How vertical births occur? Pros and cons

Every mother’s experience giving birth is different, and comfort and delivery outcomes can be greatly impacted by the birthing position. Vertical birth, in which the mother gives birth while standing, is one option that is gaining popularity.

It is possible to give birth vertically while standing, squatting, or kneeling. By using gravity to their advantage, these positions may shorten labor and facilitate easier delivery.

We’ll look at how vertical births happen in this article and talk about the possible advantages and disadvantages of this delivery style. Pregnant women can make more informed decisions about their childbirth experience if they are aware of these factors.

Instead of lying flat during a birth, a mother who gives birth vertically can do so while squatting, standing, or kneeling. In addition to assisting with gravity during delivery, this position may shorten labor and reduce the need for medical interventions. But not everyone will find it suitable, and there may be difficulties along the way, like having to watch the baby closely or putting more stress on the mother. Parents can decide whether a vertical birth is right for them by being informed about the advantages and possible disadvantages.

What is it?

As the name suggests, vertical births differ from traditional ones in the position of the mother"s body in space. Childbirth occurs when a woman is in an upright position – stands, squatting, etc. D. In this case, the woman chooses the position of the body itself based on her own sensations and comfort. There is nothing new in this method of delivery. So gives birth to most mammals on the planet. Among people, such childbirth is widespread in Asia, Africa, South America. Fashion to give birth to Europe in a natural, natural situation came from France. It was there that the first vertical births began to officially conduct. Following the French they tested the equipment of a resident of Holland and Germany.

Unbeknownst to many, professional midwives in Rus’ also made laboring women stand up and circle the bathtub. Thus, there are very old and rich traditions associated with this method of giving birth. The vertical position is thought to be the most physiologically and naturally occurring.

In Soviet maternity hospitals, women were forced to lie down on obstetric beds during contractions and pushing. Now all women in labor are recommended to move during contractions. However, not all doctors agree to a vertical position during pushing. It should be noted that for vertical births, the presence of a partner is mandatory. Either it should be the woman"s husband, or another relative whom she completely trusts, or a health worker with whom an agreement on vertical birth has been reached in advance. In this case, the partner is by no means an observer. He is an active participant in the process, on whom the woman can lean, on whom she can hang, if it is convenient for her.

The obstetrician needs specialized skills to guide childbirth in a vertical position. The specialist needs to have the right license if he has received this kind of training. If a woman’s top priority is a vertical birth, she must make sure the maternity hospital she chooses has it available.

Advantages and disadvantages

Childbirth in the supine position is more painful and is associated with an increased risk of birth injury to the child. This is due to gravity – a heavy uterus with a fetus presses on the spine, compresses the aorta, the inferior vena cava. This increases the likelihood of hypoxia in the fetus, leads to a violation of the level of blood pressure in the mother. Vertical births, again according to gravity, do not cause pinching of blood vessels. CTG monitoring during labor confirms that the condition of the fetus during vertical births is always better than during classic births on the back. Pain during childbirth in a vertical position is reduced by reducing the gravitational load on the back. Therefore, the need for drug pain relief is reduced. Even relatively gentle epidural anesthesia has an effect on the fetus. Its use in vertical births is not encountered. Also, there is rarely a need to use stimulating drugs – contractions in an upright position are rarely discoordinated or weaken.

The period of contractions during classical childbirth, according to experts, lasts about three hours longer than during vertical childbirth. The dilation of the cervix occurs at a faster pace, again due to gravitational fields and the pressure of the baby"s head. Pushing in a vertical position is less painful, in the pushing stage of the birth process the baby is pushed out not only by the birth forces, but also by gravity. Babies are less likely to get injured, since the movement becomes softer and more delicate, because the woman feels the muscles of the perineum and pelvic floor well. The period of pushing itself increases by about half an hour, but the slower exit of the baby ensures a low probability of injury.

The third stage of labor in vertical births usually passes faster – the placenta comes away more easily under the influence of gravity. This allows you to reduce blood loss by about 200 ml. Recovery after such births is faster, and not only for the mother, but also for the baby. The adaptive abilities of such children are rated significantly higher than those of children born during traditional childbirth or as a result of a cesarean section. If a woman is nearsighted, has a history of retinal detachment, has heart disease, then previously there was only one way out – a cesarean section, since such women are not recommended to push. Today, with such indications, vertical births are quite successfully carried out without harm to the health of the mother and baby.

