Positions for labour

Birth positions

As your due date approaches, it’s natural to feel nervous about bringing your baby into the world. Taking time to consider all your choices for labour can help you feel more prepared and clear about your preferences long before any sign of a contraction. It’s also important to be aware of what might happen if your labour doesn’t go to plan and what to expect if you need that extra help.

During labour, there are certain positions that can make the birthing process easier. The most important thing is to make yourself as comfortable as possible and don't be afraid to experiment. Being upright, able to move around and free to change positions is better for you and your baby. As labour progresses, your little one is busy manoeuvring through the birth canal and it helps everyone if your body can respond to the changing sensations.

Standing

When labour starts, you'll probably feel a bit restless and like you want to be on the move. One of the benefits of standing up and walking around is that it helps widen your pelvis and manoeuvre your baby into the right position to make that big entrance. It encourages your contractions to become regular and stronger and some women find it's a good pain reliever. Standing can be very tiring but many women prefer it. You can lean on a bed or hard surface to take some of the weight off your legs.

By standing up you've obviously got gravity on your side. But one of the disadvantages is that you've got little control during delivery. It can also be quite awkward for your midwife to see what's going on down there but she'll probably be quite used to delivering whilst sitting on the floor.

If you do feel like standing all the way through labour, be prepared for achy legs and take full advantage of the physical support that your birth partner can offer you.

Squatting

Some women feel a natural urge to squat during labour. This position widens your pelvis, giving your baby more room to turn and move as well as giving you freedom to shift your weight around. And although your thighs might have been the bane of your life so far, in this instance they do a grand job of keeping your little one well aligned.

At certain stages, squatting can hinder the process by increasing the bend in the birth canal. But when it feels right to squat, gravity's natural pull works in your favour. And because your body weight is pressing down on your uterus, you should find it easier to push when the time comes.

If you've ever been to an aerobics class you'll know that squatting isn't the easiest position to maintain. It can put a lot of pressure on your knees and your back. There are ways around this though – you can use your birth partner to provide physical support or ask your midwife if a birthing stool is available.

Assisted delivery

If your baby needs a little extra help moving down the birth canal in the later stages of delivery, your midwife might suggest an assisted delivery using Ventouse or forceps.

There are various reasons for needing an assisted delivery. You might be too tired to push or your contractions may have become weaker. If you've been pushing for a while, your baby might be getting short of oxygen. An epidural can sometimes make it harder for you to direct your pushing, and can cause your muscles to relax, making it difficult for your baby’s head to turn the right way. Or your baby might be the wrong way round and in the breech position. For these reasons you may need a little help from your midwife.

If using a Ventouse, your midwife or doctor will place the suction cup on the top of your baby’s head in the birth canal. They will control the level of suction with a pump and as you push with your next contraction, they will pull on the cup to encourage your baby out. The Ventouse can be noisy and is usually only used three times to avoid harming your baby.

During a forceps delivery it is usually necessary for the doctor to perform a controlled cut to make more room for the baby’s head and avoid any further damage to your soft tissue. You may need anaesthetic because it can be painful. While you push with a contraction, the doctor will pull gently to guide your baby along. Again, after three tries your doctor will most likely recommend the next option which is usually a Caesarean section.

Whatever the reason for an assisted delivery, your midwife will explain what is happening and make sure you know exactly what's going on.

Caesarean section

A Caesarean section involves delivering your baby through an incision at the base of your bump. Unless you have a particular reason for having a planned Caesarean, it’s not likely to be part of your expectations for birth. However, for various reasons, some women do end up needing a C-section, so it’s best to know what it involves, just in case.

Most Caesareans are performed under regional anaesthetic to numb you from the waist down, either an epidural or a spinal block. This means you are awake as your baby is born so that you can start bonding at the earliest opportunity.

You’ll normally have a screen put up across your chest so that you can't see the operation itself. If your birth partner wants to see what's going on, that's fine, as long as you feel comfortable with it.

Your doctor will make the cut along the top of your bikini line, which will have to be shaved for the operation. With another incision through your uterus, they should be able to simply lift your baby out. Although the actual delivery of your baby only takes around 5 minutes, the entire length of the procedure is usually around 45 – 60 minutes.

Your birth partner will be able to hold your baby while you are being stitched up. This takes roughly half an hour, after which you should be able to start breastfeeding. It will probably be more comfortable to lie on your side but if you find it awkward, ask your midwife for help.

There are many options to consider for labour and birth. If you’d like to talk any of them through with our experienced mums or midwife, give them a call on 0800 996 1000. You can also reach them via Live Chat from 8am to 8pm for a one-to-one online conversation.