So the positions that you’d be steered away from when you have an epidural would be standing, birthing ball and possibly the ones where you are hanging - simply because there’s no bed under you!! I can make a specific to epidural video if you’re into one that takes out the positions that might be dodgy with an epidural (depending on your site, provider, nurses and how heavy your epidural is!)
Yeah, I didn't even get an epidural, and they still insisted I push while laying on my back. It's complete bullsh*t that they need us in that position so they can see better. They can see everything fine in plenty of other positions, such as if the patient is on all fours.
Yeah my guy roommate would only see it from the doctors point of view! 😡 He wouldn't try and think about how constricting and uncomfortable it would be on your back the whole time. I don't want to have kids (for personal reasons) but if I did, I would want the freedom and comfort of moving into different positions my body tells me to.
I didn't even know that was an option! I got zero education or options when I was pregnant. I had a C-section (that they ended up knocking me out for because they cut unto me when the epidural didn't work on one side) And woke up 2 hours later with a baby. Probably would've chosen on the side of I had an option though
Ladies make sure you advocate for yourself. I was told I had to give birth on my back. They had my bed slightly raied on the back and i had the epidural. I didnt realize there was a ton of weight and pressure on my tailbone because on this. I ended up dislocating my tailbone during childbirth and it toom 6-8 months of excruciating pain for it to heal. Do what YOU want, not whats easy for the doctor.
39 weeks with second baby and im just so thankful for your page. So informative and your personality is so bubbly and funny. I'm feeling prepared for a different birth experience this time around!
Oh I thought everyone had to be chained to the bed by arms and legs in restraint for safety and in that last “lying on the back with legs spread wide open” position the entire time someone gives birth…I thought holding still and zero screaming (not to use any unnecessary energy, and also no loud screaming is a plus for everyone…no one wants to hear it) was the expectation. Cool to see how there can be many positions and that people are actually allowed to move❤
You could do any of them with no epidural and with an epidural you can still do lots! Side lying, all fours, squatting, kneeling, supported kneeling, captain Morgan, birthing ball depending on how well functioning and light your epidural is, tug of war. Lots are available even with the epidural
It was not that long ago these were normal procedure. My mom had her hands tied to the bed with my three oldest siblings, it was only with her last two births she had her hands free, but even then she was required to be on her back. @@dontworryaboutit4255
@@mamanursetina That's not true. Lots and lots of hospitals, even to this day, still force mom's to lay down and give birth on their back 😢 taking advantage of them in their weakest moment.
I cycled through all the positions except bouncing on a ball with an epidural. The L&D team was shocked, but my body knew what it needed to do to get her OUT!
I work as a Supplemental Pediatric Hospitalist. We mostly do newborn nursery care and special care nursery. Last time I was working, we had a Mom who pushed from squatting. Baby had a fractured clavicle "because mom pushed from such an unusual position." I pointed out that squatting wasn't really an unusual position to push from. I was told, well, given that everyone has an epidural around here, it's pretty unusual. I decided that I probably shouldn't point out that 1) you can labor and push from positions other than dorsal lithotomy with an epidural and 2) it's highly likely that the baby didn't fracture the clavicle because of the delivery position, the baby avoided a substantial shoulder dystocia because of the delivery position. Seriously... I'm not sure how to deal with my coworkers. Believe me... the OBs and L&D RNs are no better.
It's frustrating to have coworkers that are so set in their beliefs it's like talking to a wall when you try to explain a different reason. When I went into nursing there were 4 things we basically had to promise and one of them was to keep educating ourselves for the rest of our time as nurses. Sad to see them forgetting about that part the moment they leave school
Document, document, document! Chart, chart, chart! Send follow up emails detailing what was discussed in regards to patient care. Put notes in patient charts so it shows a complete report of care. Leave a MASSIVE paper trail in your wake and eventually your time will come to point out ALL the BS they try to pull. Encourage any of your colleagues who feel similar about things to do the same as well. Stand up for yourself and the patients under your care (as well as their caregivers), as much as you can. I know its not always easy when it might cost you a job, but do what you can to take a stand! You got this! 💯
I had my second baby in a hospital that had this style bed. Took a tour of the hospital at like 37 weeks along and super excited for all the options, especially the squat bar. Only to not be offered any of it come labor/birth. I was ticked.
