When we think of labor, we often picture a mom-to-be with her legs bent and tipping toward her sides. In every movie or TV show, moms are seen horizontal, pushing for sometimes hours in the same position. But the truth is, much like parenthood in general, there isn't only one way to go through labor. Though it is most common for women to give birth while laying down, there are some serious benefits to squatting while in labor. Squatting during labor can open the pelvis wider, help dilate the cervix, and reduce the need for an episiotomy or a C-section. And this is all just from ditching the typical birthing protocol.
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Not only that, but squatting can encourage rapid descent, require less baring-down effort from exhausted moms, and be an excellent way to keep the baby aligned as the mom pushes. Though most moms may not have any choice in their birthing position, depending on the doctor and where they give birth, more and more women are curious about squatting while in delivery.
Talking about it is nothing compared to seeing it. Luckily, we found 15 incredible photos that show women squatting while in labor, and they are so beautiful we'd bet some pregnant mamas out there might just be convinced to try it.
Faster Than Lightning
As you can see, this birth happened so fast, this mom gave birth on the couch! "It was the first homebirth I ever photographed," photographer Allison Bennett tells CafeMom. "The midwife was on her way up the street when the baby came so it was just mom, dad, and me in the room … [It] was an an incredible moment, for sure."
A Quick Delivery
This photo shows another birth that happened very fast. Photographer Katie Lew tells CafeMom, "This baby girl came so quickly that her birth team didn't have time to finish filling up the pool. So the mama worked with her body and surroundings to bring her baby into the world."
The Incredible En Caul
Not only was this mama squatting when she gave birth, she also gave birth to a baby while it was still in its amniotic sac — or "en caul," as it's otherwise known.
"This birth was this mama's fourth baby boy," photographer Nicole Coombs tells CafeMom. "She delivered quickly. It took less than 30 minutes of active labor."
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So Fast, You Almost Miss It
Coombs tells CafeMom, "They had planned to break her water once her husband arrived to the birth center but that obviously wasn't necessary. Her husband and other children missed the delivery by only a few minutes."
Happy Birth, Happy Mama
This story was so amazing that we had to show you the end result! "It was pretty incredible witnessing the en caul birth. The first time I've ever seen it. Most births I photograph are at hospitals in a hospital bed with mom hooked up to an epidural," Coombs says. Truly, we are in awe!
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A Helping Hand
Sometimes, your legs and ankles can get tired when squatting during labor, which is why having a partner support your weight can help you stabilize yourself. For this mom, she had a very supportive husband, and as her photographer Rebecca Coursey tells us, "This mama was amazing."
Not a Creature Was Stirring
Coursey adds, "She found strength deep inside and was virtually silent her whole labor."
Working Through the Pain
Birth Photographer Tara Leach took this moving photo. You can see that this mom is using her husband for support as she pushes through a contraction. What an incredible shot!
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A Giant Push
Birth photographer Isabell Steinert caught this magical moment as part of a series of birth photos taken at a Christian birthing home in the Philippines. It just goes to show you that birth is a universal magic!
A Magical Moment
Ali Feroah tells CafeMom, "I took this photo at a beautiful home birth I attended a few months ago. In this picture, mama was almost completely dilated. She was riding the intense waves of transition, gently breathing her baby down. Her sweet baby girl was born on the floor next to the tub a few hours later."
"Beautiful and Healing"
Feroah adds, "This family had planned a home birth for their first daughter a few years prior, but unfortunately that birth ended in a rather traumatic cesarean. The birth of their second daughter was an incredibly beautiful and healing HBAC." Beautiful!
A Primal Roar
This mom has her husband by her side as she pushes. You can see in this photo by Isabell Steinert that she is using all of her strength to bear down, as he supports the weight of her body.
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With Her Support Team
This moment captured by Earth Mama Photography is just before birth. Mom is surrounded by her husband and midwife staff, and you can see this couple is using a rebozo, or woven wrap, to alleviate the pain of contractions.
The Most Beautiful Sight
This mom is using a birthing stool, which gives her legs some support while she squats. The best part is that you still get the benefits of squatting, but can sustain the position longer. And by the look on these parents' faces, it was so worth it!
A Personalized Experience
This woman tried many different positions before she decided to try her squat. As the midwives at the Gentle Beginnings Birth Center wrote on Instagram, "Like everything else about parenting, and really life in general, birth is about doing what works best for YOU. Though active labor wasn't long by the standard definition of a first time laboring woman, the second stage proved to be a unique challenge for this mama. She pushed in the water, on the toilet and in various positions. She eventually found her space and gave birth how she wanted."
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