Movement and positioning in labor work magic. Movement enhances comfort by stimulating the
receptors in the brain that decrease pain perception. The result is that you are able to tolerate increasingly
strong contractions. When contractions become very strong, endorphins are released and pain perception
decreases even more. Ultimately, your movement in response to your contractions decreases pain and
facilitates labor a win-win. Movement also helps the baby move through the pelvis, and some positions
enlarge pelvic diameters.
The positions shown here facilitate the normal, natural process of labor. What position should you use?
Follow your body. Move freely in response to what you feel. Your body will let you know just what
position is best at every point in your labor.
1. STANDING SUPPORTED SQUAT
Pros:
Allows you to be supported by your standing or sitting partner, the wall or a squat bar.
Lengthens your trunk and helps your baby line up with the angle of your pelvis.
Movement causes changes in your pelvic joints, helping your baby through the birth canal.
Cons:
2. SEMI-SITTING
Pros:
Comfortable.
Cons:
Puts some stress on your perineum but less than when lying on your back.
3. SITTING
Pros:
Uses gravity.
Cons:
4. SITTING ON TOILET
Pros:
Uses gravity.
Cons:
5. SQUATTING
Pros:
Uses gravity.
Cons:
Often tiring.
6. SIDE-LYING
Pros:
Easier for you to relax between contractions during the second stage.
Cons:
If no one can hold your legs, you must support them on your own.
7. WALKING
Pros:
Uses gravity.
Reduces backache.
Encourages descent.
Cons:
8. STANDING
Pros:
Uses gravity.
Cons:
Pros:
Uses gravity.
Relieves backache.
Cons:
10. KNEE-CHEST
Pros:
Cons:
Hard for your support team to maintain eye contact with you.