Technology use and staff shortages on labor and delivery floors have caused many mothers to spend most, if not all of their labors in bed. This still occurs in most birth settings despite the fact that science has shown laboring in bed has little proven benefit and may in fact, have negative effects on labor.
As mothers have begun to explore more "natural" ways to labor and give birth, researchers are finding that some of the gains we have experienced through technology, specifically the lack of mobility due to electronic fetal monitoring, labor inductions and epidurals may have some downsides. It turns out that mother nature really does know best and allowing the mother the freedom to move about and walk during labor may have some advantages.
Walking Reduces Pain
Most women who give birth in a hospital will testify that the labor bed is anything but comfortable when the contractions hit. When the mother is able to move freely about the room or out into the labor and delivery floor, she will often find her pain is reduced as compared to lying on her back in the bed. Back pain is much more pronounced when she is lying in bed and walking or changing positions nearly always feels better.
There are also pain receptors on the soles of the feet, so standing during contractions allows mothers to put pressure on those pain receptors which also reduces her labor discomfort. This may be one reason why mothers who walk during labor also tend to use fewer epidurals for pain relief.
Walking Helps Baby Descend
Walking and being upright uses gravity to help move the baby down into the mother's pelvis during labor. Positions where the mother is lying down do not carry the same advantage and may in fact hinder the progress of labor and the baby descending down into her pelvis and birth canal later in labor.
Walking Shortens Labor
One of the most important outcomes of staying upright and walking during labor is that it tends to shorten labor. Researchers have found that when mothers stayed active and walked during the first stage of labor, their labors ended up shorter than the mothers who labored in bed.
One possible explanation is that uterine contractions tend to strengthen when mothers are upright and slow down when mother is lying on her back. This is one reason why care providers often recommend bed rest when they are concerned about pre-term labor.
Walking Can Help Baby Rotate
As mother walks around, she is changing the shape and diameter of her pelvis. The movement of her hips back and forth may, in fact, help not only in the descent of her baby through her pelvis but also help her baby to rotate. Rotating your baby can be accomplished by walking and even more effectively by "swaying" back and forth during contractions or slow dancing. Some mothers also find that other exaggerated movements such as walking up and down the stairs can also help to rotate babies.
Suffice it to say, walking during labor has few, if any disadvantages and many advantages for both mother and baby during labor. Be sure to talk to your care provider and place of birth prior to labor to make sure you have mobility and freedom to walk for as long as possible during your own labor.
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