Alternative Health Blog

As seen in the health section of one of my favorite magazines, The Week, when a woman goes into labor, her first instinct may be to lie down. But that’s probably not the best way to deal with the first stage of labor, says The New York Times. Instead, a new Australian analysis finds, standing and walking can be good for both mom and baby, reducing the total amount of time spent in labor by more than an hour.

The new research analyzed 21 childbirth studies involving nearly 4,000 women, and concluded that when women spend at least part of their labor upright, gravity encourages the natural descent of the baby through the birth canal. “The baby’s head pushing down on the cervix improves the regularity and intensity of contractions,” says study author Annemarie Lawrence. “Women should be allowed to move around freely.” Having witnessed two births first hand, I'd say women should be allowed to do whatever they want! May you always be blessed with good health.