• it is more difficult for the obstetrician to monitor the condition of the fetus, do CTG during pushing, take the baby"s heartbeat indicators;
• epidural anesthesia cannot be used, since the lower part of the body will partially lose sensitivity, the woman will not be able to control her feelings;
• if the perineum has anatomical defects, the likelihood of ruptures increases, while in the vertical position obstetricians can do almost nothing to prevent injury to the mother;
• in a vertical position, the likelihood of rapid labor increases, which can lead to fetal injury;
• in any unforeseen circumstances, difficulties, it is more difficult for an obstetrician to provide assistance to a woman who is in a vertical position.

Who is contraindicated?

Due to several contraindications, some pregnant women may not be able to give birth in a vertical body position. Consequently, the following circumstances prohibit women from giving birth vertically:

• severe pregnancy pathologies;
• labor began prematurely;
• the baby is in a breech, transverse or other pathological presentation;
• the woman has a clinically narrow pelvis;
• the baby"s head is large;
• the woman has chronic diseases of the internal organs.

Even in cases where a vertical birth is permitted, the choice may be modified at any moment, and in the event that labor becomes complicated or medical personnel require the use of forceps or other tools, the woman will be moved to the traditional position.

How to prepare?

Giving birth in a vertical position calls for extra preparation. It’s critical to understand how to breathe correctly and relax your muscles when pushing and contracting. It is required that you attend the courses with a companion. It is recommended to practice the two exercises on appropriate positions and support at home. A fitball can be used by a woman giving birth vertically.

In order to get ready, it will be necessary to gather the required paperwork for both the laboring woman and her partner. The partner won’t be permitted entry into the maternity hospital without a list of test results and the doctor’s conclusions. Additionally, you should locate a physician who supports vertical childbirth, become well-versed in the "assortment" of maternity hospitals and perinatal centers, and sign an exchange card with the chief physician or head doctor of the obstetric institution of your choice.

Poses and chair

For vertical birth, there are no specific recommended positions. The very thing that makes them so endearing is that the laboring woman can assume any posture that suits her needs. Women most frequently squat, stand on all fours, adopt a knee-elbow stance, and dangle around their partners’ necks. While practicing at home and studying poses beforehand is a good idea, you shouldn’t choose your favorite poses ahead of time because giving birth will undoubtedly require some adjustments.

Squatting is thought to be the most efficient position during the pushing phase. A woman is free to move around freely while having contractions. However, nearly all of them will need a partner’s physical support both during the pushing phase and during the contractions.

For vertical childbirth, a specific chair is available. A woman can sit or stand on it, but she cannot lie down. The pelvis is suspended all the time. Although not at all complex, not all maternity hospitals currently have access to this kind of equipment.

The height of the chair is a drawback. You have to sit with your back to the patient or bend over, which is uncomfortable for the doctor because it is a little low. Obstetricians and gynecologists are not the biggest fans of vertical births because of the variability of the necessary behavior.

Useful tips

With the advent of paid medicine, many people today aim to profit from a couple’s desire to give birth in the manner of their choosing. It is still true that not all maternity hospitals consent to handle vertical births. However, an increasing number of for-profit private clinics are opening up and providing these services. Furthermore, the "specialists" working in these clinics frequently lack both a medical education and a license allowing them to perform vertical births.

Such charlatans are frequently found in courses designed to prepare people for vertical births. There were conflict situations in several Russian regions where the owners and instructors of vertical birth schools hurt their highly paid students because they lacked a medical education. A woman and her partner should exercise caution when selecting a maternity hospital and courses. It concerns the mother’s and the child’s health. Verifying the doctor’s license and learning more about his credentials are essential.

In contrast to conventional birthing positions, vertical births provide mothers with increased autonomy and control throughout the labor process. This technique can help expedite labor and lessen the need for medical interventions by utilizing gravity. It is more cozy and empowering for many women.

Vertical births aren’t for everyone, though. The requirement for the mother to participate more actively is one possible drawback, and it might not be appropriate for high-risk pregnancies. It’s crucial to speak with a healthcare professional to find out if this approach is appropriate for your particular circumstances and safe.

All things considered, many women find that vertical births provide a more involved and natural approach, making them positive experiences. A well-informed decision regarding their birth plan can be made by expectant mothers if they are aware of the advantages as well as the difficulties.

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