I Gave Birth On My Back
I’m a Pelvic Floor PT, and I gave birth on my back.
*The whole internet gasps!*
As a FTM (First-Time Mom), I’m no stranger to being targeted with information on social media.
“Do THIS”
“NEVER do this”
“Why you SHOULD NOT do this”
It’s everywhere. And even though I’ve been a Pelvic Floor PT for over 4 years, I STILL fall into the trap!
I personally think the overall message has gotten out of hand with birthing positions. Somehow, we’ve gone from “we don’t recommend laboring for hours on your back” to “don’t birth your baby on your back.”
Well, I’m here to tell you that my career is in Women’s Health, and I successfully delivered my healthy baby girl – you guessed it – on my back. And if you did too, you should never feel guilty for that, no matter what you read on social media!
Do I think the lithotomy (lying on your back) position is the only position to deliver a baby? Nope! That’s why we should get our education from trusted sources (hello, Pelvic PT!) so that we are well-informed for our delivery.
When we create our birth plan, it is well-known that nothing is ever guaranteed! Here at Breathe., we want you to be educated on all of your options, so you can stay in the zone during labor and focus on the end goal.
Laboring in different positions is definitely recommended, however, it may not be an option for all! A good nursing/support staff will help you move throughout your labor whether you are limited by an epidural or not.
Things You Can Do During Labor - Without An Epidural
- Walking
- Weight shifting side-to-side
- Sitting on a ball moving your pelvis
- Diaphragm breathing in the tub
- Quadruped rocking
- Counter leaning
- Laying on your side
Things You Can Do During Labor- With An Epidural
- Diaphragm breathing on your back
- Rocking knees side to side
- Supported kneeling
- Sidelying with a peanut ball
In my situation, I labored by walking and sitting on a yoga ball until I got an epidural for the last 2 hours. When I was then in the bed, I was still able to move my legs (something that not many FTM’s know!). I was moving my legs side to side, using the peanut ball to lay on my side, and periodically moving from position to position as I felt able.
Different Kinds of Birthing Positions
Here, we’ll highlight different birthing positions, but ultimately, it’ll come down to what feels best for your body! We love practicing different birthing positions prior to delivery, so you are exposed to them all and feel comfortable when the big day comes.
- On your back
- On your side
- Quadruped (hands and knees)
- Supported squat
- Sitting in the tub
When I was in the hospital with my epidural, my PT brain would have loved to deliver on my side as that was most comfortable for me. HOWEVER, baby girl had other plans. Everytime I pushed on my side, she would go into distress and her heart rate would drop. At this point, all previous thoughts and guilt went out the window – as they should.
At this moment, I realized that SHE was doing the best when I was on my back. First parenting lesson – this wasn’t about me anymore.
Tips for Giving Birth on Your Back
If I needed to push on my back, then I was going to figure out how I could enhance this position to the best of my knowledge to help support her entrance into the world. So here’s what I did:
- Rolled up a towel in a “U” position and placed under my low back down towards my glute muscles. This helps the sacrum to move as it naturally should to allow the baby more space to come out.
- Had my husband and nurse each hold one leg – I had them position my hips into internal rotation. By internally rotating your hips, you are allowing for the pelvic OUTLET (aka where the baby comes out) to open up even more.
- I pushed for 40 minutes, baby girl was in my arms, and all previous thoughts of guilt for delivering on my back were gone.
Breathe. Physical Therapy & Wellness Supports All Birthing Plans for Iowa Women
I want to share my experience because while social media can be SO helpful for many things, it can be a source of unnecessary anxiety/guilt for first time moms. If you have been reading that you shouldn’t deliver on your back, it’s OK if you do. It doesn’t make you any less of an amazing mother.
Our team of physical therapists work with expecting mothers all the time, helping them prepare for labor and delivery. We offer holistic education on birth plans and will support you with what feels best for your body and makes your L&D as smoothe as possible. Get in touch with our team in North Liberty or Des Moines!