Can how a woman sits, stands, lies, or squats help make labor (and delivery) quicker, moving the baby into a position that makes for an easier delivery? Many midwives recommend the "hands and knees" position during labor to help shift the baby's position to speed delivery. During delivery, many women are interested in trying just about anything to help ease the pain and make childbirth go quicker. In a recent press release, researchers say that while this position might help relieve some back pain, it does nothing to help shift the position of a baby for delivery.

You're in labor, you're back is killing you (along with a few other assorted pains that come and go), and you'd do anything for some relief and to help the baby move quicker. Many midwives recommend using the "hands and knees" position to move the baby into a better position that will allow for an easier delivery.

Researchers have determined that while this position does have benefits to the mother, moving the infant into position to be born is not one of them.

Researchers have found that this position can help strengthen a woman's muscles, and help relieve back pain while they are pregnant. The "hands and knees" position helps relieve back pain because this position gives a pregnant woman's spinal bones space to expand. It can also help relieve pressure from the baby resting on the mother's spine.

"There were more babies in the hands-and-knees group that changed position than in the control group, but the difference was not significantly different. While there was not yet enough evidence to recommend the posture as a method for correcting the baby's position, it may certainly be recommended for women who find that it is more comfortable, particularly for relieving back pain," said G. Justus Hofmeyr, one of the authors of the report.

The "hands and knees" position consists of kneeling, and placing your hands on the floor, so that your face is toward the floor. Then bending your hands, elbows, and knees, you can stretch, which can help relieve back pain.

The researchers reviewed updated studies that took place for 2,794 pregnant women. The studies focused on the use of this position during childbirth itself, and using this position several minutes a day during the latter part of pregnancy.

This study was co-authored by G. Justus Hofmeyr, a professor with the Effective Care Research Unit at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa.

Source:
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/534034/