birthing positions
Delivery body arrangements
Birthing positions are the various postures a woman may assume during labor and delivery.
These include lying on the back (supine), squatting, kneeling, hands-and-knees, side-lying, and standing.
Different positions can affect comfort, labor progression, and the baby's descent through the birth canal: The midwife encouraged her to try different birthing positions.
- kneelingLowering onto bent legs
- hands and kneesCrawling position
- all foursQuadrupedal posture
- lithotomySurgical removal of calculi
- sittingBeing in seated posture
reclining · upright · squatting · standing · pelvis · pelvic floor · midwife · hips · delivery · labor · back labor · gravity · bed · pain-relieving · push · hands · water immersion · leaning
- childbirthcontractions, labor, pushing, dilation, crowning
- doula serviceslabor support, postpartum care, prenatal care, breastfeeding support, lactation support
birthing positionscesarean section
Surgical childbirth method
C-section · surgical delivery · emergency C-section · forceps delivery · vacuum extraction
birthing positionsimmobilization
Preventing movement entirely
lithotomy position · general anesthesia · paralysis · sedation