This document discusses physiological birth and beneficial birth positions. Physiological birth involves no unnecessary interventions and supports the natural birth process. Some benefits include less pain, quicker recovery, and improved bonding. The document then describes various positions that can help speed up labor or be used when pushing, including standing, lunging, side-lying, kneeling, balls, tubs, hands/knees, and squatting. It recommends avoiding lithotomy position due to increased risks and concludes with descriptions of pant-pant-blow breathing.

2. PHYSIOLOGICAL BIRTH WITH POSITION
DURING LABOR AND CHILD BIRTH

3. Physiological Birth
• This means that there are no interventions performed that disrupt the
normal physiologic process.
• In the absence of complications that may warrant intervention,
supporting the physiologic process of labor and birth has the potential
to enhance birth outcome and experiences.

4. Benefits of Physiologic Birth
• Less postpartum pain
• Quicker physical recovery from the birth
• Increase in self- esteem as a result of the birth
• Enhanced bonding with the baby
• Reduced likelihood of post- natal depression
• An easier breastfeeding experience
(Romana and lothian , 2008)

5. Birth positions

6. Some Powerful Positions that Can Help Speed Up Labor
• Standing and leaning forward
• Lunging with a prop
• Side- lying
• Knee- chest
• Double hip squeeze
• Walking
• Circling on an exercise ball
• Laboring in a tub

7. Standing and leaning forward on bed /dresser with hip
compression
Description
 Stand and lean forward on dresser, bed, table
, support person on bed on hands and knees.
 Gives clear access for support person to
squeeze hips of give a back rub.
Overall ideas:
 Moving hips while standing helps to open
pelvis and bring baby down.

8. Lunging with a prop
Description
 Stand beside secured prop on face forward
 Raise knee turn out foot, rhythmically lunge
sideways during a contraction
 Feel a stretch in inner thigh
Overall ideas:
 By lunging, pelvis is encouraged to open ,
allowing baby more room to change position
 Backache may be eased

9. Side-lying, Semi- prone
Description
 lie on side, roll slightly forward , straighten or
bend bottom leg , flex top hip and knee
 Support top knee with folded cloth/ pillow/
towel between legs
Overall ideas:
 A good position for resting and helping the baby
to change position

10. Knee- chest
Description
 Begin on hands and knees, spread elbows out
to the side, lower chest and rest head on
hands/ forearms
 Keep buttocks higher than chest
Overall ideas:
 Helpful in easing pressure felt in hips
 Can relieve pressure on a swollen cervix or
presenting part and is good for early labor

11. Double Hip Squeeze
• Mother stands or kneels and leans forward on a
secure prop
• Support person stands behind mother
find mother’s waist then pelvic bones at sides of
hips, lastly part of buttocks
Squeeze both hips together toward center with
whole palm of hands
Use as much pressure as mother needs during
each contractions.

12. Double Hip Squeeze in different position

13. Walking
• Walking earlier in labor or during active
labor is a proven way to keep your labor
moving along.

14. Circling on an Exercise Ball
• Sitting on an exercise/yoga ball during labor can
help you get your groove on in progressing
labor -- and it often feels good, too!

15. Laboring in a Tub
• Getting into a tub, once active labor is well
established (6cm+) or during transition can
often ease labor along.
• Laboring in a tub promotes relaxation and
helps relieve tension, both of which have
been shown to help with labor progress.

16. Pushing positions during child birth
• Hands and Knees
• Semi prone with top leg support
• Squatting with support person sitting behind
• Squatting with support person standing and leaning back

17. Positions for Birth

18. Hands and Knees
Description
 Evenly distribute weight over knees and
palms of hands
Overall ideas:
 Good for slow or back labor, helps baby to
rotate if op or if shoulders are stuck
 Helps to reduce tearing

19. Semi prone with top leg support
Description
 Mother lies on her side, flex hips, bend
both knees
Overall ideas :
 Helps to slow down a very fast pushing
stage and aides in preventing tears.

20. Squatting with Support Person Standing or leaning Back
Description
 Mother squats facing support person
 Support person faces mother, stands, holds
the mother’s hands and leans back
Overall ideas:
Gravity and an opening pelvis helps to move
the baby down and rotate as needed
An urge to push may be triggered. Can
shorten length of pushing stage, reduce rates
of assisted birth, and decrease need for
episiotomy.

21. Squatting with support person sitting behind
Description
 Mother squats on floor facing forward while support
person sits behind her on a stool, pail or edge of bed
with feet spread wide.
 Mother can rest her arms on her support person’s
thighs, be supported under her arm piTs by the arms
of her supporter or they can hold hands.
Overall ideas:
 A good position for labor
 Pelvic outlet widens and gravity helps to move the
baby down.
 Stimulate the urge to push, relives backache.

22. What literature says?
• Lithotomy and supine position should be avoided for the
possible increased risk of severe perineal trauma,
comparatively longer labor, greater pain, and more fetal heart
rate patterns.

23. Pant- pant-blow Breathing
• As your contraction starts, take a deep breath in through your
nose.
• Breath out through your mouth in 2 short pants followed by
one longer blow.
• Repeat the steps until the contraction stops. Each cycle should
take about 10 seconds.

24. References
• A review and comparison of common maternal positions
during the second-stage of labor: 2019 , Published online 2019
Jun 20. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2019.06.007
• https://www.womenandinfants.org/blog/physiologic-birth