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13 Best Labor and Birthing Positions

For nine months you prep and plan for baby’s arrival. You read books, watch videos and maybe even take a birthing class or two. But while movies and TV shows have led many of us to believe both labor and delivery happen while lying on your back with your legs spread wide, anyone who’s been through the experience will tell you it doesn’t have to play out that way.

There are actually a variety of labor positions you can assume during the first phases of childbirth and a whole other set that makes for good birthing positions when it’s time to push—and they don’t all call for you to be flat on your back. “Rotating between different labor and birthing positions is important to optimize conditions for the mom and baby,” says Sara Twogood, MD, an obstetrician gynecologist at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and author of Ladypartsblog.com. “For Mom, this could mean making her more comfortable, especially if she’s having a medication-free birth. It can also mean maximizing the space in her pelvis so baby has more room.”

Here’s a primer on some of the best labor and birthing positions to help you prepare for the big day.

In this article:
Best labor positions
Best birthing positions

Best Labor Positions

The process of giving birth takes work (it’s not called “labor” for nothing). But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t find a way to be as comfortable as humanly possible. “Labor positions are used during the labor process to help ease discomfort, move the baby down through the pelvis and encourage optimal fetal positioning,” says Lindsey Bliss, a birth doula and co-director of Carriage House Birth in New York City. “If you end up choosing not to utilize drugs for pain management, labor positions are essential for easing discomfort.”

Active labor, the phase in which contractions come on strong, is often when things really start to hurt. But keep in mind that women don’t start pushing until the cervix is fully dilated—for some women, this happens quickly; for others, not so much. So as your body and baby prepare for delivery, there are several labor positions your doctor or midwife may suggest to get you to the pushing point more comfortably. “Labor and delivery nurses are usually really great at helping a woman move around, even with an epidural, to find the labor positions that feel best for them,” Twogood says. “I recommend women try out a number of positions during labor. Every woman and baby is different, and what works for one woman won’t be ideal for another.”

Check out some of the most common labor positions:

The hands and knees position

The all fours position calls for you to get down onto your hands and knees, either in bed or on a floor mat. “The hands and knees position is a great one, since it helps open the pelvis,” says Rebekah Wheeler,** RN, CNM, is a certified nurse-midwife in the Bay Area, California. . Adds Megan Cheney, MD, MPH, medical director of the Women’s Institute at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, “Sometimes baby’s heart rate responds better when you’re in the hands and knees position, especially if baby isn’t in the best spot.”

Pros:

Cons:

• Your arms may get tired

The sitting position

When you feel baby’s weight bearing down, you may just want to sit down—and that’s okay. Whether it’s in a birthing chair or even on a toilet, sitting and spreading your legs in this labor position can relieve some of the pressure on your pelvis.

Pros:

• Good for resting
• Can still be used with a fetal monitoring machine
• Sitting on a toilet relaxes the perineum, which can help reduce tearing

Cons:

• A hard toilet seat can become uncomfortable
• May not be an option if you’ve had high blood pressure during pregnancy

Birthing ball positions

Besides sitting on a birthing chair or toilet, you can also work the birthing ball into your labor positions. There are more than a few women who hail the prop as their BFF during labor and delivery. “Birthing balls provide support while you shift around,” Twogood says. “Women who want movement in their hips seem to find them helpful.” You can use a birthing ball in several ways: Some women sit or rock on it, lean against it or simply drape their upper bodies over it while kneeling. It can even be used as support while squatting. “I’m a huge fan,” Bliss says. “It’s great because women can continue bouncing and moving through the contractions even while being monitored. ” Check beforehand to see if your hospital uses wireless fetal monitors; if not, you’ll be limited in how far you can move in these labor positions.

Pros:

• Can help move baby into a favorable birthing position

• Relieves back pressure

• Birthing ball labor positions can help encourage dilation and move baby deeper into the pelvis

Cons:

The squatting position

Squats rarely top anyone’s list of favorite exercises, but on the day you give birth, you may want to give them a try as one of your labor positions. Squatting can be done against a wall or with the support of a chair or partner.

