CUB stool and birth positions
  • Home
  • Buy Your CUB
    • CUB Brochure
    • Privacy & Cookie Policy
    • Terms & Conditions of Sale
  • The CUB Birthing Stool
    • Research on Upright birth
    • Birth Professionals
    • Hospital and Birth Centres
    • Resources on Upright birth
    • CUB FAQ
    • Contact Comfortable Upright Birth
  • CUB Blogs
  • Print Resources
  • Home
  • Buy Your CUB
    • CUB Brochure
    • Privacy & Cookie Policy
    • Terms & Conditions of Sale
  • The CUB Birthing Stool
    • Research on Upright birth
    • Birth Professionals
    • Hospital and Birth Centres
    • Resources on Upright birth
    • CUB FAQ
    • Contact Comfortable Upright Birth
  • CUB Blogs
  • Print Resources
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

6/23/2022 0 Comments

Upright Positions for Labor, Upright Positions for Birth

Picture
Upright Positions for Labor, Upright Positions for Birth

According to the United Nations About 385,000 babies are born every day, that’s an incredible 140 million a year. So, it is safe to say that for millions of mothers around the world knowing as much as they can and making labor and giving birth as safe and as easy as possible is a top priority!
Using a variety of birth positions and having an active labor where upright positions are included can have many benefits for birthing women and their babies when they are giving birth and being born.
Throughout history an upright birthing position and the use of a birthing stool or birthing chair was common in many cultures from the ancient Egyptians, the Aztecs, Medieval Europeans and in many African cultures! As far back as written records, carvings and paintings go, women have given birth in an upright position – whether it was using stacked bricks to create a type of birthing stool, a wooden seat or holding onto leaves and ropes hung from trees. There is even a famous drawing from Egypt that shows Cleopatra (69-30 BC) kneeling to give birth.

Historical documents show that laying down to give birth is a relatively modern practice as childbirth has become more medicalised. Giving birth laying down may have been encouraged to make it easier for midwives and obstetricians to assist during labor and birth and for others present to have an easier view of the birth!  It is widely reported that King Louis the XIV of France is believed to have enjoyed watching women give birth and was likely present in the room when his wife gave birth. However, it was the famed 17th-century French doctor François Mariceau who is generally credited with the practice of having women lie flat on their backs during birth. This has developed into the modern expectation that laying on your back or semi sitting with legs in the air is the ‘correct’ position for women to labor and give birth in.

Upright positions for labor include standing, sitting upright on a CUB birth stool or ball, squatting, kneeling and variations of kneeling, lunge position and all fours. Any one of these positions can also be used to give birth. It is important that your care providers and the people you choose to support you during childbirth know that you want to be upright, active, and mobile during labor as opposed to be confined to a hospital bed.                         
 
Why does an Upright Birthing Position Matter?

Many women report that giving birth when laying on their backs feels more painful, difficult, and uncomfortable than if they are free to move around and find positions that are more instinctive.
Studies have also shown that those that give birth in an upright position feel more in control of their birth and express greater satisfaction with their birthing experience. There is extensive research that shows the physical benefits for mothers and their babies when upright and active positions for birth are used and just some of these include:
  • Less risk of emergency Caesarean section,
  • Less rates of baby becoming distressed during labor
  • More available space within your pelvis making it easier for baby to be born
  • The time taken to become fully dilated can be shorter
  • The time taken to push baby out to birth is shorter
  • Contractions are more effective
  • Less need for medical intervention such as Ventous (suction)
  • Less need for a cut to your perineum (episiotomy)
 
 “The central principle of an active birth, is for the woman to be free to move spontaneously and be led by her body, adopting upright positions during labour and birth. This practice is universal and cross-cultural and makes birth easier, safer, more efficient, and less painful.”
Janet Balaskas Pioneer of the Active Birth Movement

 
   Next steps?    
  • Find out what resources are available to you for pregnancy, labor and birth from your care provider.
  • Consider buying a CUB as this is the most versatile and useful product to support you through all stages of pregnancy, labor, and birth if you are planning an active birth using upright positions

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    CUB Blogs

    Meet Our Authors

    Picture

    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. 

    Picture

    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. 

    Picture

    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. 

    Picture

    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.

    Picture

    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.

    Picture

    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. ​

    Picture

    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. 

    Picture

    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.

    Picture

    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.

    Do you want to become a blog or vlog author for the CUB? Contact us now

    Archives

    October 2022
    June 2022
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Unit A1a Olympic Business Park
Drybridge Rd
Dundonald
South Ayrshire
KA2 9BE
Scotland
​UK
​© 2021 Birthsparks Ltd
Buy your CUB
Shipping
Terms & Conditions of Sale
Privacy & Cookie Policy
Contact us
Picture