There is no one position that fits all during labor. However, experimenting with a variety of them can help a woman relieve discomfort in her lower abdomen, back and pelvic floor, according to Dr. Doerthe Brueggmann, Los Angeles-based obstetrician-gynecologist with Health Goes Female. Choosing the best position to alleviate pain involves trial and error.
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Change it Up
Assume All Fours
One of the most common labor positions involves placing your hands and knees on the floor in an all-four stance, says Troncale. It helps get a mother through labor pain because it eliminates the weight of the belly, she says. Moms should practice this position in the early stages of labor before the more intense contractions occur, says Troncale.
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Research Options
You can research the various positions months or weeks prior to your delivery. You can straddle a chair, walk, stand, squat or sit on an exercise ball during contractions, but knowing your options prior to labor is crucial, says Dr. Draion Burch, Pennsylvania-based obstetrician-gynecologist. “Naturally your body will change positions to help you relax more, so the best position is the one that makes you feel no pain,” he says.
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