Most women in our time have not even heard of such a thing as “vertical birth”. For this reason, there are various interpretations that this is just another newfangled trend among obstetricians offering alternative delivery methods. In fact, vertical childbirth has been relevant since ancient times and had a number of positive qualities.
A bit of history
From time immemorial, vertical childbirth has been considered the natural and most convenient way to give birth to children. The women of Central Africa usually went into the thicket of the forest, where there was a pre-installed pole between the trees. This pole served as a kind of support during childbirth - they held on to him during labor, alternately crouching and rising to reduce pain. They gave birth to children, squatting.
In India, pregnant women gave birth, hands clinging to vines or just tree branches. In Persia, it was customary to rely on some object, similar in shape to a brick, to facilitate attempts. In Europe, for example, in the Netherlands and Germany, they used a special chair for childbirth. There was even an interesting wedding tradition - such a chair for childbirth was necessarily included in the bride's dowry.
In Russia, pregnant women during childbirth before exhaustion walked in a heated bath and stepped over low barriers to provoke uterine contractions. It was believed that this contributed to the relaxation of the pelvic muscles and the rapid advancement of the child through the birth canal. Often, Russian women gave birth by hanging on the neck of her husband.
The "fashion" of giving birth in a horizontal position appeared only after the favorite of the King of France Louis XIV gave birth to his baby, lying on his back. This happened because the king decided to personally observe the process of childbirth. A woman in labor had to give birth to a child “horizontally,” although at that moment this posture was considered completely uncomfortable, and even unnatural.
The main advantages of "vertical birth"
1. Contraction pain reduction
Vertical childbirth involves active behavior of the woman in childbirth at the first stage of labor (during labor), when the cervix is just beginning to open. Contractions become more frequent, while pain intensifies. Therefore, a woman should move more: she can walk, swim in the pool, make oblique movements back and forth, take a shower or just sit.
All actions of a pregnant woman are aimed at instinctively finding a comfortable position and most painlessly reschedule regular contractions. Thanks to this behavior, it is very often possible to do without any anesthetics in the first stage of labor.
2. Prevention of fetal oxygen deficiency (hypoxia)
The uterus of a pregnant woman gradually grows and grows in size as the fetus grows, so by the time of birth her weight (along with the weight of the baby and amniotic fluid) sometimes reaches six kilograms. When a woman gives birth on her back, the main load due to the weight of the uterus falls on the blood vessels along the line of her spine, putting pressure on the aorta and the inferior vena cava.
For this reason, the circulation of blood in the body of a pregnant woman is disrupted, and this, in turn, causes a lack of oxygen in the fetus. Then various stimulating and painkillers are used, which negatively affect the health of the newborn baby.
With vertical childbirth, a woman in childbirth can become in any position - on her knees, on her haunches or on all fours. These poses allow you to transfer all the severity from the spine to the abdominal cavity, which significantly reduces pressure on the blood vessels and prevents the occurrence of fetal hypoxia during its passage through the birth canal.
3. The birth process is much faster
If a woman suffers contractions in an upright position, she thereby contributes to a more effective advancement of the fetus through the birth canal. The baby's head and amniotic fluid with all their weight put pressure on the cervix, which accelerates the natural process of its opening.
Thanks to this pose, the period of contractions is reduced and, on average, lasts no more than 2-4 hours. A pregnant woman does not have to suffer from pain for many hours, and her child does not suffer from oxygen starvation, which can subsequently lead to hypoxia (during each fight, the fetus is forced to remain without oxygen).
4. The smoothness and naturalness of the process is the key to successful delivery without injuries
If the process of opening the cervix and contractions is accelerated during vertical childbirth, then the time of attempts, on the contrary, increases. The fetus does not advance as fast as in the horizontal position of the woman in childbirth, but the process itself occurs most physiologically. It is easier for a woman to relax the muscles of her pelvis, as well as concentrate on the synchronous work of the muscles of the back and abdomen to push the baby out. The risk of “pinching” the fetus in this position is minimal.
With vertical childbirth, the birth of a child is also facilitated by its own weight, which, under the force of gravity, “pushes” it towards the open cervix.
Of course, time for attempts at vertical birth takes 20-30 minutes more, but the probability of getting injured, both for the woman in labor and for the fetus, is reduced. The birth canal adapts to the size of the baby’s head and stretches as necessary. This reduces the possibility of damage and tearing of soft tissues. The need to dissect the perineum of the woman in labor or use special forceps to extract the fetus is extremely rare.
5. More room to maneuver the fetus
When a woman gives birth on her back, her fetus has to go through the narrow and curved space of the birth canal. To push in this position, without the help of gravity, is also quite difficult for her. What can not be said about vertical birth, when there is more space for the passage of the fetus.
Even women with a small pelvis can do without surgery and give birth on their own. Vertical delivery is also recommended for women who expect a large fetus.
6. Decrease in physiological blood loss
It has been established that during the final stage of labor, the placenta of the fetus and its placenta are separated better and faster if the woman gives birth while standing or sitting. The loss of blood in this position is not more than 100-150 ml, which is acceptable and completely harmless.
