The term childbirth positions (or "maternal birthing position") refers to the various physical postures the pregnant mother may assume during the process of childbirth

Childbirth

Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...

. They may also be referred to as delivery positions or labor positions.

In addition to the lithotomy position

Lithotomy position

The lithotomy position is a medical term referring to a common position for surgical procedures and medical examinations involving the pelvis and lower abdomen, as well as a common position for childbirth in Western nations...

 still commonly used by many obstetricians, positions that are successfully used by midwives and traditional birth-attendants the world over include squatting

Squatting position

Squatting is a posture where the weight of the body is on the feet but the knees are bent either fully or partially . In contrast, sitting, involves taking the weight of the body, at least in part, on the buttocks against the ground or a horizontal object such as a chair seat...

, standing, kneeling

Kneeling

Kneeling is a human position in which the weight is distributed on the knees and feet on a surface close to horizontal.The position of kneeling may be assumed for practical reasons and for reasons of social or religious custom.- Practical reasons :...

 and on all-fours

All-Fours

All Fours, also known as High-Low-Jack or Seven Up, is an English tavern trick-taking card game that was popular as a gambling game until the end of the 19th century...

, often in a sequence.

Lithotomy position

In the lithotomy position the mother is lying on her back with her legs up in stirrups and her buttocks close to the edge of the table. This position is convenient for the caregiver since it enables him or her more access to the perineum

Perineum

In human anatomy, the perineum is a region of the body including the perineal body and surrounding structures...

. However this is not a comfortable position for most patients considering the pressure on the vaginal walls due to the baby's head is uneven and the labor process is against gravity.

Squatting position

The squatting position increases pressure in the pelvic cavity with minimal muscular effort. The birth canal will open 20 to 30% more in a squat than in any other position. It is recommended for the second stage of childbirth. As most Western adults find it difficult to squat with heels down, compromises are often made such as putting a support under the elevated heels or having another person support the squatter.
This position may be difficult to maintain during the birth process since it can become uncomfortable or tiring. The squatting position opens the pelvis outlet and stretches the perineum naturally making it easier to push. An advantage to this is that there is even pressure on the vagina from the head of the baby.

All-fours

Some mothers may choose this position instinctively. It can help the baby turn around in the case of a malpresentation of the head. Since this position utilizes gravity it also decreases back pain. The reduction of back pain is due to the ability for the mother to tilt her hips.

Side laying

Side laying may help slow the baby's descent down the birth canal giving the perineum more time to naturally stretch. To assume this position the mother lies on her side with her knees bent. To push a slight rolling movement to be propped up on one elbow is needed while one leg is held up. This position does not use gravity but still holds an advantage over the lithotomy position since it does not weigh the vena cava under the uterus so that blood flow to both mother and baby are reduced.

Other useful information

Various people have promoted the adoption of these various birthing positions, particularly squatting, for Western countries, such as Grantly Dick-Read

Grantly Dick-Read

Grantly Dick-Read was a British obstetrician who is regarded by many as the father of natural childbirth movement. He dedicated his life to educating expectant parents about the benefits of giving birth naturally, with as little intervention from obstetricians and health professionals as possible...

, Janet Balaskas

Janet Balaskas

Janet Balaskas is an author, founder of the Active Birth Movement, and childbirth educator. She is perhaps known best for her advocacy of active birth where the woman is free to move during labour, rather than being placed into stirrups or the lithotomy position...

, Moysés Paciornik

Moysés Paciornik

Moysés Goldstein Paciornik was a physician born in the city of Curitiba in the Paraná state of Brazil. He graduated in Medicine in 1938. In 1959 he founded the Paranaense Center for Medical Research, which he was director...

 and Hugo Sabatino

Hugo Sabatino

Hugo Sabatino is an Argentine-Brazilian physician, scientist and university professor affiliated to the Medical School of the State University of Campinas, in Campinas, State of São Paulo. Dr. Sabatino's main specialty is obstetrics. He has contributed to a new form of natural childbirth delivery...

. The adoption of these non-lithotomy positions is also promoted by the natural childbirth

Natural childbirth

Natural Childbirth is a philosophy of childbirth that is based on the notion that women who are adequately prepared are innately able to give birth without routine medical interventions. Natural childbirth arose in opposition to the techno-medical model of childbirth that has recently gained...

 movement.

Different positions may be associated with different rates of perineal injury

Perineal tear classification

Perineal tear classification is a system used to quantify the severity of trauma to the perineum during vaginal childbirth. Delivery may lead to overstretching of the vagina, causing tears in the perineal tissue between the vagina and rectum...

.