All positions to give birth

Childbirth positions

Standing to facilitate the descent of the baby

Thanks to gravity,  the standing position helps the baby to descend and to orient themselves better in the mother’s pelvis. It strengthens contractions without increasing pain. Some disadvantages, however: at the end of labor, the tension on the perineum is increased and this position can be difficult to maintain. It also requires great muscular strength. 

On your knees and on all fours to reduce the pain

The uterus pressing less on the sacrum, these two positions reduce lower back pain. You can also perform swinging movements of the pelvis which will allow the baby a better rotation at the end of labor.

The four-legged position is more used in home births, during which women feel freer – and perhaps less self-conscious – to spontaneously adopt this posture. This position can be tiring on the hands and wrists. 

She will be relayed by the one on her knees, arms resting on a chair or a ball.

Sitting or squatting to open the pelvis

Sitting and leaning forward, or sitting on a birthing ball, Or sitting astride a chair with a pillow between your stomach and the backrest, the choices are endless! This position reduces back pain and takes advantage of gravity more than lying down.

Would you rather be squatting? This position helps to open the pelvis, giving more space to the baby and promoting its rotation.. It also takes advantage of the forces of gravity which improves the descent into the basin. Squatting for a long time, however, can become tiring as it requires a great deal of muscle strength. The future mother can call on the future father to hold her hands or support her under the arms.

In suspension to free the perineum

The suspended movement improves abdominal breathing allowing better relaxation and liberation of the perineum. The mother-to-be, with bent legs, can for example hang from a bar fixed above the delivery table or specially installed in certain delivery rooms.

Lying on her side to better oxygenate the baby

Much nicer than on the back, this position is relaxing for the mother-to-be and helps reduce back pain. When a contraction occurs, the future dad can help you with gentle massages. The vena cava is not compressed by the weight of the uterus, the oxygenation of the baby is improved. Its easier descent. How to do ? Your lower left thigh on which the body rests is stretched out, while the right is flexed and raised so as not to compress the stomach. Giving birth in a lateral position is more and more frequent in hospitals, which most often use the De Gasquet method. The delivery on the side allows the team a good monitoring of the perineum and the baby. An infusion can be placed if necessary and it does not interfere with the monitoring. Finally… when the baby comes out, she does not force the midwife or the obstetrician to be too acrobatic!

The “little tips” to promote dilation

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