It can be argued that the benefits of vertical delivery are seen in all periods of childbirth: the duration of contractions is reduced, the period of labor is slower and less painful, and the exit of the placenta is not accompanied by large losses of blood. The probability of infection of the uterus also decreases.
The researchers revealed an interesting pattern: children born “vertically” have higher vital indicators (Apgar scale), quickly gain weight after birth, and various neurological complications are less common in them than in children born “horizontally”.
Remember, vertical birth did not appear today or yesterday. Modern official medicine has recognized their right to exist. Now, every woman, if desired, can use the method experienced by many generations, and appreciate its full charm.
That's what moms write on the forums
Helen: I would not mind if, of course, my husband and I decide to give birth to the second, it turns out that the lying position is convenient for the doctor and not for the mother and the baby, plus the uterus doesn’t put pressure on blood vessels like this during vertical delivery and they better supply mother and child with oxygen, preventing oxygen starvation.
aleksandra alekseenko: I gave birth for free and at the same time vertically, I had a very difficult birth because the baby was postponed for 2.5 weeks and if I gave birth lying then I would have to do a cesarean or pull the baby with a vacuum, but I was lucky with the doctor , she took birth with me when I was squatting! and the most amazing thing is that everything went easily and quickly! I also want to give birth to a second child vertically and not be tormented!
Lina: Now almost all maternity hospitals practice vertical childbirth, and since we agreed with the doctor beforehand, the attitude towards me was just super. I walked all the fights around the Rodzal (I just couldn’t lie!), Stood, jumped on the ball, but if it weren’t for the Swedish wall, I couldn’t give birth myself (there was a craniofacial presentation, the baby’s head didn’t crawl, in such cases often cesarean). During the attempts, I crouched, took the bottom step of the wall and pushed with all my strength, then got up and everything again ... When the head showed up, I lay on the bed and after three attempts gave birth. So the main thing is to choose a good maternity hospital with modern views on childbirth, agree with the doctor you want to give birth to, well, my husband helped and helped me a lot. So good luck!
N t: She gave birth to her beloved daughter by vertical childbirth, there is something to compare with which she is the second child. It is very convenient to give birth on all fours is also a vertical birth. After all, the animal world does just that. Gave birth quickly in 4 hours and without a single break. And into the ward of the kind. the hall came out on its own, unlike the first birth. When they were taken on a gurney. Of course, a lot depends on the situation in the family. the hall. I came across a very attentive and joking team. Maybe because I was comfortable because I did not panic because already had an experience? In short, from the height of his age. I gave birth to a daughter at the age of 39, she is now 2 years old. I advise you to go for it.
“Vertical delivery” (program with Elena Malysheva
Program “WHAT OUR BIRDS”
Vertical delivery: advantages and disadvantages. Which birth is better: lying or standing? Horizontal or vertical? Is it true that vertical labor is less painful?
Invited experts: Olga Sharapova, MD, professor, head physician of the City Clinical Hospital No. 64 (maternity hospital No. 4;
Vladimir Sursyakov, obstetrician-gynecologist, candidate of medical sciences, specialist of the Center for Family Planning and Reproduction.
I have heard about this practice for a long time and how, it seems to me, this is not a bad, and sometimes even more effective alternative to conventional births. It is strange that in our maternity hospitals they do not often offer such things. Either there are real reasons for this, or most doctors have conservative views.
It is a pity that this information was not read by me when I gave birth. The doctor was not there, only came to the attempts. So much torment, and indeed it would indeed be easier to give birth vertically. The process is much more physiological and I remember that it was much easier to stand during contractions than to lie.
Of course, there are many advantages described, but this is with the right approach. In general, I think every woman should herself feel how she is more comfortable, and obstetricians just help and suggest the necessary actions at the right time.
Why obey obstetricians, even if they insist on giving birth while lying down? I didn’t manage to push at all, all the energy went into a scream and into pain. As a result, I instinctively sat in a pose like the girl in the top picture. So she gave birth to a healthy daughter. Although the obstetricians tried for a long time to persuade me to lie down, they said that no one had given birth to them like that yet, I was adamant. The birth was quick and easy, one gap (first birth). So, I think, it doesn’t matter what opinion obstetricians adhere to, you can give birth vertically in any maternity hospital, the main thing is the mother’s adherence and her ability, in spite of the obstetrician’s persuasion, to do as her nature and physiology tells her. By force, obstetricians are not entitled to force a woman in labor and will not do this.
My girlfriend gave birth to the first child. At home, holding on to the headboard. Then I called an ambulance. She and her daughter were in perfect order. Without any complications and breaks, everything passed.
If she had given birth in a maternity hospital, no one would have allowed her to do this vertically. Midwives are adamant in this matter. To insist on your own is simply impossible. There is only one answer - go to a paid hospital, and here you will do as I said.
For the first time I heard about a vertical birth from a friend, she is a supporter of all non-standard. At first I was very surprised, it seemed that it was stupid and, possibly, even dangerous. But she was under the supervision of an experienced gynecologist, who gave the go-ahead. When she gave birth to a healthy baby, I realized that not everything is so scary. The process went much faster, and the pain was not so noticeable, in her words. I myself will not dare to do this, I guess. Although, who knows!)