Birth positions and staying active

Here are some of the other benefits of keeping active during labour:

• There is less pressure on the blood vessels that supply the womb with oxygen for your baby.
• When you are upright, your pelvis can open wider and make more room for your baby to come through.
• Staying active may help contractions to work better.
• Active positions may help you feel more comfortable and experience less pain.
• In the second stage of labour, moving about may help you to be able to push more effectively.

Equipment such as birth balls, mats, and rocking chairs are available in the birth centres and delivery suites and these can help you adopt a variety of good positions for labour.

Listen to your own body and move into a position that is most comfortable for you. This may change throughout labour. Your midwife will also be able to advise you on positions to try.

If you do need to lie down, you may find it helpful to try relaxing on your left side, with a large pillow between your knees. It is also possible to give birth in this position.

This leaflet from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust shows you the different birth positions that may help you in labour.

Here are some things that you can do at home to help you cope with labour.

• Listen to hypnobirthing soundtracks.
• Take warm baths or showers. Aim to lean forward. Water from the showerhead on your back may be helpful. In the bath, run it deep and try to find a comfortable forward leaning position. You may find it soothing if your birth partner is able to tip warm water down your back from a bowl or jug during contractions.
• Try and stay mobile and upright, as gravity helps your baby's head to move down into the pelvis and helps labour to progress. Try moving to the music on a birthing ball.
• Go outside for a walk... just don't go too far from home.
• Breathing techniques. Keep your breathing slow and deep and steady through each contraction and this will help take your mind off the pain. You could try counting slowly in your mind through the contraction. This gives you an idea of when it will ease. You could use a song or poem you know instead.
• Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and eat small snacks to keep your energy levels up.
• Playing relaxing music and dimming the lights might help you relax and perhaps even sleep. Try to lie with your bump tipped down to the cushions or mattress. This can help your baby's position for birth.
• Paracetamol is considered safe in pregnancy.
• Remember to go to the toilet at regular intervals, as a full bladder may prevent the baby from moving down into the pelvis.
• If you have a TENS machine, this would be a good time to use it, especially if you have back pain.
• Your birth partner could try massage with gentle pressure on your lower back.
• Use lavender oil in a diffuser, or in massage oil. Lavender can be calming and soothing and can reduce pain.