to be rocked from side to side!”
Shulah, 26, mum to Nik, 6 weeks