This would've been so useful like 48 hours ago. I ended up spending more time than anticipated in the bed due to fetal decelerations that turned my low level emergency induction to a c section. Side note, do you have a video on recovering from a C section!? I would greatly appreciate it
I would have loved to try these. Unfortunately I was high risk and needed my BP and baby’s HR constantly monitored. No epidural, Pitocin contractions, ouch. I had to stay in bed but I sat criss crossed, eyes closed and swayed back and forth, side to side for, idk, hours. I blacked out once I got to active labor and went to la la land. But swaying helped me get through that pain. Pitocin contractions are no joke
@jackies9043 I'm so sorry this was your experience! I was induced because of pre-eclampsia and had to be monitored too. But they gave me a pole to hang my BP monitored from and a mobile fetal heart monitor so I could move around more.
I wish i realized that these were an option during my last birth. I ended up pushing on my back legs open with no pain meds (labor happened fast) but baby wasnt in a great position, and no one even mentioned another position as an option.
When I had my first baby I was all excited and empowered by the idea that you don't have to lie down and how squatting can be the best or on a fours. Until I figured out with my children I feel like I can barely move and support my body up 'cos my contractions are too painful so I always deliver side laying. It goes to show. Whatever makes you comfortable. Altho I'm sure it certain situations a care provider will suggest certain positions foe a baby that's not moving down or is in a weird position.
My favorite was the unexpected water birth (I was going to go to the bed to push in a comfortable position but was so relaxed she came out quickly). The worst by far was the on the back legs in the air with a horrible episiotomy that took a year to stop hurting. I felt like a product, not a person with that one.
This would be used during active/end stage labor. You would birth with a bed like the one shown, once everything is fixed up, you’d move, to the maternity ward. 😊
Birthing ball was my best friend! I also did a lot of hands and knees, but on the ground. They put a foam mattress bed topper down for me. Then I did flying cowgirl after my epidural was placed. Then i used the squat bar when pushing. They had me side lying, but i was pulling in the sides of the bed, so they pulled out the squat bar. Being able to pull on the sheet and almost do a situp while pushing felt waaaay more productive to me!
This video really improved the delivery of my 2nd child this weekend! My medical staff guided me in and out of the "throne" upright position and 2 or 3 other positions and I had gone from 5 cm dilated and my daughter had been born less than 20 minutes later! Thank you!!!
Never been pregnant but I do suffer from lower back pains, especially during my period, and most of those positions look so comforting for me, I can imagine how calming they must be for someone carrying a tiny human 😌🥰
Submerged in the tub leaning forward on the edge, kinda hands and knees, but sitting down more on lower legs. For our kids born on land, side lying was always the best. Super fast births either way and no tears from those positions.
I have had five babies and birthed them all in different positions! And I will say: Captain Morgan helped me dilate and progress FAST with my last one. If you want that cervix open, put that leg up! 😂
The throne was what finally got my labor moving! I was in labor with my first for 36 hours! Once they got me in the “throne” she was born an hour later 😂
Amazing! Can you talk more about the benefits of movement even with an epidural? Why isn’t this talked about? Ways to encourage and help labor with an epidural.
I would LOVE to give birth and actually be able to feel something. The epidural was probably too strong, I barely felt pressure from contractions and I just pushed when they came up on the monitor. So as sadistic as it sounds, I look forward to doing it again, at least one more time!
I had planned and “practiced” birthing in different positions… but after 12 hours of unmedicated labor and desperation, I peed, felt the urge to push, ran/waddled back to the bed as quickly as I could, grabbed the NO2 mask and hopped up into bed and threw my legs up without hesitation. I said baby’s coming, someone catch her I gotta push and she was out in less than 10 minutes/3 pushes. I was very lucky not to tear, I really wonder how it was possible that lithotomy worked so well for me. She’s my first and only labor so I guess I’ll never know lol 💕
I live in Mexico City and almost all of the hospitals make you deliver in the OR. So I delivered my daughter laying totally flat on my back on an OR table. 🤦♀️ Thankfully I had spent some time laboring down before I started pushing so then I only pushed twice and she came flying out. 😆 She was also a tiny thing just 5.6lbs so that probably helped as well.