Pros:

Cons:

• May become tiring

The side-lying position

Lying on your side is one of the best labor positions to try when you need a rest. That said, just because you’re lying down doesn’t mean your body is taking a break from labor; on the contrary, it can actually help baby move into the ready position. “Side-lying and using a peanut-shaped birthing ball between the legs are wonderful tools for getting baby to descend and rotate,” Bliss says. “I encourage my clients to flip from side to side during the process to help baby come down and out.”

Pros:

• Helps get oxygen to baby

• Can be used if you have high blood pressure

• Makes it easier to relax during contractions

Cons:

• May be difficult to assess fetal heartbeat

The upright position

Gravity may not be your best friend during pregnancy, but you can make it work to your advantage during childbirth through upright labor positions. Whether you’re standing, walking or swaying, simply being vertical can get you closer to the finish line. “Walking can be helpful for women who are waiting for labor to progress,” Cheney says. Amy, a mother of two from Connecticut, found that to be the case. “I walked laps around the hospital wing to speed things up,” she says. Swaying while using another person as support is also a good way to work through labor. “Rocking your hips keeps baby moving lower and lower,” Wheeler says. (It’s also good for getting a final hug of support from your partner before the main event!) Here are some other things to consider when it comes to the upright position:

Pros:

Cons:

The lunging position

Doing lunges during labor may not sound like your idea of a good time, but lunging is one of the labor positions you may want to give a whirl. Unlike at the gym, you can put your foot up on a chair for these lunges: Simply lean your body forward onto the raised foot when you feel a contraction coming on. You can repeat it as many times as you want.

Pros:

Cons:

• Requires a partner to help you keep your balance

The stair-climbing position

If labor has been progressing nicely and then starts to slow down, baby might need extra encouragement to slip into the optimal position for birth. You may want to consider climbing stairs as one of your labor positions, since it can help baby shift.

Pros:

Cons:

• Can be tiring, especially if you’ve been in labor for a while

Best Birthing Positions

You’ve made it through the first stages of labor—congrats! Now it’s time to switch things up and assume birthing positions for the final stretch. “Birthing positions are used to push baby out,” Bliss says. Like labor positions, birthing positions don’t always equal lying on your back. In fact, “women who are in bed tend to experience more pain than women who move around,” Wheeler says. Here are some of the best birthing positions to try.

Squatting birth positions

Squats aren’t only great to do during labor, but they’re also among the popular birthing positions. Remember, when it comes to labor and delivery, gravity is on your side.

Pros:

Cons:

Reclining birth positions

Childbirth is hard work, and you might need to take a break—which is why many women opt for reclining birthing positions. Keep in mind, “reclining” can mean a number of things—yes, you can lie down in bed, but you can also recline against a wall, a chair or another person.

Pros:

• Can release tension and relax the muscles
• May be a good alternative if a woman is tired but doesn’t want to lie down completely

Cons:

• Can work against gravity

Birthing stool positions

A birthing stool can be used in a variety of birthing positions: Women can squat on it, get in the all fours position and use it to support the arms or even rock back and forth with it, depending on the design of the stool. Bonus: If you like the idea of a water birth, there are some birthing stool models that work in the water.

Pros:

• Can help baby move farther down

• Relieves stress on the back

• Can increase dilation of the cervix

Cons:

• Women may experience increased blood loss

Birthing bar positions

Call it the birthing stool’s cousin: The birthing bar is an attachment that can be added to many labor beds to help support birthing positions. With a birthing bar, you can sit up at any time and squat, leaning on the bar for support. “The birthing bar can be an awesome tool. You can wrap a towel on it to make it easier to use and switch positions,” Wheeler says. That proved to be true for Jennifer, a mom of two from Connecticut, who recalls that “after about two hours of pushing with no success, the birthing bar was put on the bed. It helped me get the resistance I needed to push to the point where the doctor could intervene.”

