Positions during labour and birth
Women who use upright positions in labour are likely to need less pain relief than women who lie on their back. They are more likely to have shorter labours, with less need to have their labour speeded up artificially.
Women who give birth upright tend to give birth more quickly. They are less likely to need an assisted delivery.
Women may feel that they should lie down in labour because this is what they have seen in the media. But women who are encouraged to choose a comfortable position tend to stay upright. Antenatal classes may help women to try out different positions for labour.
[This research summary includes information from the following leaflet produced by MIDIRS:
Informed Choice for Women No.5 - Positions in labour and delivery
For details on how to purchase the Informed Choice leaflets go to the Informed Choice website.]
For more detailed research evidence, click here
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