The History of Birthing Positions
Take a moment now to visualize a woman giving birth. In your mind’s eye, the image that is most likely recalled is of a woman on her back with her legs sprawled open and knees tucked to her ears wailing at full volume from the pain as the baby’s head crowns. Although this scenario is commonplace in Western civilization, it has not always been that way. The go-to position for birthing a child was not the dorsal position. In fact, this position has only been in practice for approximately 200 years and gained its prevalence when modern medicine and hospitals became the favored place to give birth amongst a conglomerate of other influential chauvinistic factors.
Prior to this movement, historical documentation shows that women preferred a sitting, squatting, kneeling, or standing position while in labor. Images depicting these positions span time, class, and culture. They are present in artistic representations, historical documents, medical records, and personal journals. The common factor in all these positions is gravity. The upward position allows the birthing canal to align perpendicular to the ground, working in conjunction with the downward pull of contractions and the physics-established pull of gravity. The mother’s and child’s comfort and safety during labor are always of the utmost importance. The needs of the mother and the care of the infant are the main purposes of having additional people present.
But childbirth is the act of literally bringing life into the world. The process is a time of connection, love, and support.
Childbirth is a sacred and enlightening experience. For most of history, it was an act absent of male influence. The act was strictly sanctioned to only accommodate women because indecent exposure of the female body was frowned upon. But men have none-the-less, written the books, dished out the advice, and controlled the procedures. Around the 17th century, when European medical influences were heavy on the United States a shift began to occur. This shift manifested because of several influences, the common factor in all of them is the insertion of male dominance in childbirth techniques. The dorsal position was implemented to allow easier access for the surgeon, better viewing for individuals who are of the same mind as King Louis XIV who avidly engaged in the hobby of watching women in labor, and interprofessional rivalry between midwives(women) and surgeons (men). Until approximately 1500 BC, women were the only staple in childbirth. The mother birthing the baby, a midwife, and several female attendants aiding with emotional and physical support, medical supply assistance, and delivery. At these momentous times, the mother had a priority say in what position felt natural and safe for her (standing, squatting, kneeling, or sitting and later lying on her side). Unless otherwise suggested by the midwife for safety reasons, the mother’s preference was utilized.
When obstetrics became a more defined field, a professional rivalry began to perpetuate negative images of opposing careers. Midwives struck fear in mothers about surgeons through barbaric anecdotes about scalpels, forceps, and bloody surgeries. Intentionally scaring women away from hospitals and birthing centers alike. Surgeons preached that pregnancy and labor were female sicknesses that needed medical intervention in order to be successful. Applying terms like tumors and disease to describe the act of childbirth and build apprehension in expecting mothers.
Labor and Delivery are scary enough without the multitude of ulterior opinions and scare tactics. As always, the health and safety of the mother and child should be the main objective of all parties involved. Despite the pain, childbirth should be an inspiring and enlightening experience of life filled with love, joy, and support. A mother’s birthing plan should be respected in conjunction with empathy and knowledge governing in-the-moment decisions. This, of course, includes how her ideal delivery would transpire and in what position.
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