#1 - semi-reclined. It took me awhile to understand how to push and somehow this was the position where I "got it". Any other position and I pushed with my legs. Let me tell you, that does nothing at all to bring a baby out. I had a pretty good-sized baby (9 pounds 8 oz) who came out w/his hand by his face and I tore fairly badly. His clavicle also broke. This was a no intervention hospital birth.
#2 - On my back - YES, sometimes it works! My plans to birth standing or squatting in the birth center went out the window when my blood pressure went sky high. I also had to have pitocin because of the blood pressure situation. When it came time to push, my midwife had me lie flat on my back with my legs supported in a squatting position - so like a tipped-over squat. I had to trust her a LOT to do this, but it worked! I pushed my 9 pound 10 oz baby girl out in less than 10 minutes with just a skid mark and no broken clavicle. Apparently in this position gravity can help the baby move around the pelvic bone.
For awhile I felt a bit bad that I would never give birth while squatting. But why? I had two great births, the second one under pretty difficult conditions. I'm glad I had learned to roll with the unexpected - I sort of expect my daughter will continue to teach me that!
#2 - On my back - YES, sometimes it works! My plans to birth standing or squatting in the birth center went out the window when my blood pressure went sky high. I also had to have pitocin because of the blood pressure situation. When it came time to push, my midwife had me lie flat on my back with my legs supported in a squatting position - so like a tipped-over squat. I had to trust her a LOT to do this, but it worked! I pushed my 9 pound 10 oz baby girl out in less than 10 minutes with just a skid mark and no broken clavicle. Apparently in this position gravity can help the baby move around the pelvic bone.
For awhile I felt a bit bad that I would never give birth while squatting. But why? I had two great births, the second one under pretty difficult conditions. I'm glad I had learned to roll with the unexpected - I sort of expect my daughter will continue to teach me that!
