Effective Pushing Positions for Labor

So, you're getting ready to welcome your little one into the world, and you're wondering about the best positions for pushing? It's a great question! Let's dive into some comfortable options and why they're so beneficial.

The Power Factor

The most effective pushing positions are often those that allow you to work with your body and allow you to feel STRONG and POWERFUL, work with gravity, opening up your pelvis and making space for your baby.

Try This Exercise

To find what feels best for you, try this:

• Lie flat on your back (briefly). Notice how it feels.

• Move to your side with your top knee pulled toward your chest. Feel the difference in your pelvis?

• Get on your hands and knees. Rock gently.

• Stand up and lean forward against a table or chair. Sway your hips.

• Squat, keeping your hips above your knees, with your feet flat.

Positions to Consider

Many women find comfort in positions like:

• Squatting

• Semi-sitting

• Standing

• Side-lying

• Kneeling

• Hands-and-knees

• Semi-reclining

These positions help your baby navigate the birth canal. Using a variety of positions lets you respond to your baby’s changing position as they descend, rotate, and extend.

Trust Your Body

Remember, pushing is a reflex. It's natural, and you don't need to be taught how to do it. You'll feel the urge to bear down with each contraction, taking breaks in between. Move around, change positions, and breathe as you need to. There's no need to hold your breath or push in a certain way. You are the expert on your body.