Comfortable positions for fast, efficient labour and birth

Making labour comfortable There are many simple things you can do to ease the pain, follow your instincts and respond to your feelings during birth. Talking about the pain Exploring the many options and possibilities for labour and birth is important. Your goody bag Taking things from home is a way of making the labour ward seem more familiar, as well as enabling you to be more comfortable during the birth.

Here are some suggestions for positions you may find useful during labour. For more ideas, see Preparing for Birth: Mothers for the full range of possibilities.

Basics to remember with all these suggestions:

• The woman should be as fully supported as possible, using people, pillows, bean bags or furniture, to allow her to fully relax.

• Knees should be bent to avoid tiredness in the legs and to make pelvic rocking easier.

• Her feet should be apart to give a wide base for support, and to encourage open' positions.

• Be creative in your adaptation of available furniture in the hospital. If you need extra pillows or a stool or chair, request these.

• Once a comfortable position is found, use it until she signals that it is no longer helping her relax. Change positions only as she indicates, unless you are positioning for a specific purpose, such as to help the baby turn from posterior or to encourage the baby to move down further into the pelvis.

First stage

Leaning forward with pillows under your bottom and feet is one of the most comfortable positions for labour

Some women find asymmetrical positions help ease pressure points.

You can easily use a bedpan like this.

Transition

Standing or sitting in the shower will help ease much of the pain, especially towards the end of the first stage.

It is easy to rest if you are well supported by pillows or a bean bag.

Use well wrung-out hot, wet towels draped over the buttocks for lower back pain.

Knee-chest position for a premature urge to push in transition.

Second stage

In second stage, a woman needs to be able to brace her body to push effectively. She will seek something to grip and will prefer to be upright with her feet planted firmly on a floor mat and good support from her partner or other helpers. Furniture can also be used as a source of support.

Sitting on the toilet often helps early pushing contractions become more coordinated.

A mirror is useful to enable to father and caregivers to see the baby's progress towards birth. Women usually have their eyes tightly closed at this time!

leaning forward over pillows or a bean bag is useful if you have to be on the bed.