Can we have a video of after birth mama must haves, I don't know if I'll have a c section again or a VBac and I'm trying to be prepared for my after care for both! Thank you as always your awesome!
As a bigger lady, I’ve always been tied down to monitors and they wouldn’t let me move positions. Am I allowed to still demand these positions with labor? I’ve always had to lay on my back and push only
Dang, I’m so sorry. Was their concern picking up baby for monitoring? Your size shouldn’t make it so you have to lay in one position, I’m so sorry that happened
@@mamanursetina they just wanted the baby monitor for the heart rate 24/7; they wouldn’t let me be off it unless I was going to the bathroom. So I’m not sure why-it was both pregnancies, pre-epidural, no complications
As a midwife I can tell you two things: your size alone isn't enough of a reason for demanding your lying down. In fact you would have more benefits of upright positions or even labouring in water. But the other fact remains that a majority of OBs and even midwifes will be scared of anything out of the "ordinary" and would be very reluctant to "let" you. But that is your right! If there aren't any medical reasons, offcourse.
My mother had to stand up with me or my heart rate would go down. She ended up standing and I was vaccume extracted. I had the umbilical coard wrapped around my neck 3 times, and my nose was pressed flat against my face. I couldn't breath through my nose for the 1st four months of my life.
I'm likely years away from having kids still, but I still think about giving birth a lot. I really want to be able to have a natural birth and be able to move around, or do a water birth. I know our bodies are designed to handle the process and that our brains don't actually remember the pain (just that there was and such) so I tell myself all the time that I just have to get through it and then I'll be fine, it only lasts for so long. I've heard a lot of positive side effects of natural birth, but also want to do it in a hospital setting so that my baby will have help if needed. But I also want to get an epidural and deal with any potential down sides. I think I have plenty of time to decide, and I can always change my mind but I think about it quite a lot
Check the pinned comment. Some are for epidural and all could be without the epidural. Basically if there’s a bed or something under you it should be safe with a well functioning epidural!
Then you need to stand up for yourself. You need to show them that they can’t just force someone into a potion because that is what they think is best. Stand up for yourself and if you have a partner, let them stand up for you!
I would like to know at what hospitals has this type of bed . I havent seen not one yet in L&D as far back 5 years ago. I've got 4 under the age 18. Im shocked. Wish I knew where they were life would have been sweeter.
I've never understood why we gave birth laying on our back. lick to me it makes so much more sense to be like squatting or standing or something like that because gravity and it just feels like it's more natural. It makes sense that a guy is the reason that we do it
You and your body are amazing! You can do it! Believe in yourself and your baby. And reach out to your local (or maybe your own) midwife, doula, therapist, birthing clinic, center... if you're scared and need more support. So you'll be able to go empowered into labour and birth 🥰
With a epidural you aint doing half those positions cause you cant feel your legs. 😂 God is ot a good feeling to not hurt every few minutes or seconds!
This is why the nurses need to push to change birth culture with newer OBs and encourage patients that the can! I’m doing my best but it’s gonna take a bit to push change I think 😔
@@mamanursetina Our RNs are as resistant, perhaps more so, than the OBs. It's more work for them. They like their moms quiet and stuck in one position. And let's not talk about the opinions of my fellow pediatricians (as detailed in another post on this video)
I birthed all three of mine on all fours/supported kneeling. First two were homebirths, third in hospital with one nmidwife throughout the pregnancy and birth ✨️🫶
They had me do the exaggerated side lying with my recent baby boy and it was the most painful thing i have ever felt 🥲(aside from pushing him out of course 😂)
Anything that doesn't require laying down or being on our backs are better positions, you technically cant do any other position besides back and laying down with epidural either, nurses dont want to be holding a heavy body just so you can deliver because of no use of your body from the waist down
