A–Z Glossary

Squatting during labor

A low labor or pushing position that can help create a feeling of pelvic opening but requires balance and support.

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Using gravity squatting and position changes in labor

Using gravity squatting and position changes in labor

How gravity helps during birth Gravity is one of the simplest forces available during labor, but it works best when understood realistically. In upright birthing positions, the long axis of the uterus, the fetus, and the birth canal may align in a way that encourages fetal descent through the pelvis. This does not mean gravity […]

How to find best position for you

How to find best position for you

Start with a flexible definition of best The best position for you is the position that supports labor physiology, protects safety, and feels tolerable in that moment. In birth, this may change repeatedly. A position can be excellent for coping with contractions during early labor and completely wrong once the baby descends lower or the […]

Complete guide to birth positions

Complete guide to birth positions

What birth positions do Birth positions are the postures used during labour, the second stage of labour, and the actual birth. Their purpose is not cosmetic or symbolic; they change biomechanics. Pelvic dimensions are not fixed, and posture can influence how the sacrum moves, how the fetal head rotates and descends, and how much pressure […]

Squatting position for birth explained

Squatting position for birth explained

What the squatting position means in birth In childbirth, squatting usually means the birthing person is upright with knees and hips flexed, feet supported, and the pelvis lowered toward the floor or bed. It can be a deep squat, a partial squat, or a supported squat while holding a partner, rope, bed rail, or squat […]

Ball vs other movement techniques

Ball vs other movement techniques

What the ball contributes in labor A birthing ball is best understood as a supported movement surface. It lets the pelvis move while giving the trunk a stable base, which can make it easier to stay upright without exhausting the legs. For many laboring people, that matters more than any single technical advantage. The ball […]

Positions that help baby descend and open pelvis

Positions that help baby descend and open pelvis

How positions affect descent and pelvic space Labor positions work by changing the relationship between the fetus, the uterus, and the maternal pelvis. An upright posture uses gravity to help the presenting part descend, while forward-leaning or hands-and-knees positions can reduce pressure on the sacrum and allow the pelvic outlet to open more freely. This […]

Positions to reduce labor pain

Positions to reduce labor pain

Why position can change labor pain Labor pain has several overlapping sources: uterine contractions, cervical stretching, pressure on pelvic tissues, fetal descent, and sometimes sacral or lumbar nerve irritation. Because these sensations are transmitted from different areas, changing posture can shift the mechanical load and alter how intense or localized the pain feels. A position […]

Partner support in birth positions

Partner support in birth positions

The partner’s role in positional support During labor, a partner can become part of the birthing person’s physical environment. They may offer a hand, shoulder, forearm, or torso as a steady surface while the birthing person leans forward, sways, kneels, or changes weight from one leg to the other. This support can reduce the effort […]

Using partner for assisted positioning

Using partner for assisted positioning

What assisted positioning means in birth Assisted positioning means using another person’s steady hands, body weight, verbal cues, or physical support to help the birthing person move into, hold, or leave a position. During labor, this might include supported upright leaning in labor, sitting on a birth ball with a partner stabilizing the pelvis, side-lying […]