How to Use Positions During Labor

Using labor positions during childbirth can help with pain management and improve the decent of the baby. Most positions are easy to achieve and should be done with a birth partner or two. The birth partner can be the spouse or friend of the mother or a birth doula.

Most of the labor positions suggested here are intended for a mobile woman. See the tips section if you will be laboring with an epidural instead.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A birth or exercise ball
• Pillows
• Bath towels or a folded blanket or bed sheet
• A chair

1. During early labor positions that involve standing, kneeling and all-fours will be best. Start with the slow dance position: have the partner stand in front of the laboring woman and assume a dance hold. The mother will hold onto the neck or shoulders of the birth partner while the partner holds the waist or hips of the mother. Gently rock the hips side to side through a contraction.

2. Setup for a leaning position. This can be done using the back of a couch if you are still laboring at home, or in the hospital using a raised hospital bed. Place the birth ball at the foot of the bed and drape a sheet or towel over it. If at home using the couch pile up a few pillows on the back of the couch. Have the mother lean her chest onto the birth ball (or pillows) and let her belly gently hang and relax. The birth partner can use supportive pressure with a firm open hand on the hips or low back. The partner can also give a gentle back rub using long strokes on either side of the spine between or during contractions as the mother likes.

3. A modified leaning position is using the birth ball to sit on and leaning over the foot of the bed where pillows have been placed for support. The mother can rock her hips side to side or front to back on the birth ball and her chest will be supported on the bed. The partner can continue providing comfort techniques to the back, hips and shoulders in this position if the mother enjoys it.

4. As labor progresses different squatting positions can help to bring baby down through the pelvis. Use the chair for this position and have mother place one foot firmly in the middle of the chair seat. The partner will hold both hands of the mother and rock together with her side to side lunging slightly into the chair. A second partner can help provide pressure and massage to the lower back and hips in this position.

5. Place the birth ball on the floor, cover it with a sheet or towel and put a folded blanket on the floor in front of it. The mother will kneel on the folded blanket and lean her chest over the birth ball. This all-fours modified position allows the back to get some relief and gives mom a nice supported position. She can sit back on her heels during a contraction or rock her hips side to side while leaning on the birth ball with her chest and arms.

Tips & Warnings

• When laboring with an epidural the mother should be moved from one side to the other every 30 minutes to an hour. This helps to promote an even distribution of the epidural medication as well as encourage the decent of the baby through the pelvis.
• Don't forget the power of water during a mobile labor: use the shower or bath tub during active labor to help relieve discomfort and relax between contractions.
• Hiring a birth doula can be helpful to know when and how to use positions for labor. See the resources link below on hiring a birth doula.
• Seek the counsel of your midwife or obstetrician or the labor nurse for questions on labor positions.

Resources

• How to Hire a Birth Doula
• Massage and Bodywork for Pregnancy
• How to Use a Birth Ball For Pregnancy And Labor

[lisanthemum]

on 3/2/2009 Thanks for the tips. I'm going to be delivering some time in the next 2 weeks and am trying to gather as much info as I can.