Can I choose how I should give birth?

Many women ask themselves: "Can I choose how I should give birth?". Healthy births should not be painless, so human nature is arranged.

But too much suffering can not just "spoil the mood" of a future mother - they are often a real obstacle to normal delivery. To reduce the suffering of the mother and to speed up and facilitate the process of birth will help properly selected poses in bouts and attempts. From time immemorial, women in labor of different nations chose the most convenient position for themselves in order to produce offspring. Africans endured fights in the woods, holding on to the pole laid between the two trees, and when the attack came down, they squatted. The dwellers of India gave birth, hanging on branches and vines. In some Scandinavian families, from one generation to another, a special obstetric chair with a hole in the middle was passed down.

In Russia the noblewomen usually gave birth. Simple peasant women - on their knees, squatting or even standing up. Often midwives forced mom to move, walk, cross high thresholds, squat and even jump. Touged, as a rule, on all fours or leaning on a table or bench. We often built dwellings with a solid ceiling beam - mat, uterus - which helped out in prolonged childbirth. Through it threw a rope or leather belts, thanks to which the woman was placed in a semi-suspended position. Such measures contributed to an early delivery. Today, in some maternity hospitals, a lot has already been taken away from the adopted ones and women are allowed to be given birth in other positions, using the entire arsenal of natural resources prepared by nature, designed to facilitate the course and accelerate the outcome of childbirth. Despite the fact that the position of the parturient on the back makes it easier for doctors and midwives to monitor and control the situation, it, however, leads to the fact that the uterus presses on the blood vessels passing along the spine, normal blood flow is disrupted, and the blood supply of the fetus worsens. The child moves forward only due to the "strength" of the mother, the birth slows down, and the pain sensations grow.

Vertical births are now common in Western Europe. Now, this situation is increasingly resorted to in domestic maternity hospitals, as well as in the countries of the near abroad. This pose is useful when the expectant mother can not be overstrained for health reasons, for example, because of myopia, with mild labor, when the fetus is large or the mother has a narrow pelvis. A woman is much easier to push, to help her comes the power of gravity. The child moves down more smoothly and gets more oxygen, because the uterus does not press the mother's vessels. The mother gives better control over the muscles of the back and the press, the pelvic floor and all the skeletal muscles, is free to take any convenient position, which reduces the period of labor by half. At the same time, the birth canal becomes wider than with a lying posture, and the infant passes over them more easily and quickly. The probability of rupture is reduced. Doctors say that the placenta in vertical childbirth is separated faster, while reducing physiological blood loss, the baby most often makes the first inhalation and takes breast in 5-10 minutes. Vertical posture is contraindicated in women with varicose veins, tk. in this position, the load on the legs is strong. Another drawback - obstetricians are difficult to respond and monitor the course of events. In many Asian, South American and African countries, there is a tradition of squatting, widely spreading the knees. This pose well helps when the cervical dilatation is complete, and the head of the child does not sink to the pelvic floor. Effective with weak labor - the birth canal is significantly expanded, the angle of the pelvic incline formed during squats accelerates the contractions, attempts are facilitated, and the child quickly leaves.

But in the squatting position, women's feet get tired quickly. Another shortcoming is instability, therefore abroad in maternity hospitals often use special delivery stools with a hole for the child's exit. Such a device helps to relax the muscles, relieve the load from the legs and veins. Another limitation - the pose is suitable only for the "right" birth - when the child comes out of the head. Minus the medical staff to render timely assistance reduced, the review is limited. Because the posture promotes rapid childbirth, with careless actions, the child is in danger of falling from the birth canal and getting injured, and mum - crotch ruptures. Therefore, some doctors use the effectiveness of this position in the bouts, when approaching the same attempts, the woman is transferred to a different position.

Knee-elbow position

Generic ways in this case expand gradually, having time to stretch out, and mummy is insured from unnecessary breaks. In the opposite position - the head above the pelvis - the woman is standing on her straightened arms - the birth is accelerating. The posture is also convenient because in the intervals between contractions a woman can "sit down to rest", dropping onto the thigh. When the future mother gets tired hands - it creates a support from a special ball or several pillows. If the baby is born prematurely, has a low weight, and the mother had hip joint injuries, this situation will be most effective. The blood supply of the fetus does not cease during all births, the process is mild. Painful sensations in bouts, carried in this position, are less than in the prone position. Today the situation on the side during childbirth is actively practiced in England, Australia and New Zealand. In these countries, the delivery tables have a special configuration, and the medical staff has the appropriate skills.

With a pelvic presentation of the fetus, a sedentary pose is suitable. Here the main requirement is that the seat surface is not rigid, otherwise the delivery will slow down, and the baby's head may be damaged. The surface should be soft, preferably elastic. For these purposes, you can use large inflatable balls or children's swimming circles. Sitting on the ball will relieve too painful sensations during fights, reduce the burden on the spine. In addition, contractions can be carried sitting in cushions on the bed, again making sure that the seating surface is not rigid. Reliance on the hands, pillow, back of the bed helps to relax the back and muscles of the perineum. And on the ball, and on the pillow, you need to make sure that your legs are widely divorced - while the opening of the uterus occurred fully. At the onset of the post-exertion period, the pose is changed. If you have the opportunity to "try on" various poses during childbirth and choose a comfortable position for yourself - well. But it should be remembered that if during the delivery there is the slightest complication or difficulty, the responsible doctor will most likely immediately ask you to take the habitual position for obstetric practice lying down and provide all the necessary assistance.

However, not only to choose the right posture is the struggle for natural and prosperous births. Frozen in a settled position, a woman can experience discomfort, fear and pain, which threatens to slow the opening of the cervix and reduce labor activity. The period of labor for many mothers facilitates movement, a change in position, a transition from one posture to another. It's not for nothing that experienced midwives in Russia prevented the lying-in and lying down along the hut, even sometimes forced to do light housework until the baby's head showed up. When the body moves, blood circulation improves, muscles warm up, spasms are removed. So it's good to move. It is permissible to sit down on the ball and make relaxing movements with the hips. The contractions increase, and the gaps between them become shorter? A woman can stand up and, leaning forward, lean her hands on the back of the bed and the couch. A good opening of the uterus will help, if you descend during the next strong squabble and spread your knees widely. If the mother is completely tired of experimenting with her own body, she can sit in pillows or lie on her side, placing a pillow between her legs, and relax. The change of the vertical position to the horizontal position will also cause the outflow of blood from the veins of the legs. they often suffer during childbirth, and the woman, who is carried away by stronger impressions, does not always remember this. Of course, not all mothers in the country give birth to women given such "freedom of movement." But it is useful for the future mother to know that the World Health Organization (WHO) in its recommendations says: every woman has the right to decide on her own what position to take during childbirth. Therefore, if you are determined not to lie "idly by" during the forthcoming births, you should take care of choosing a suitable maternity home in advance. If you are tormented by the question "Can I choose myself how to give birth?" And you do not know the correct answer, we hope that we helped you.