BIRTH POSITION AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEM

      POSITION USED IN LABOUR


One can ask if there is a best position one can adopt during labour


But research have made it to be that any position that allows the bearing down efforts of the mother to be aided by gravity,promote fetal descent and rotation, and avoid supine hypotention can be adopt during labour.

There are different birth position but we are going to discuss a few here.

                POSITIONS

LITHOTOMY POSITION:

 One of the most commonly used position nowadays are the lithotomy,modified lithotomy or recumbent positions.

These position enhances the maintenance of asepsis, asses the fetal heart rate,abdominal examination and the performance of episiotomy and repair.The position is most suitable for operative delivery or obstetric procedures.
The disadvantage of these position is that it causes a decrease of as much as 30% in the blood pressure of 10% of women and many experience difficulty in breathing.Many women may feel resentment at being forced to assume what they consider an embarrassing position.

LEFT LATERAL SIMS;The woman lies on her left side with her leg extended and her right knee drawn up against her abdomen or flexed by her side or with both legs bent at the knees. it increases overall comfort,does not interfere with venous return, and reduces the chances of an episiotomy having to be performed.
these makes cutting and repairing of episiotomy difficult.

SQUATTING:The squatting position favours some women who are primarily for positive use.it may be comfortable and relieves backache,it takes advantage of gravity,it widens pelvic outlet, it requires less bearing down.The disadvantage is the inaccessibility of the perineum.

SITTING;This position is most commonly used,it provides good resting position and also some gravity advantage.The perineum is accessible which makes it easy to control the birth process.

HANDS AND KNEES:This position relieves backache and assists rotation of the neonate in the occiput posterior position.It allows for pelvic rocking and other body movements and suitable for vaginal movement and is suitable for vaginal examinations.

FACTORS THAT DICTATE THE POSITION OF THE MOTHER

The mothers instinctive preference.

  • The environment,this should be such that the woman is not constrained by lack of privacy or lack of support such as cushions and chairs from adopting her preferred position.

  • The midwife's confidence,a real understanding of the mechanism of labour should enable the midwife to adopt to any position the woman wishes to.

  • The maternal and fetal condition.Whichever positions the mothers moves to as her labour progresses,she is most likely to trust a midwife.

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