Labor Positions (Nursing)

00:00 Now we've already talked a little bit about position. We spoke about keeping the pregnant patient in an upright position in order to facilitate labor. But let's think about that position all the way throughout the process. So, look at this graphic and you'll see this pregnant patient is doing lots of different things. They're on a birth ball, they're standing behind their partner, they're leaning on a chair, they're on the floor, they're on their side, they have someone rubbing on their back. Guess what position that fetus might be in for all that pain.

00:32 Or squatting behind the chair, or in knee-chest. So these are just some options that will help you think of ways that you can help the pregnant patient get into different positions in order to facilitate that rotation. So remember in the cardinal mechanisms of labor, the fetus rotates. So the more the patient moves, the easier that rotation is going to be. Also, it just helps when you're moving not to focus on any discomforts that you're having and we know that the more the patient moves, the more likely they are to achieve a vaginal delivery.

01:06 And the less they move, the more likely they are to not achieve a vaginal delivery and need a Caesarean birth. So think about that in terms of going to the hospital and how you can help the patient be mobile during the labor as a way to achieve a vaginal delivery.