Epidural Positions

Tools: Peanut Ball

Good For: Bringing high baby lower

Lay on left side, with peanut ball between your knees and ankles. Bring legs back, so that body is in a J shape, with ankles behind the butt.

Tools: Peanut ball

Purpose: Bring baby lower; rotate baby

Lay on your side with your bottom arm reaching behind you. Place a peanut ball or pillows between your lefts, with the top leg bent and the bottom leg straight. Stay in the position for 30 minutes, switch sides.

Tools: None

Purpose: Rotate baby; Bring baby down

Lay on your side, with your bottom arm straight above your head. Adjust in the bed so your belly is hanging off the edge. Have a support person stand by your belly for support. Your support person will lift your top leg up, forward, and then gently bring it down to hang over the bed. They will use their hands on your hip to keep your pelvis stacked. Do this for three contractions, then switch to the other side

Tools: None/peanut ball

Purpose: Gravity; Direct Baby

Raise the back of the bed into a seated position and drop the foot of the bed.

1. Butterfly - Brings high baby lower

2. Knees together - Opens bottoms of pelvis when baby is lower

3. Lunge - Use a peanut ball to support one leg, then bring opposite leg off the bed. Rotates baby and brings them lower. Do both sides.

In a semi-reclined position, pull legs back for leverage. Can be done open or close-kneed. Can use stirrups for support.

Lying on your side, pull one leg back for pushing. Rest in between. Can use stirrups for rest if needed.

Bring knees together and ankles apart. Can be done sitting, semi-reclined, side-lying, and on hands-and-knees.

Attach a squat bar to the bed for an assisted squat.

Loop a sheet around a squat bar for greater leverage while pushing. Sheet can also be wrapped around the waist of a support person.

Bring up the back of the bed to rest over the top in hands and knees.

Bring the back of the bed up to rest over the top. Kneel and bring one leg up into a lunge, with your knee to the side. Push several times on both sides.

With assistance, remove the bottom of the bed. Butt should be at the edge of the bed, with legs dangling off. Make sure the rest of the bed is raised so legs can dangle, and the head of the bed is flat. Do for three contractions without pushing. Can also be done arched over a birth ball.