Birth Myth Busters

How many things have we grown up hearing about birth which are just totally untrue! Actually…loads! I’ve busted some popular myths in this blog post - how many of these did you think were true?!

MYTH: The most common position to give birth in is on your back

I mean I can see where this thought comes from - that is pretty much all we see on TV! (not Ness from Gavin and Stacey though - she births on all fours!)

We see birthgivers on their backs, in hospital, sometimes with their feet in stirrups, straining with the force of pushing. But actually lying on your back is one of the worse positions to be in for SO many reasons.

One of the main reasons is that your pelvis is totally unable to move as it’s designed to when you are in this position. Your pelvis is very mobile and due to an amazing hormone that pregnant people produce called Relaxin, the pelvis can open and expand to accommodate your growing baby, and to birth your baby. But if you’re on your back, it’s almost impossible for your pelvis to move and expand as it should.

Also, think of gravity - your baby is travelling down the birth canal. So what’s easier? Your body lying flat or being upright?

The best position to give birth in is the one YOUR body moves into instinctively. But have an expectation that you might want to move during birth, and remain in an upright, forward and open position.

Sidenote: Why did people start lying on backs during birth? Because it was more convenient for doctors to see up their vagina…

MYTH: There’s no point in having a birth plan because birth never goes to plan.          

I hear this one a LOT. And look I get what people are saying, but as adults we make plans every day of our lives knowing full well that life doesn’t go to plan.

When you go to a job interview, you don’t know what they’re going to ask you. But do you still plan? Yep! You plan meticulously for every possible scenario, so that you are as prepared as possible when they day comes.

The key is making a plan, but knowing that the plan may change. This can be because you simply change your mind on the day, or because a change in plan is necessary.

And honestly, there are a HUGE amount of things you can put in your birth plan that are very likely to be able to happen even if your plan deviates. Things like, the room environment, keeping noise levels low, optimal cord clamping, Vitamin K administration - and plenty more!

MYTH: Having a C section means you’re too posh to push

God I hate this saying. It’s so rude and also SO not true!

A caesarean section is not “the easy way out”. It is major abdominal surgery which comes with all the usual recovery process of surgery. You can’t drive for six weeks, it can be difficult to pick your baby up, and there is a small chance the incision can become infected.

By all means have a caesarean section if that is your preference, or indeed if it’s necessary. But it’s a myth that it’s easy.

MYTH: If your baby is in the breech position, it’s always better to have a caesarean section rather than a vaginal birth

For a number of years the recommendation has been for breech babies to be born via C section.

Having a C section just because baby is breech is not entirely necessary, but sadly a lot of skills that midwives and doctors used to have delivering breech babies, has now been lost because of most breech babies being born via C section.

This is also why a caesarean section is usually offered – not because it’s necessary but because healthcare providers don’t feel confident with breech babies so the habit is to just continue to recommend C section, rather than learn the skills that breech babies need.

Breech is a variation of normal, and if your baby is breech in early pregnancy, it’s very possible that they will have turned into the optimal position by about 36 or 37 weeks. Only 3-4% of babies are still breech at the end of pregnancy.

If your baby is breech you can also try an ECV (External cephalic version) when a doctor or midwife will try and turn the baby. This has a 50% success rate and you can find more information about this here.

But just know that having a vaginal breech birth is very possible and is your choice. If you really want a vaginal birth and your healthcare provider isn’t being supportive, it’s always worth seeing if you can change providers because there may well be someone else who is much more confident and supportive.

You might be surprised by some of these! If you want to ask any questions or have a myth debunked, come and find me on Instagram!