Pros:

Cons:

• May not be available at all hospitals

Kneeling birth positions

If baby is facing Mom’s abdomen instead of her back, kneeling can help them turn to get into the proper position. Kneeling is one of the most popular birthing positions because it also gives mom a much-needed break.

Pros:

Cons:

• May be difficult for continuous fetal monitoring

When it comes to labor and birthing positions, discuss all options with your doctor or midwife to land on the ones that will be most comfortable and practical for you. “Every baby and mom responds to positions differently. It’s the job of the labor assistant to help figure out what works best,” Wheeler says. Whichever labor and birthing positions you choose, it’ll all be worth it when baby is finally placed in your arms.

Updated February 2020

Expert bios:

Sara Twogood, MD, FACOG, is a board certified obstetrician-gynecologist at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Previously, she held a faculty appointment at USC Keck School of Medicine and practiced general OBGYN in an affiliated private practice. Twogood is also the author of Ladypartsblog.com, which covers topics relating to fertility and pregnancy, and the founder of FemEd, a program designed to empower females through health education.

Lindsey Bliss is a birth doula and co-founder of Carriage House Birth, a doula agency established in New York City in 2012 that now serves Los Angeles as well.

Rebekah Wheeler, RN, CNM, MPH, is a certified nurse-midwife in the Bay Area, California. She is the founder of the Malawi Women’s Health Collective, a small non-profit organization, and has served on the boards of the California Nurse-Midwifery Association, Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island and the Women’s Health and Education Fund of Southeastern Massachusetts. She holds a Master’s of Public Health and a Master’s of Science in Nursing from Yale University.

Megan Cheney, MD, MPH, is an ob-gyn and the medical director of the Women’s Institute at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. She earned her medical degree from University of Arizona College of Medicine in 2009.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Plus, more from The Bump:

4 Must-Know Strategies for an Easier Labor and Delivery

5 Medication Options for Pain Relief During Labor

What to Expect During the Different Stages of Labor

Regulations on the council of the labor collective

1.

1.1. The general meeting and the council of the labor collective of the Yuzhny Children's Creativity Center are created and operate in order to promote the implementation of self-government principles, the development of labor and social initiative in the work of the entire staff of the institution, and the expansion of collegial, democratic forms of management.

1.2. The self-governing bodies of the institution work in close contact with the administration in accordance with the current legislation.

1.3. The council of the labor collective operates in the absence of a trade union organization in the institution and largely assumes the functions of its committee.

1.4. The council of the labor collective makes decisions in the interests of the collective, without prejudice to the private and individual interests of the individual worker.

2. PRINCIPLES OF PARTICIPATION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE WORK COLLECTIVE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE INSTITUTION.

2.1. The Council of the labor collective participates in the management of the center for children's creativity "Southern" on the basis of:

· harmonious combination of the interests of the state, society, collective and personality of its members;

· unity of command of the administration combined with the broad participation of team members in management;

· unity of rights and obligations of all members of the labor collective;

· steady observance of labor, production discipline, protection of the rights and legitimate interests of each member of the team;

· comprehensive development of labor and social activity and creative initiative of the employees of the center, their participation in the management of the institution, creation of conditions for the development and self-realization of the individual;

· Collective discussion and solution of issues related to the Centre's activities;

· development of criticism and self-criticism, a comprehensive assessment of the activities of administrative workers and other members of the team, increasing the responsibility of team members for fulfilling the tasks of the institution and maintaining its positive image.

· Publicity, systematic information of members of the team about the activities of the center, consideration of public opinion.

3. FUNCTIONS OF THE WORK COUNCIL

The labor collective council, acting as the executive body of the general meeting of the labor collective, performs the following functions:

3.1. Preliminarily considers the most important issues of the production and social life of the labor collective, submitted for discussion and final decision of the general meeting of the labor collective. These issues primarily include:

- plans to develop the institution and its structures, improve the organization of the educational process, improve the working and living conditions of those working in the institution;

- strengthening the material and technical base of the center as the basis for the life of the team;

- collective agreement;

- internal labor regulations.

