Empowering Natural Childbirth with the CUB: Top 5 Positions to Support Your Birth Journey

Childbirth is a transformative experience, and for many women, a natural birth is a deeply personal and empowering choice. Natural, also known as vaginal childbirth focuses on minimizing medical interventions and embracing the body’s innate ability to bring life into the world. However, comfort and support during labor are key to making this experience as smooth and fulfilling as possible. This includes following your bodies cues to move as much, or as little, as you feel you need to. It can also include additional pain relief, or coping mechanisms such as hypnobirthing, water or even an epidural. 

That’s where the CUB (Comfortable Upright Birth) comes in. Created by a midwife, the CUB is the world’s only inflatable product specifically designed to support pregnancy, labor, and birth. Its versatility and ergonomic design allow mothers to adopt and maintain upright positions, which are proven to help labor progress more efficiently and comfortably.

In this blog, we’ll explore the top 5 positions for using the CUB during natural childbirth, empowering you to take charge of your birthing journey.

1. Kneeling 

This position is perfect for relieving pressure on the lower back and pelvis. By kneeling on a soft surface and leaning forward onto the CUB, you can take advantage of gravity to encourage your baby’s descent. The CUB provides stable support for your arms, chest, and head, allowing you to relax between contractions.

**Benefits:**
- Opens the pelvis, giving your baby more space to move down.
- Reduces strain on the lower back.
- Encourages relaxation and controlled breathing.

2. Sitting Upright
The CUB is designed to provide a comfortable and stable seat, even on a hospital bed. Sitting upright on the CUB keeps your pelvis aligned and allows for natural movement, which can help your baby find the best position for birth. This position is particularly helpful if you’ve had an epidural, as it keeps you upright while providing full support.

**Benefits:**
- Promotes optimal fetal positioning.
- Encourages gravity to assist in labor progression.
- Provides comfort and stability, even with medical interventions.

3. Squatting                                                                            Squatting can be a great position for some people, however you will need to practice this position before labor unless you are used to doing it! Squatting can be difficult to maintain and requires balance and leg strength. The main advantage of squatting is that it can open the joints in the pelvis giving baby more room to move down through the birth canal. Do not attempt to squat if you have any pelvic or lower back pain. With the CUB's support, you can squat comfortably without straining your knees or legs. The inflatable design cushions your body, helping you focus on your breathing and the birthing process.

**Benefits:**
- Maximizes pelvic opening for easier delivery.
- Uses gravity to assist with pushing.
- Reduces the need for external interventions.

4. Side-Lying Support
For mothers that need to rest during labor, the side-lying position is an excellent choice as it allows the joints in the back of your pelvis to remain mobile, creating maximum space for baby to move through your pelvis. Inflate only one chamber of the CUB and place it either between your legs or next to you on the bed or floor and use it to support your upper leg. This position is especially useful if you’re conserving energy for the pushing stage or if you’re experiencing fatigue.

**Benefits:**
-Reduces pressure on your perineum while letting your pelvic joints move.                        -Provides a restful position while keeping the pelvis aligned.
- Ideal for laboring mothers who prefer a more relaxed approach.

5. Hands and Knees
The hands-and-knees position is a classic choice for relieving back labor and encouraging your baby to rotate into the optimal position for birth. With the CUB, you can rest your arms and chest comfortably while maintaining this posture. This position also allows for gentle rocking movements, which can soothe discomfort and aid in labor progression.

**Benefits:**
- Eases back pain and pressure.
- Helps rotate a posterior baby into the ideal birthing position.
- Encourages natural movement and relaxation.

Why Choose the CUB for Natural Childbirth?
The CUB is more than just a birthing aid—it’s a tool designed to empower women during one of life’s most significant moments. Its lightweight, portable, and inflatable design makes it easy to use at home, in hospitals, or in birthing centers. Whether you’re planning a water birth, a home birth, or a hospital birth, the CUB adapts to your needs and supports your journey to motherhood.

By promoting upright positions, the CUB not only enhances comfort but also aligns with evidence-based practices that show upright birthing positions can:
- Shorten labor duration.
- Reduce the likelihood of medical interventions.
- Improve overall maternal satisfaction.

Conclusion
Natural/Vaginal childbirth is about trusting your body and making choices that align with your values and preferences. The CUB is here to support you every step of the way, offering comfort, stability, and freedom of movement during labor and birth.

By embracing these top 5 positions with the CUB, you can create a birthing experience that is not only empowering but also deeply connected to your body’s natural rhythm.

Ready to take the next step? Visit [CUB Mama](https://www.cubmama.com) to learn more about how the CUB can support your childbirth journey.