Positioning during childbirth

Positioning during labour is key to a successful delivery and a natural birth. For most women, positioning comes naturally; however, sometimes a change of position is needed to correct abnormal descent or rotation of the baby in the birth canal.

Generally, during the first stage of labour, all active upright positions are suitable, whether standing with bent knees, standing with support, ‘pelvic rocking’, hanging, squatting, sitting on a birthing stool, sitting on a ball, the so-called starting position with one leg forward, or forward-leaning positions – on all fours or in the knee-elbow position; in the event of monitoring or exhaustion, lying on one’s side with the knees propped up. During the second stage of labour, various positions can also be chosen, e.g. semi-sitting, side-lying, on all fours, on a birthing stool, or the classic positions on the delivery bed. In one of our rooms, you can use a birthing couch; in another, the Combitrack suspension system. A midwife will be happy to advise you on positioning.

The benefits of vertical positions according to EBM (evidence-based medicine), or why stand up during labour?

The following are reduced:

increases:

pain intensity and stress levels
incidence of abnormal foetal heart rate
incidence of shoulder dystocia
frequency of emergency caesarean section
the risk of vacuum extraction or forceps delivery
frequency of episiotomy
risk of higher-degree birth trauma
need for synthetic oxytocin
duration of labour

sense of competence and positive birth experience = lower risk of postnatal depression
blood flow through the inferior vena cava = better oxygen supply to the foetus
space for correct positioning and rotation of the foetus
dimensions of the pelvic planes and movement of the coccyx
uterine muscle activity – contractions are more effective, regular and frequent
speed of cervical dilation
opportunity to relax between contractions

Note: upright positions are also beneficial for women with epidural analgesia.

Jak a proč rodit vzpřímeně a v pohybu


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