Upright Labor Positions for the Second Stage of Labor

If you missed part 1 in the vaginal childbirth positioning series, go back and read it here.

Childbirth/labor is quite an experience, and it can be scary waiting for the unknown. Being prepared, knowing, and being familiar with different options and labor positions is the best way to approach childbirth to help decrease as much anxiety should surprises arise.

This article will go over specific labor positions that help progress labor, and prevent perineal trauma.

As mentioned in Part 1: Pre-Birth article, it’s important to keep changing labor positions to help progress, preferably in different upright labor positions. As a reminder, the first stage is all about increasing the pelvic inlet to help guide the baby through the mid pelvis and finally towards the pelvic outlet/vaginal canal.

Do you know how to use a sex pillow?

What’s that saying from old church ladies, “The higher the hair, the closer to god”? Well, if you’ve been interested in adding some elevation between the sheets, grabbing a sex pillow (aka sex wedge) may just bring you closer to an, “Oh my god” moment.

According to a 2021 survey of 1,600 people conducted by Dame Labs, the research hub of sexual wellness company Dame, 81% of respondents reported they wanted to find better angles during partnered sex. Further, when asked about the best non-vibrating sex toys, pillows and wedges were rated the highest.

A sex pillow can be used for comfort or to improve positioning to enhance the sexual experience,”

Dr. Heather Jeffcoat, (she/her) women’s health physical therapist and author of Sex Without Pain: A Self-Treatment Guide To The Sex Life You Deserve tells Bustle.

People tend to like them because they allow for further variation in position, and can improve accessibility of all the spots — G, P, and A.”

I was hopeful but frankly skeptical when the doctor treating me for Interstitial Cystitis recommended that I go to Heather for physical therapy. Medication and diet helped control my IC symptoms, but I had never heard of physical therapy being used to treat IC. The education and treatment I received from Heather was a revelation. She explained that the pain I experienced with IC had helped create a cycle of muscle guarding which affected the entire pelvic area. I had no idea of the amount of tension being held there. No wonder my husband and I had not been able to have sexual intercourse for years!