Giving Birth on all fours

[Stacey_Slater]

Is it me or is this the most undignified thing in the history of womanhood?

[cazzz1975]

its not all that effective either in terms of gravity.

there is no real dignified way of giving birth though to be honest..

[AlBags]

Is there a "dignified" way then?!

[dothawkes31]

Women should have the confidence, freedom and space to give birth however and where ever they damn well please. I had my third child at home and it was amazingly relaxed.

[sherrardk]

If you can, try to keep upright and on the move for as long as possible - it helps, believe me.

[dothawkes31]

I did that for the last one , it was brilliant, the home delivery midwife was on holiday in rhodes though and she was well miffed she missed it as it was not a common occurrance in the 80s (decade not age)

[China Doll]

Doesn't strike that giving birth is any way dignified so I guess whatever gives comfort and pain relief is the way to go, be that on all fours or juggling eggs while doing the hokey cokey.

[dothawkes31]

..which brings me back to redheads and childbirth, did you know that red headed mums to be when they go into labour need/request less pain relief medication than any other haircolour? their genes contain a natural form of pain releiving hormone that has been inherited from their ancestors

[jno]

not sure that the positions for giving birth are any more undignified than those for getting pregnant, but people don't seem to worry about their dignity so much then...

[tamborine]

best way is get a surrogate to do it for you - oh, the wonders of science ;)

[Sqad]

///Giving Birth On All Fours///

Just another modern "yuppy fad"

[lotsafun]

being on all fours did absolutley faff all for me, however being on my back with my legs in stirrup and a man at the end pulling my kids out with a vontous did :)

[pastafreak]

sqad,....
do some research before you make statements like that. The position used by women now is a recent innovation in the West......only in the last 200 years or so. And all fours has been used for centuries-especially in other cultures..
Scroll down to 'worldwide practices' on here.....men!!

http://www.scribd.com...nal-Birthing-Position

[daffy654]

I wanted to give birth on all fours for my last two but the midwives insisted I was laid flat on my back, it was very undignified and way more painful for me.

My daughter was allowed to be on all fours in her first labour and she coped much better that way,the delivery was much easier for her and baby.

[Sachs]

I would have thought an 'on all fours' delivery would 'gravitation' wise help in contrast with the traditional lay on the back delivery! Although there's the element of tiredness to cope with.

[Sqad]

pasta...my hand is well smacked....I hadn't read the article by that authority Helen Dundie (whoever she is).

My point being that take the Western World, mainly Great Britain, I have never seen or heard of giving birth in the all fours position in 45years of medical practice until AB today. From that point of view I thought that it was new in Midwifery and hence my "yuppy" comment.

I feel humbled and rightly put into place.

[sara3]

when you're in labour, you'll try anything! and agreed.. there is no dignity in childbirth.

[Huderon]

Worked fine for my wife giving birth to our second child at home, but then I think that any position that the woman is comfortable in is the one for her to use ... I'm just very glad I never had to give birth !

[Jemisa]

One loses all dignity giving birth, My second child was born in hospital and the only comfortable position for me was on my side with my left leg round the mid-wifes neck.she pulled him out & he was 8lb-13oz and I had no stitches.

Jem.

[redcrx]

all fours can also help swing baby around from a back to back position. A position which can cause labour to be very slow and extremely painful.

at the end of the day, if the woman feels comfortable in that position does anyone really want to argue lol.