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Celebration...Birth
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Labor Positions
Position Statement
The pros and cons of 11 common labor positions.
By Pailina G. Perez, RN, BSN, CD, LCCE, FACCE
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.
STANDING SUPPORTED SQUAT
(see image)
Pros
 Realigns your pelvis to increase the opening by up to 15 percent
Allows you to be supported by your standing or sitting partner, the wall or a squat bar
Takes advantage of gravity
Makes contractions feel less painful and more productive
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
May increase your urge to push in the second stage of labor
Cons
Requires a strong partner
May be tiring for both of you
SITTING ON TOILET
Pros
Helps relax perineum
You get used to an open-leg position and pelvic pressure
Uses gravity
Cons
Pressure from toilet seat may be uncomfortable
SITTING
(see image 1)
(see image 2)
Pros
Good for resting
Uses gravity
Can be used with continuous electronic fetal monitoring
Cons
May not be possible if you have high blood pressure
SQUATTING
(see image 1)
(see image 2)
Pros
Encourages rapid descent
Uses gravity
May increase rotation of baby
Allows freedom to shift your weight for comfort
Allows excellent perineal access
Excellent for fetal circulation
May increase pelvis diameter by as much as 2 centimeters
Requires less bearing-down effort
Descent is encouraged by the position
Your thighs keep baby well aligned
Cons
Often tiring
Sometimes hard for health-care provider to hear fetal heart tones
May be hard for you to assist in birth if you wish to do so
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