Post by Student_Nurse Eno Wellington (@eno_wellington)

One thing about childbirth that we really need to start questioning is the idea that a woman must lie flat on her back to give birth.

When you're standing, squatting, kneeling or in another upright position, your body can use gravity to help the baby move down.

Your pelvis is also able to move more freely. Certain upright positions can increase the available space through the pelvis and allow the pelvic joints to move during labour.

And for many women, being upright can also make the experience more comfortable and help them cope better with the pain. Labour pain is different for every woman, so I won't tell you that squatting or standing will automatically make the pain disappear. But being able to move and find a position that feels comfortable can make a real difference.

Now compare that with lying completely flat on your back.

You're no longer using gravity to your advantage, the position can restrict some natural pelvic movement, and the weight of the uterus can put pressure on major blood vessels, potentially affecting the mother's circulation and blood flow to the placenta.

And this is where we need to be careful.

If there is significant oxygen deprivation around birth, it can cause brain injury, and brain injury around the time of birth can contribute to cerebral palsy in some cases. But we cannot say that lying on the back itself causes cerebral palsy. The relationship is much more complicated than that.

The point is not that every woman must stand or squat.

The point is that women should not be made to believe that lying flat on their backs is the only “proper” way to give birth.

If it is medically safe, a woman should be able to move, squat, kneel, stand, sit, lie on her side or choose another position that works for her.

Let gravity work with you. Let your pelvis move. Find a position that helps you cope with the pain.

And most importantly, as a woman, you have the right to be informed about your options and choose the position you deem fit during delivery, when it is medically safe for you and your baby.

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