Lamaze Magazine 2008 - (Page 17) WALKING Pros | Uses gravity | Contractions are often less painful | Baby is well aligned in your pelvis | May speed labor | Reduces backache | Encourages descent Cons | Not recommended if you have high blood pressure | Cannot be used with continuous electronic fetal monitoring STANDING Pros | Uses gravity | Helps get oxygen to the baby | Contractions are more effective and less painful | May speed labor | Helps create a pushing urge Cons | Poor control at birth | Hard for health-care provider to see the baby LEANING OR KNEELING FORWARD WITH SUPPORT Pros | Can help shift the baby if needed | Uses gravity | Birth ball can be used | Contractions are often less painful and more productive | Baby is well aligned in your pelvis | Relieves backache | Easier for your partner to help relieve your back pain | May be more restful than standing | Good for pelvic rocking | Less strain on your wrists and arms Cons | Hard for health-care provider to help with birth KNEE-CHEST Pros | Good for back labor | Assists with rotation of baby, if needed | Takes pressure off hemorrhoids | Good position to avoid tearing or episiotomy | Good delivery position for large baby | Helpful if fetal heart tones are low Cons | Hard for your support team to maintain eye contact with you | Hard for you to see what’s going on SEMI-SITTING Pros | Comfortable | Good use of gravity | Good resting position | Works well in hospital beds | Good visibility at birth for your support team | Easy access to fetal heart tones for your health-care provider Cons | Access to your perineum can be poor | Mobility of your coccyx is impaired | Puts some stress on your perineum but less than when lying on your back ON BACK WITH LEGS RAISED Cons | Works against gravity | Compresses all major vessels | Tearing or need for an episiotomy is more likely | No use of gravity to aid in birth | Online: Read more at lamaze.org/magazine. Sitting Squatting with birth ball LAMAZE MAGAZINE 2008 17 LAMAZE.ORG http://lamaze.org/magazine http://LAMAZE.ORG
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