Why do women usually give birth lying down? Why don't they do it sitting up?

Question

Of course the chair would need to have room for the baby to come out. But wouldn't sitting up make it easier for the woman to push and wouldn't gravity help the baby come out? It seems more logical this way.

I don't have any kids of my own, it was actually my mother who brought this question up. She said it was so much easier using the birthing chair for my older brother than when she gave birth to me lying down.

Answer 1

You're right. It makes NO SENSE for women to give birth lying down.

Actually, mothers should NOT give birth lying down. This practice of having moms birth in the "lithotomy position" started when OB's began to push midwives out of practice.

The practice of birthing in this position was developed with the attendant, rather than the birthing mother, in mind. Lithotomy was believed to be the ideal position for doctors to deliver the baby while sitting or standing in attendance. The doctor had easy access to watch, to help with delivery if needed, and to intervene when he or she felt it necessary

Actually, for the mother, lying down is the WORST position to push out a baby. The baby is literally going uphill! Mom has increased pain that is caused by the sacrum's inability to move as the baby descends in this position. The coccyx is designed to move out of the way as the baby's head descends. Sitting on the coccyx during birth restricts the pelvic outlet and can also lead to dislocation of the coccyx. This position can even cause shoulder dystocia.

And lying down makes mom more likely to tear! So this position is also what brought about the practice of doctors cutting episiotomies to "protect" mom's perineum.

Women need to be able to change positions in labor and to position themselves in a way that gravity helps bring the baby down! Squatting is one of the BEST positions to push in. Squatting widens the pelvic outlet something like 25-35%!

Birth chairs and birth stools used to be commonly used by midwives. Many do still use them. The birth center that my middle child was born in had a rocking chair that part of the seat could be slid away to make it easier for the midwife to catch the baby. Many homebirth midwives carry birthing stools with them.

Many hospitals have "squat bars" that can be attached to the bed so mom can be in a more upright position. You can squat and have a doula or partner behind you supporting you. You can stand and have someone behind you with their arms under your armpits and you can kind of lean back into them for support while standing. Or stand facing and holding your partner like you are dancing. You can push on all fours (helps if baby's shoulders are stuck to switch to this position).

I birthed one in a semi-sitting position in bed. I birthed another in a birth tub in sort of a squat and then switched to hands and knees for her shoulders to come out. My third was born with me squatting in a birth tub with my midwife holding me up from outside behind me and my hubby in the tub catching the baby.

Answer 2

Actually, not all women give birth lying down! This is something started and done because it's easier for the doctor to "catch" the baby. Most midwives, and even some doctors, will allow the mother to give birth in whatever position she feels comfortable. In some cases a woman can deliver the child herself with doctor's help and/or supervision. Those with an epidural do need to be lying down, though, because a woman is pretty much paralyzed from the waist down. Though a saddle block, I hear, still allows you to move well, and probably still allow you to give birth in any position comfortable.

Answer 3

More women are using 'birthing chairs' now. That way they are not supporting themselves but are still in a squatting position and yes, then the baby comes down and out, all with the aid of mom pushing at the right time AND gravity. I've also seen women on their hands and knees with the mid-wife at the back, ready to catch the baby.

I had both of my children laying down, my youngest 34 years ago (had very long labor with both) and thinking back, I would think that the birthing chain is FAR superior.

Answer 4

Many years ago women in western societies commonly used birthing chairs which look like a regular chair with the seat cut out. Women in many other societies have questioned the practice of giving birth laying down and claim that giving birth in a sitting or squating position is the more natural way to go. If you think about it they have a point due to the positions of internal structures and laws of gravity.

Answer 5

The laying down position is best for doctors. Not neccessarily the mother or the baby. Yiu should explore all of your options and know exactly what you want before you go into labor. Be verbal with your doctor so they do not make the decisions for you. Also consider a doula. They can make the birthing process easier to handle. Check out babyzone.com . They have alot of useful info there

Answer 6

i think that this practice is out of fashion as women feel the need to have doctors on call and able to see the "lay of the land". My good friend gave birth in a hospital dedicated to mom's comfort and natural births all around, and she gave birth squating. She said that the pain is so awful anyway, she would consider lying down next time so that she can at least rest!

Answer 7

When I was in labour with my daughter I had the option of laying down / flat / propped up.. or hanging onto a bar that kept me upright so gravity would help bring her out. I really liked the bar idea because it totally alleviated alot of the pain I was in but I couldnt stay long that way because the bar was too high for me and that was uncomfortable. I found that I was in much more pain when I was laying down ( back labour) but there wasnt much I could do besides that. Good thing it only lasted 10 hours !

Answer 8

Today's women lie down so that the attending doctor can see and work better. (How would a doctor work between a woman's legs if she were sitting down?)
Indian, (Native American), women used to go off into the woods alone and squat down to have their babies. So you're probably right in figuring out that it would be easier to give birth in a sitting position, although squating would seem even better?

Answer 9

Some cultures actually give birth this way. It is easier but I would say that they do it laying down so that the mother is more comfortable and it is easier for the doctors to help with the delivery.

Answer 10

Lower back pains, cramps, and the positioning of the baby's head.

Women used to have their baby's in a squatting position but that was too tiring and too difficult to direct the baby out of their bodies. Lying on their backs allows someone to turn the baby's head and shoulders while the mother pushes. Also the cramps don't turn into pulls this way.

Answer 11

In many primitive cultures they give birth in a squating position.... far better. It takes a modern society to screw something like this up!

I personally think it's because men are the ones designing the equipment. If a woman who'd given birth did the designing, it'd be of a squating position contraption. I've had 5 & believe me, it's easier if you're squating.