3.2. Convenes a general meeting of the labor collective as necessary, but at least twice a year, ensures the conditions for its effective work, the adoption of reasonable and optimal decisions that realize the interests of the labor collective and each of its members personally.

3.3. Monitors the implementation of decisions of general meetings, the implementation of critical comments and suggestions of team members, informs the team about their implementation.

3.4. Organizes reports of managers at general meetings of the labor collective. Summarizes criticisms of leaders and makes proposals at meetings to improve the state of affairs.

3.5. Together with the administration of the center, it solves issues of improving the management and organizational structure of the center, using development funds to improve the material and technical base of the institution.

3.6. It takes measures to widely introduce the achievements of science, advanced pedagogical technologies, scientific organization of labor and management into the educational process.

3.7. Ensures compliance with the rules of internal labor regulations, production and labor discipline, coordinates with the administration of the center measures of influence against the perpetrators in accordance with the current legal framework.

3.8. Oversees the provision of benefits and benefits to educators-innovators and educators of excellence. Decides on the application of measures of moral and material incentives for success in work, comes up with proposals for the provision of employees for state awards.

3.9. Together with the administration, it solves the issues of compliance of material incentives for the remuneration of employees with a personal contribution to ensuring the success of the center's workforce. Discusses proposals on bonuses to employees and the provision of monthly supplements to the official salary of employees for performing work in excess of official duties and for special working conditions from the savings of the wage fund and approves the justified decision of the administration to change the amount of additional payments paid.

3.10. Controls the rational use of budget allocations and sponsorship funds for the institution.

3.11. Discusses and approves comprehensive plans for the improvement of conditions, labor protection, fire safety and sanitary measures and monitors the implementation of these plans.

3.12. Controls the use of funds for labor protection, and compliance by all employees with the rules and instructions for labor protection.

3.14. Participates in solving issues related to the placement of children in preschool educational institutions, providing them with vouchers to health camps and sanatoriums at the expense of social insurance.

3.15. Shows concern for pensioners who were previously members of the labor collective, promotes their active participation in the public life of the collective, the transfer of pedagogical skills.

3.16. Participates in the decision of questions in the organization of rest of members of collective and their families.

3.17. Within the framework of the current legislation, takes the necessary measures to protect teaching staff and the administration of the institution from unreasonable interference in their professional and official activities; suppresses any attempts of command-administrative diktat in relation to the staff of the institution, restrictions of its independence.

3.18. Accepts for consideration applications from teachers and other employees of the center about violation of their personal rights, humiliation of their dignity, violations of labor protection rules that harm their physical and mental health. Considers mutual claims of individual employees to each other, as well as to the heads of the institution.

4. ORGANIZATION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COUNCIL OF THE WORK COLLECTIVE OF THE CDT "YUZHNY"

4.1. The council of the labor collective of the institution acts as the supreme body of collective self-government in the period between meetings of the collective.

4.2. The council of the labor collective is elected at the general meeting of the labor collective from among the employees of the institution, in accordance with their personal qualities, qualifications and competence by secret or open voting. The method of voting is determined by the decision of the general meeting.

4.3. The term of office of the elected members of the council is three years. The number of members is determined by the meeting, but not less than three of its members. At the next elections, the composition of the council is renewed by at least one third. A member of the council who has not justified the trust of the collective may be removed from its composition by the decision of the meeting of the labor collective before the expiration of the term of office.

4.5. The chairman of the council of the labor collective is elected either by the members of the newly elected council, or by the meeting of the collective for the entire term of the council. The choice method is determined at the meeting by open voting.

4.6. Members of the council of the labor collective perform their duties on a voluntary basis. Members of the council are members of the council of the center of creativity, commissions for the protection of the rights of employees, labor protection and temporary commissions for attestation of workplaces.

