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Semi Sitting
Pros
More Comfortable Makes good use of gravity Allows you to rest easily Easy to do in hospital beds Good visibility for all present Good for continuous electronic monitoring
Cons
Access to perineum can be poor, as well as mobility of coccyx is impaired Places some stress on perineum
Lying On Your Side
Good for oxygen supply to baby Easy resting position Good if you have high blood pressure Useful if mother has epidural Can make contractions more effective Can speed up labor Easier to relax between contractions Partner can assist in delivery Lowers chance of need for episiotomy Access to perineum is excellent
No help from gravity Mother must support her leg under knee if no one is there to hold leg Mother may feel too passive
Squatting
Uses gravity effectively May increase rotation of baby Excellent for access to the perineum Excellent for fetal circulation May increase pelvis diameter by as much as two centimeters Requires less bearing-down effort Thighs keep baby well-aligned
May be more tiring May be hard for mother to assist in delivery
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