Water births and labor positions
Experiencing labor and pain goes hand in hand with relaxing your body and mind. There are several things that influence this, like massages, movement, positions, the warmth of a bath or shower, music, positive thoughts, and a cozy environment. So, just follow your gut and do what feels good to you. We're here to help you feel as comfortable as possible.
Discover how your body creates natural pain relief during labor
During labor, your body produces natural pain-relieving substances. One of the most important pain-relieving hormones released is endorphins. They take the edge off the pain and help you relax more. This puts your body in a better position to produce oxytocin, which in turn helps create effective contractions. Stress or fear can get in the way of this process. If you're feeling really anxious, please let us know!
Different positions during labor
Research shows that changing positions and moving around have a positive effect on how you experience pain and how labor progresses. You can get through contractions in lots of different ways: standing, walking, on your hands and knees, sitting, or leaning against your partner. Try out a few things to see what feels best for you. It's often hard to picture this beforehand if you've never given birth before. We'll help and encourage you along the way. Switching between different positions really helps the baby's head move down and helps labor progress smoothly. Birth balls are available at the birth center and Franciscus Gasthuis.
When labor is just starting and contractions are still a bit irregular, you can rest lying down during the breaks. Most women find this position less comfortable as labor progresses. Especially when pushing, it often feels unnatural. But again, the golden rule is to do what feels right for you. If medical interventions are needed, we might ask you to lie down on the bed (temporarily).
A vertical position is great during both the dilation and pushing stages. Women who use positions other than lying down generally have a shorter labor, less pain, and a lower chance of needing assistance like forceps or a vacuum. A vertical position creates more room in your pelvis, making it easier for your baby to move down and be born. Gravity helps out too! You can push on your hands and knees, standing next to the bed, in a bath, lying on your side or back, or on a birth stool. A birth stool is always available for hospital births, and we can bring one along for home births too.
Different positions you can try during labor
- Side-lying position
In this position, you lie on your side with your knees drawn up and supported by pillows. This helps take the pressure off your back and can be a comfy way to rest between contractions. - Lying on your back
This is the classic position you often see in movies, where you lie on your back with your legs pulled up. However, this position can reduce blood flow to the uterus and sometimes make contractions less effective. - Semi-sitting position
In this position, you sit halfway up, propped up by pillows. This helps you handle the pain of contractions and can also make pushing a bit easier. - Standing
Giving birth while standing lets you use gravity to speed things up. It can also help ease the pain of contractions and feels like a great position for some women. - Walking
Some women love walking around during labor, which can help manage the contractions and even help labor go faster. - On hands and knees
In this position, you support yourself on your hands and knees, which takes pressure off your back and helps with pushing. It can also help get the baby into a better position for a smooth delivery. - Birth stool
A birth stool lets you use gravity while pushing and helps position the baby nicely for a smooth birth. - Water birth
Some women love giving birth in a tub of water, which helps soothe contraction pain and can speed things up. The warm water is also amazing for relaxing your muscles.
Water birth
Some women like to handle contractions in a bath or shower. The warm water relaxes your whole body and your womb. In the bath, your body can feel lighter, almost weightless. Studies show that women who use a bath feel more comfortable and ask for pain relief less often. It can speed up the opening stage and also lowers the risk of tearing. There are perks for the baby too: the warm water makes the transition from the womb to the outside world much gentzel.
Fancy a water birth? All the midwives on our team are experienced in guiding water births. This is possible at both Geboortecentrum Sophia and Franciscus Gasthuis. For hygiene reasons, a fresh liner is used for every client, which costs about €85. If you'd like to have a water birth at home, we recommend renting a special tub. A regular bathtub usually doesn't give you enough room to move around. Make sure you have a bed, mattress, or couch right next to or in the same room as the birth tub.