Labor and Birthing Positions

There are many options to personalize your labor and birth experience. Be sure and let your provider and nurse know your preferences, and feel free to discuss any ideas you have that aren’t listed here.

Labor options

Walking/Rocking/Dancing

• Takes advantage of gravity
• Decreases contraction pain
• Increases power of contractions
• May relieve back pain
• Encourages baby’s movement through pelvis

Hydrotherapy

• Reduces pain and anxiety
• Speeds up labor
• Decreases use of vacuum and forceps
• Decreases tearing

Music Therapy

• Lessens anxiety due to pain
• Creates a peaceful environment for both mom and birthing team

Yoga

• May shorten duration of labor
• Minimizes pain by increasing ability to cope with labor

Aromatherapy
Promotes relaxation and decreases pain. Choose from fragrances like:

• Lavender
• Peppermint
• Orange

Position Changes
Maternal movement during labor has been shown to decrease:

• Cesarean births
• Pain
• Tearing and episiotomies
• Length of labor

Labor Tools
You might like to take advantage of items like:

• Labor ball
• Peanut ball

For more information, register for our free Understanding Birth interactive course.