What is wrong with giving birth lying down?

Question

According to this page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamaze

Lamaze insists that women shouldn't give birth lying down. But I can't find any reason WHY... it must hurt an awful lot to be standing around when you're having a baby. Why does this doctor say a woman has to stand?

Answer 1

gravity. the baby will move futher down and you will be abl;e to give birth better the further down your baby is positioned., my fellas mother whome i love dearly (my unborn babys nanna) tells me you feel like your dieing when giving bierth lol. :S  

Answer 2

GRAVITY trust me laying down u are working against gravity on all fours up right etc u have a helping hand.

once u have been through child birth u will understand a lil more!!!

im sure im not alone in thinking this

Answer 3

While you're in labour, walking round is one of the ways you can partly control the pain of contractions, but actual delivery wouldn't be too comfy!

Not lying on your back can mean you squat with the help of a bar or birthing chair, or kneeling on all fours.

Delivery on your back is not impossible - many do it (I had to - an epidural meant I had no real ontrol of my lower body, but that is a personal choice) - however it can make the delivery stage last longer as YOU have to do all the work, so it's very tiring.

Answer 4

i was on all fours for both my babies, in the shower but when i was pushing i laid down and only had to push for about 15 to 20 minutes with both. do whats comfortable for u and if your doing something that's bad for the baby the doctors and midwives will soon let u know! i had no drugs with mine whats so ever. you will know whats best when you come to it. i am onto my third and i'm not planning the labour at all. what happens happens

Answer 5

they dont say that you have to stand...you can be on all fours or squat. Some women also use a birthing stool. They say it's easier to give birth without lying down because of gravity. I was watching delivery shows on Discovery Health and this woman was having a hard labor so she used the birthing stool and it helped alot.

Answer 6

"This article or section is written like an advertisement."

Ta-da!

I gave birth lying down just fine..

Answer 7

i gave birth layin on my back but that may explain why i had problems and his head got stuck

Answer 8

There is a page in What to expect when your expecting stating that Sleeping laying on our back can cut off blood flow to the baby in the placenta. You can choose to be laying on your back with your legs in holster or laying on your side, or sitting in a chair, standing up or squatting, or if your an gymnast swing from a tree.  The point is do what ever feels comfortable for you at the time, and these are only recommendations to make the mother comfortable not written in stone.

Answer 9

Gravity, dear.

They dont mean you'll be 'standing' you can go on all fours etc, its a helluva lot easier.

Answer 10

The article never states you have to stand. You need to re-read it. It says not on their backs. And that makes sense, you have more power to push when you are sitting upright or at least a bit elevated. I go to lamaze classes and they favor many birthing positions including on your hands and knees, squatting, side-laying standing, water births and on a birthing ball. Whatever works with the mother to help her naturally cope with pain. They are not saying whatsoever you have to be flat on your back., That is the one position you do NOT want to be in.

Answer 11

On my first i give birth laying down and i had complications but on my second i sorta like bent over i give birth much easyer

Answer 12

Have you ever tried to do a poo lying down? It is because gravity helps push the baby out......