Feminist Birth Positions

9/28/2018 0 Comments

Feminist Birth Positions

By Alayna Spratley, Certified Childbirth Educator and Doula from Cleveland, Ohio

I believe that labor and birth is a transformational feminist experience. This milestone event should be empowering and the birthing individual should feel supported, validated, and respected by her expert care team. Unfortunately, my feminist birthing sentiment isn’t the cultural norm in the United States. In fact, according to Evidence Based Birth’s State of Maternity Care (2018), the sad reality is that 57% of birthing individuals are confined to the bed once admitted to the hospital and 68% of people remain in a back-lying position to give birth. Neither one of these routine practices are supported by evidence and both can feel disempowering and be potentially harmful to both mother and baby.

But you don’t have to give birth in a recumbent position out of routine practice or for the convenience of your care provider! Both the World Health Organization and the best evidence we currently have recommends that individuals birth in an upright position or in a way that is most comfortable for them. I like to refer to upright birth as feminist birth because it is the birthing individual’s choice as to which position is optimal.
Here are some valuable statistics and more information about the benefits of feminist birth positions:

Feminist Birth Positions To Consider:
Get off your back and birth in a position that is most comfortable for you!

Squatting: Birth in a squatting position can increase pelvic space by about 30%. It may be helpful to have your partner, a birth stool, or the CUB provide support and stability.
Standing: Pushing in a standing position, with or without the support of your birth partner or doula, is helpful because gravity serves as a natural assistant to help baby be born.
Hands and Knees: Both your arms and legs support your body weight in this position. It also enables your belly to hang away from your body, potentially reducing pressure or pain on your lower back and providing more oxygen-rich blood to baby.

Feminist Birth Positions Resources:
Learn more about research that supports upright birth and resources to help you achieve a feminist birth!

Evidence Based Birth has a ‘Signature Article’ all about the history of birth positions and research supporting upright birthing positions.
Comfortable Upright Birth (CUB) is an inflatable labor and birth support support that you can use in a variety of ways during labor and birth. You can find helpful resources, information, and research that supports upright birth positions with the use of the CUB on their website.

You can also read this blog here

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Meet Our Authors

Sarah Geo Walton

Sarah is the owner of Bright Heart Birth Services and co-owner of the family boutique and support center The Nurturing Nest in Reno, Nevada. She is both a Birth and Postpartum Doula (DONA), a Certified GentleBirth Childbirth Educator, a trained Placenta Encapsulation Specialist and a Certified Birth Assistant.
Sarah grew up in an empowered do-it-yourself environment. Supporting others has always been, and continues to be, a large part of who she is. She shines best in moments of vulnerability and connection and has been known to do knee slides on the dance floor.

Emily Jacobson, Green Bay Doulas Wisconsin

Raised in Green Bay, Emily has been a labor and postpartum doula since 2011. In 2012, she added placenta encapsulation services to her list of expertise, in 2016 certified Newborn Care Specialist and 2017 Certified childbirth educator. Emily’s strength lies in supporting families through the childbearing years, in whatever manner they envision it unfolding. Prior to doula work, Emily worked as a nanny, respite provider and ABA behavioral therapist for 8+ years. She has extensive experience with special needs and children with spectrum disorders.

Shalini Wiseman, Chartered Physiotherapist in Women's Health & Continence

Shalini is the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist at the Cork Womens Clinic and works as a Senior Physiotherapist in Women’s Health and Continence at the Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH).
She has vast experience in treating a broad range of Women’s Health related conditions such as incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor dysfunctions, dyspareunia, and ante-natal and post-natal pelvic girdle dysfunction.

Alayna Spratley, Certified Childbirth Educator and Doula

Alayna is a certified childbirth educator through Lamaze and Birth Boot Camp and is also an Indie Birth community instructor. She helps families, community stakeholders, and professionals engage in meaningful conversations regarding birth equity, healthy and safe birth practices, and the benefits of shared decision-making! Alayna supports using a collaborative grassroots education and action model to ensure all people have a voice in improving birth outcomes for individuals, babies, and families. She steadfastly believes that peace on Earth begins with birth.

MeriBeth Glenn, Midwife in Pennsylvania

MeriBeth is from Pennsylvania. She has been involved in birth for nearly 20 years. Her jouney began as a doula, CBE and breastfeeding peer counselor. For the past 15 years MeriBeth has been a traditional midwife offering out-of-hospital birth. She has also had the honor of being a midwife teacher and mentor to several doulas and aspiring midwives. On a personal level, MeriBeth is a homeschooling mom to many blessings. Her personal birthing experiences gives her an important and valuable insight into birth and helping to support the natural process. It is her desire to see upright labor and birth postures become a normal and highly encouraged option for women in all birthing environments.

Sarah Newton, Doula in Virginia

Sarah is a certified Birth Doula and twice trained Postpartum Doula through DONA. Her practicing as a licensed massage therapist adds a lot to her doula experience which is now counting for more than 7 years. Sarah is passionate about guiding women and their families through pregnancy, childbirth, and the post-partum while attending all types of births as a doula.

Camille Nyman, Doula and Childbirth Educator in Maryland

Camille is a Certified Doula, Chidbirth Educator and Doula Agency Owner from northern Baltimore County, Maryland. She sits on board of two non-profit organizations working to improve birth. With a holistic perspective and emphasis on natural comfort measures, Camille is a passionate educator.

Gemma Wilson, Lamaze Childbirth Educator

Gemma is a Lamaze Childbirth Educator and Doula in Australia, owner of Birthability Birth Education. After the birth of her two children she saw and felt how amazing and empowering birth truly was so Gemma became a Doula as she wanted to help women to find their power. She is very passionate about providing support for women and their partners right at the time it is needed the most.

Michelle Hardy, Doula and ICEA Trainer in Wisconsin

Michelle has been working in the birth world for more than 15 years. She is a Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator and Breastfeeding Counselor. Michelle runs a non-profit organisation called Mothering The Mother as well as her private business Milwaukee Doulas. In addition to that she is a trainer with the ICEA.

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