Knowledgeable and Experienced Guidance

Can how you sit during delivery cause harm to you or your baby?

On Behalf of | Mar 16, 2018 | Birth Injuries |

It is easy to think, given the many advances seen in medicine in recent years, giving birth to a baby in Greenville has become relatively routine. The fact of the matter is that there are a number of different factors that go into successfully delivering a baby, and an issue with any one of them can contribute to complications to both you and your baby. As difficult as it is to believe, even something as simple as the position in which you sit when you deliver can potentially cause problems.

The common image of delivery is a woman lying in bed with her head slightly elevated. This is known as the semi-recumbent position. It can contribute to your comfort during delivery, yet studies have shown that it may also increase the risks of certain complications and/or injuries occurring. Study information shared by the National Institutes of Health shows that by lying in the semi-recumbent position, the weight of the uterus can compress the blood vessels in the abdomen, slowing the flow of blood to the placenta. Other results show that the intensity of contractions may increase when lying after having experienced them in an upright position. Additionally, research data compiled by Chiro4Family Wellness shows that excess pressure is placed on the sacral apex when you sit in the semi-recumbent position during delivery, which increase the stress on your baby as it descends through the birth canal.

The information shared here is not meant to deter you from delivering a certain way or to endorse a certain birthing position. Rather, it should encourage you to be more open with your doctor in discussing your options during delivery.