Movement Restrictions

Restricting Movement

From The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence.

What to Know:

• Research shows that restricting movement reduces the effectiveness of contractions, prolongs labor, and increases Pitocin use.
• The WHO encourages freedom of position and movement and discourages the supine (back-lying) position during labor.
• The ACOG encourages women to change position often.

You’ll need to stay in bed or have help moving if:

• You’re having preterm labor.
• You have severe pregnancy-induced hypertension.
• You have epidural or spinal medication.
• You have narcotic medication through an IV.

How to Avoid Unnecessary Use:

• Discuss movement with your caregiver.
• Find out if your birth site restricts walking and movement during labor.
• Consider changing your birth site if it will restrict your movement.
• Labor at home as long as possible, walking and moving freely.
• Remember that walking, moving, and changing positions help your labor progress.

How to Keep Labor as Normal as Possible if Your Movement is Restricted:

• Labor at home as long as possible, walking, moving, and changing positions freely.
• Change positions often in bed:
  • Move from side to side.
  • Sit on the side of the bed.
  • Kneel while leaning your head and shoulders against the raised head of the bed.
  • Lie in different directions; for example, move your head to the foot of the bed.
  • Squat while supported.
  • Remember that the more you move, the more efficient your contractions will be.

Read more about medical interventions:

• Induction by artificial rupture of membranes
• Induction with pitocin
• IV fluids
• Epidural and anesthesia
• Continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM)
• Directed pushing
• Episiotomy
• Cesarean surgery