Historical perspective
Early drawings and pictures often depict women squatting during labour - either over a shallow hole in the ground, or on a low platform to allow room for delivery. Kneeling or sitting with the aid of another person or a support, was also commonly adopted. A birthing stool was first mentioned in Babylonian times and became popular in many European countries in the Middle Ages.
During the seventeenth century it seems to have become fashionable for women to labour horizontally in many European countries. Various reasons have been suggested for this change in posture. A trend towards medical supervision in childbirth meant that the physician needed to have easy access to the vagina for the purpose of examination. Pain relief may also have contributed to reduced mobility - secondary to drowsiness or leg weakness for example. Accordingly, many people have become accustomed to the notion that childbirth is limited to lying passively in bed. But this is not the case by any means!
Nowadays most centres encourage women to be mobile during labour and choose positions which they find most comfortable. This freedom of movement can still apply when using nitrous oxide or low-dose epidurals for pain relief.
While most centres nowadays encourage women in labour to be up and about, certain medical conditions may prevent this. For example, if you have high blood pressure or your baby's head is not engaged in the pelvis, then your obstetrician will want you to stay in bed. If your baby is preterm, or is being monitored continuously, then - depending on the type of monitoring being used - it may not, be feasible for you to walk around. Your obstetrician or midwife will explain the reasons concerning any limitation on your freedom of movement.
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