Amy might look slightly awkward here, but this pushing position in bed is one of the best I’ve found. Let’s break it down.
If you look at this image sideways, you can see that Amy is actually squatting. Brilliant, I say! As we know, squats can open the pelvis 1 – 2 cm to make better space for the baby.
In reality, she’d be in her hospital bed. So, using your imagination… The chair she holds onto is the guard rail on the bed. Her lower foot is on the ascending portion of the squat bar. The bed would also have her head inclined to make this more comfortable and more gravity positive.
Josh would be standing next to the bed, not kneeling on the floor. This would give him more leverage if he’s helping to hold her leg during pushing.
Josh is not pushing or moving Amy’s leg. Amy moved it into position (knee pulled back close to her ribs and hips open wide) and Josh is the support to keep her leg where she put it.
To push effectively, Amy will pull on the guard rail and press her feet into the squat bar and into Josh. This helps her bear down using her skeletal muscles to access her core.
When Amy’s pushing contraction is finished, Josh lets her leg down gently, so she can rest till the next contraction.
Pro Tips
Can be done with or without an epidural.
Can lie on either right or left side, depending on what feels best and what baby needs to have a healthy heart rate.
The upper leg can be supported with a stirrup to press into as opposed to utilizing another person.
Check out the rest of the labor posture series with Josh and Amy:
- Rock Your Labor with these Birth Ball Pro-Tips
- Birth Ball Pro-Tips for Labor – Part 2
- Three Techniques to Keep You Calm During Labor
Want to know more?
In, Confident Birthing, my Lamaze class, we go over these labor postures and a host of others to make you more comfortable, speed labor along and teach your partner how to best support you during birth.
Can’t make a group class? Private childbirth classes are available either in-person or via Skype to get you ready for baby.
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