Formerly, women gave birth in an upright position, a natural posture that favored the birth of the baby. There are numerous proofs of this, in different images and engravings, the studies of historians, certify this reality. On the other hand, today, the usual thing is that the woman who is going to give birth, does not have the possibility to choose which is the best position for it, or which is the one that makes her feel more comfortable.
Women who give birth in a hospital generally do so in a horizontal position, lying on their back. And this is not because it favors the birth, rather, because it facilitates the work of the doctors who attend the birth. Today, many hospitals are changing these policies regarding labor, and it is not uncommon for the woman in labor to have the possibility to choose other positions to bring her child into the world.
What is the best position to give birth?
If you ask yourself, what is the best position to give birth or if there will be any position that prevents you from suffering excessively, the answer is that there is no such answer. There is no position that is perfect for all women, since each woman and each childbirth are completely different. The best solution would be for the woman to have the opportunity to try different postures, until she found the one that made her feel more comfortable.
Thus, the percentage of deliveries in which they are carried out episiotomies, or instrumentalized deliveries. Something that more and more women reject and want to avoid at all costs. Although there is not a perfect position for all women, it has been shown that the least efficient is the one used in hospitals.
Postures to give birth
In 2008, the Ministry of Health recommended to maternity wards the possibility of letting the woman choose the position to give birth. You may get informed at the center where you plan to give birth, ask if there is a possibility of choosing a more comfortable position for you. If the answer does not satisfy you, you will always have the option of looking for other hospitals and choosing the one that suits your wishes.
The most comfortable postures, which reduce the percentage of episiotomies and that in addition, are less painful are the following.
vertical
This position helps the baby move through the birth canal, thanks to the force of gravity itself. In addition, the hip is thus in a much more efficient position, making it easier for the baby to walk. In this way, labor time is significantly reduced and freedom of movement is favored. It is a much more comfortable position for women, although it is not without drawbacks.
- In this position there is a higher incidence of tears leves
- There may also be a increased bleeding
If you decide to finally give birth vertically, you can choose between several options:
- Standing, a very effective posture since you can use the strength of your legs, in addition, it favors the oxygenation of the baby
- SquattingIn this position you will be more comfortable and pain is significantly reduced. On the other hand, this is the position where the pelvis can be fully opened, thus favoring the baby's passage.
Quadruped
Or what is the same, on all fours. Although it may sound a bit animalistic and therefore causes more rejection of entry among women, the truth is that is a great way to reduce labor pains. The rotation of the baby to descend through the birth canal is improved and pain in the lower back is reduced.
As you can see, there are different alternatives to make your delivery more natural, avoid the use of instruments and even reduce labor pain. Find out and choose the center that offers you the best opportunities, it will help you have a more comfortable delivery and you will feel more secure.