good or bad posture?

A single point to remember according to Valentine Burucoa, midwife, is that it “there is no right or wrong position for childbirth”. For centuries, women have given birth on their backs. But today, this habit is called into question, especially since the evolution of the ambulatory epidural where the pain is reduced, while maintaining a certain mobility in the legs. This anesthesia technique, which is emerging more and more in maternities, tends to consider other birthing positions.

Choose the most comfortable position

For Valentine Burucoa, all positions are possible. Postures that are chosen beforehand by women with a birth plan where “if possible, they would like to avoid the lithotomy position and give birth in this or that position”. However, it is finally on D-Day that everything is decided. “What would not be logical is to choose a position in advance, be it the gynecological position or any other. We see the same day what works for this woman, this baby, this childbirth, while remaining safe on the medical side”. For the midwife, it is a fair balance to be found on both sides.

Today, some maternities are more comfortable than others in supporting women to move during labour. Changing position can thus make women feel that they are actors in their childbirth, according to Valentine Burucoa. “We are there to support and accompany births, to act effectively and help if there are complications. But in the idea, we rather give all the keys and all the weapons to the woman so that she can manage independently on D-Day.”, she explains.