4.7. The council of the labor collective acts as a collegial governing body of the center. Decisions of the Council are valid if at least two thirds of the Council were present at its meeting and at least two thirds of those present voted for them. All decisions at meetings are taken by open vote. If any of the members of the council disagrees with the decision made at the meeting, he has the right to submit the issue for discussion and decision of the general meeting of the labor collective.

4.8. The labor collective council operates in an atmosphere of wide publicity. Each employee of the center may attend the meeting of the council. The Council of the labor collective takes measures to widely inform the employees of the center about its activities.

4.9. Meetings of the labor collective council are held at least once a month.

4.10. The director of the educational institution, in case of disagreement with the decision of the council and the meeting of the labor collective of the Southern Children's Center, suspends the implementation of the decision, notifies the founder - the department of education, science and youth of the administration of the city of Ryazan. Management within ten days, with the participation of interested parties, considers the application, gets acquainted with the motivated opinion of the majority of the members of the center's staff and makes a final decision on the controversial issue.

"Declaration on the unified labor school" published

On October 16, 1918, the decrees of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee "Basic principles of the unified labor school" and "Regulations on the unified labor school of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic" were published. Among the pedagogical community, the decrees were known under the name "Declaration on a unified labor school." They proclaimed new principles and methods of educational activity of the Soviet school and formed a unified system of school education.

The development of the "Basic Principles of the Unified Labor School" and the "Regulations on the Unified Labor School" took place during 1918 at the State Commission for Education under the guidance of public and party leaders: A. V. Lunacharsky, N. K. Krupskaya, P. N. Lepeshinsky. In August 1918, the draft "Regulations" was unanimously approved by the 1st All-Russian Congress on Education.

"Declaration on a unified labor school" emphasized the connection of the school with politics, as the main principle of Soviet pedagogy. Particular attention was paid to the issues of democratization of the school: the general accessibility of the school at all levels was established; the task was to introduce universal compulsory primary education; the school was declared secular. A single school was created with two stages: 1st stage - 5 years, 2nd stage - 4 years; school polytechnics were introduced.

It was proposed to put the principle of organization of educational material on the basis of social and labor activity into the construction of new programs. The content and methods of educational work, proclaimed by the "Declaration", required taking into account the interests of students, their activity and amateur performance, the development of children's creativity, and the close connection of school with life. The "Declaration" pointed out the great educational role of children's physical labor, recommended the productive labor of students, work in school areas, self-service of students at school; called various types of handicraft work, which schoolchildren of the 1st stage of education were supposed to master. In the upper grades of the school, it was recommended to introduce the productive labor of students in industry and agriculture. A great place was given to the comprehensive development of the personality of students, in particular, physical and aesthetic education: gymnastics, games, sports, rhythm, drawing, modeling, singing and music. The "Declaration" also proclaimed respect for children. Students were provided with ample opportunities to show initiative, student organizations with broad powers were created.

The main goal of the new school was to provide all segments of the population with equal secondary and higher professional education, which is necessary in the conditions of the country's accelerated industrialization. “The whole system of normal schools from kindergarten to university is one school, one continuous ladder. This means that all children should enter the same type of school and begin their education in the same way, that they all have the right to climb the ladder to its highest rungs, ”the Declaration emphasized.

Lit.: Blonsky P.P. Labor school (1919) // Blonsky P.P. Selected pedagogical and psychological works. T. 1. M., 1979; Kotryakhov N.V., Holmes L.E. Theory and practice of labor school in Russia (1917-1932). Kirov, 1993; Levitin S.A. Labor school. T. 1. M., 1919; Public education in the USSR. Comprehensive school. Sat. dok-tov 1917-1973. M., 1974; Basic principles of the unified labor school. From the State Commission for Education October 16, 1918 // National Education. 1999. No. 10. S. 40-47; Panchenko O. G., Birich I. A. The development of pedagogical thought in Russia: the philosophy of education and upbringing (based on the pages of the Anthology of Humane Pedagogy).

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