Birth moves – birthing positions
You are here: Startseite / For parents / Birth /
Lying, squatting or standing upright? Labour and birthing positions help the baby to find the easiest way into the world:
Midwives know the best position for every stage of labour.
Children turn your life upside-down and – before birth – themselves as well: 94 out of 100 babies turn around in pregnancy to lie head-first – the perfect pole position for vaginal birth.
The few, who prefer sitting in mommy’s belly, challenge their parents to get comprehensive consultation and make a decision: to try a vaginal birth or plan a c-section. Only every 100th child lies horizontally in the uterus – a situation where a c-section is the preferred mode of delivery.
Breech presentation? Ask your midwife about the options for supporting the baby to turn.
Stages of labour and the best positions – fontanelles leading the way
During labour the baby has to move through the pelvis and the birth canal by rotating and bending. In most cases the head is the leading part and has to adapt as perfectly as possible to the birth canal. Nature has found a great way to allow the baby’s passage as easily as possible: fontanelles, i.e.soft spots in the fetal skull covered by tight membrane, which allow the head to mold according to the conditions of the birth canal, and sutures (membraneous gaps in the fetal skull) where bones can move towards and even slightly over each other if needed.
Midwives and obstetricians use the fontanelles and sutures also as aids to identify the fetal position during a vaginal examination. The position of these features indicates how the head has already adapted to the pelvis and which birthing position might be especially supportive at that stage of labour.
In early labour the cervix opens centimetre by centimetre. Some women like to support this process with movement, others need relaxation (for example with warmth or water). Both are good and right.
However, sometimes the baby is not in the ideal position and needs support with certain positioning measures, which are guided by the midwife.
In the transition period the cervix is nearly fully dilated. During this stage of labour, exhaustion can already affect the mother’s mood. ‘I can’t go on, I don’t want to go on’ are typical exclamations. But this stage is only temporary, because the home stretch is in sight.
The second stage of labour is characterised by the baby pushing down through the pelvis, with the need to push along sooner or later. The midwife helps you to concentrate on your breathing and find the ideal birthing position.
At the start of the pushing phase, the midwife prepares the perineum for the forthcoming birth (for example with warm compresses or oil). The midwife instructs you to actively push along so that the perineum is protected and the baby is born gently.
Understanding what's happening
Ultimately, a good birth experience is not determined by the birth position or the labour preparation. Above all, you need to trust your own body and the midwife.
During labour, the midwife is at the birthing mother’s side and cares for her patiently, empathetically and respectfully.
Midwives know about helpful hands-on ways to relieve pain and include the partner during the birth process. A midwife has great expertise with regard to labour and birthing positions and their positive effects in the various stages of labour. Massages, breathing patterns and a comprehensive view on the process of birth are part of midwifery care.
Of great importance is also that midwives know when to act and when to be vigilant with reserve: this takes a lot of experience and trust. That “expert non-intervention is probably the biggest art in obstetrics” is one of the well-known treasures of midwifery expertise. Taking the time to wait, observe, give time without intervening and potentially disturbing the process supports a natural birth tremendously.
Birth in movement – various labour and birthing positions
One of the key physical laws, the effect of gravity, can be consciously used for birth by choosing the apt positon for the stage of labour. In addition, a variety of birthing positions support the pelvis to widen about 1-2 centimetres or to relieve back pain. Some enable the support person to do massages, ease breathing, optimise oxygen supply or to get the “happy hormones” (endorphins) flowing.
Forward-bent position
Many women find this position comfortable as it not only allows movement but also still allows a massage of the sacrum. However, if you have a poor musculoskeletal system, forward-bent positions can also be counterproductive.
Asymmetrical position
Good to know: the narrowest part of the whole birth canal is the part where the ischial spines protrude from the sides into the pelvis. The mother can help the baby to pass this narrow section by choosing an asymmetrical position. Examples are: putting a foot on a chair or taking the stairs. Then the ischial spines are no longer directly opposite each other and the baby has more space to pass them.
Upright position
Some women prefer unrestricted mobility in upright positions. Midwives deliberately use these positions to change the force of labour. In the free deep squat, squatting on the wall bars or on a birthing stool, the pelvic outlet can be widened. Squatting is a great position when pushing out the baby: the birth canal is shortened and the direction of the birth canal is optimised
However, there are also different forces acting on the tissue and the perineum, so the midwife must consider which position is best for you.
On knees and hands
Being on all fours, the pressure of gravity on the cervix is eased. This can be quite helpful, if the baby still needs time to properly rotate its head or if a rest of cervix is blocking the way.
Lying on your side or reclining position
All positions have their usefulness in certain obstetric situations – also the horizontal ones. Lying down is a safe position especially after the administration of drugs or in times of cardiovascular instability. When women are already very tired and exhausted, lying down can help to recover better in between contractions. Choosing the side of lying consciously, based on the result of the vaginal examination, can further the rotation of the baby’s head. In cases of a premature urge to push, lying down might reduce the pressure.
Dealing with contractions – easing the pain
Movement and birthing positions
Upright positions, change of positions and moving around help the baby to find its way and they can enable mother and child to deal with contractions better.
Warmth and touch
A a warm cherry stone cushion or a relaxing massage may help to relax and relieve pain.
Breathing
Adequate breathing is quite an effective tool to reduce tension and pain and to optimise the oxygen supply. Breathing is one of the key methods to get through the contractions and let them do their work.
Relaxing bath
Water itself is a well-known way to relieve pain. That combines perfectly with the cosy immersion in the warmth and the feeling of weightlessness.
Medication
There are certain types of analgesics that can be administered during labour. Depending on the stage of labour and the type of pain, there are drugs for relaxation (especially for the cervix), opiods (morphine-based painkillers) or laughing gas (nitrous oxide).
Epidural (anaesthesia)
This is a form of local anaesthesia where the anaesthesist injects an analgesic into the epidural space around the spinal nerves. It is a very effective and invasive method to relieve pain during birth. As every medical procedure, it has its risks and the patient has to actively give their consent before it can be done.
News
Sorry, we couldn't find any articles. Please try a different search.