Positions for birthing the placenta?

[zenma]

Does it matter how you're positioned for birthing the placenta?

When dd was born I was already on my back. They placed her on my chest immediately, which was awesome, but then there was the waiting to birth the placenta and then the stitches (I'm trying to avoid tearing this time, and don't have plans to birth on my back). I'd never breastfed before, and it took the placenta a long time to come out. One of the nurses suggested that I try breastfeeding while waiting, but I wasn't comfortable having my first attempt be in that position. I still wouldn't be, with a newborn, even though I have breastfeeding experience, although maybe...

I'm thinking I should have insisted on sitting up, because the breastfeeding would probably have helped moved the placenta along.

How have other mamas positioned themselves for delivering the placenta?

[muttix2]

I think that both times I was squatting/standing up. I don't remember the second time really so it may have come out when I was still on my hands and knees.

[BeanyMama]

i'm interested to know also. good question.

both my ds were born when i was on my back, we had a terrible midwife last time, she just yanked the placenta out by the cord.

[Surfacing]

Originally Posted by BeanyMama

both my ds were born when i was on my back, we had a terrible midwife last time, she just yanked the placenta out by the cord.

: Yikes! That's so dangerous!

[lirpasirhc]

It's my understanding that clamping and cutting the cord right after birth keeps too much blood in the placenta making it heavy and hard to birth. I don't know if you waited to clamp with you last birth, but you might want to research that. Waiting also gives you baby lots of benefits.

[SharonAnne]

I pushed DD out in Bradley's "Classic C" position, which was basically sitting on my bed, propped up on a thousand pillows. I had wanted to deliver her squatting, but by the time I was actually pushing, I was too tired to be in that position, even with support, so I ended up on my butt (but not my back )

Avoid laboring/pushing/delivering on your back at all costs. It is needlessly painful and it makes the pushing stage longer, because you're fighting gravity to get that kid out.

So, anyway, back to the original question. I delivered dd, started nursing immediately, without changing positions, and the cord was cut when it stopped pulsing. The placenta was delivered about 10 minutes after DD Yes, nursing definitely helped get it moving out of there quicker, in my case.

I hear this is not true in every case though, so YMMV

[feebeeglee]

I walked to the bathroom and stood in the bathtub to deliver Trixie's placenta, and knelt on the bed for Gilbert's. I don't remember what I did with the other kids! They were managed births so that's probably why I can't remember...

[rootzdawta]

Originally Posted by SharonAnne

I pushed DD out in Bradley's "Classic C" position, which was basically sitting on my bed, propped up on a thousand pillows. I had wanted to deliver her squatting, but by the time I was actually pushing, I was too tired to be in that position, even with support, so I ended up on my butt (but not my back )

Avoid laboring/pushing/delivering on your back at all costs. It is needlessly painful and it makes the pushing stage longer, because you're fighting gravity to get that kid out.

So, anyway, back to the original question. I delivered dd, started nursing immediately, without changing positions, and the cord was cut when it stopped pulsing. The placenta was delivered about 10 minutes after DD Yes, nursing definitely helped get it moving out of there quicker, in my case.

I hear this is not true in every case though, so YMMV

This is me exactly. I totally agree.

[BeanyMama]

Originally Posted by Emese'sMom

: Yikes! That's so dangerous!

right?! poor dh was in the after-birth baby love and looked over and started yelling at her.