Upright Positions for Labor, Upright Positions for Birth
Upright Positions for Labor, Upright Positions for Birth
According to the United Nations around 385,000 babies are born every day, that’s an incredible 140 million a year. So, it is safe to say that for millions of mothers around the world knowing as much as they can and making labor and giving birth as safe and as easy as possible is a top priority! Using a variety of birth positions and having an active labor where upright positions are included has been shown to have many benefits during childbirth for both mothers and their babies when they are giving birth and being born.
What are upright positions? Upright positions are any movement or position that allows your pelvis to open, adjust and move freely during childbirth. These include standing, sitting upright (at more than a 60% angle), squatting, kneeling and variations of kneeling, including lunge positions and all fours (hands and knees). Any one of these positions can also be used to give birth. It is important that your care providers and the people you choose to support you during childbirth know that you want to be upright, active, and mobile during labor as opposed to be confined to a hospital bed. What is most important is that your movement is not restricted in any way and that you can move as much or as little as you need to, or can, during labour.
Why does an Upright Birthing Position Matter? Many women report that giving birth when laying on their backs makes them feel: less able to manage sensations, increased pain, more difficulty when pushing and generally much more discomfort compared to moving around and using positions that are more instinctive. Studies have also shown that those that give birth in an upright position feel more in control of their birth and express greater satisfaction with their birthing experience.
There is extensive research that shows the physical benefits for mothers and their babies when upright and active positions for birth are used and just some of these include:
- A 29% reduced risk of emergency Caesarean section.
- A 54% reduction of the risk of baby becoming distressed during labor.
- An increase of 28-30% more available space within the pelvis making it easier for baby to be born.
- A reduction in the time taken to become fully dilated can be shorter.
- The time taken to push baby out to birth is shorter.
- Contractions can be significantly more effective.
- A 23% reduced risk for the need for medical intervention such as Ventous (suction)
- A 21% reduced risk for a cut to your perineum being necessary (episiotomy)
Janet Balaskas Pioneer of the Active Birth Movement
What is the Comfortable Upright Birth (CUB) support? The CUB is an inflatable device that is designed to be used during late pregnancy, labor and birth as a comfortable support and positioning aid. It helps the user to have all the advantages of an active labour and upright position for childbirth while providing support, comfort, and the opportunity to rest when needed. The CUB is manufactured from medical grade PVC that is natural Latex free. This is the same material as many hospital chair seats and hospital bed mattresses. In fact, nearly 30% of all plastic-based medical devices are made of PVC. The CUB meets the 6P standard for phthalate free manufacture under ECC Directive 2005/84, CPSIA and AB 1108. Phthalates are plasticizers are used to make PVC stretch more and are commonly used to make some products, including birth/gym balls, cheap to manufacture. However, these chemicals are toxic and easily absorbed by the skin. Products with these chemical plasticizers are NOT recommended for use during pregnancy as they are known hormone disruptor's. The CUB is manufactured in an ISO certified for quality control factory and meets EN 71-1, 71-2, 71-3 for non-toxic products that are safe for prolonged skin exposure .
When can the CUB be used?
- The CUB can be used at home in late pregnancy to promote optimal foetal positioning and to relieve symptoms of Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) including lower back pain.
- The CUB can be used all through labor, at home, in birth centres or in hospital. It can also be easily moved between locations if required.
- The CUB can be used during intermittent monitoring of the baby's heart rate, continuous electronic monitoring, epidural (on a hospital bed in a single inflation) IV fluid infusion, induction and of course in natural labor and birth as the user needs.
- The CUB can be used as a support during birth in a range of positions.
- The CUB can be used when the placenta is being birthed in a physiological third stage, with Delayed Cord Clamping (DCC) or with a managed delivery of the placenta.