17/06/2026
f you have had a class with me when I discuss birth positioning, I regularly demonstrate by lying on my mat or even your couch with my legs in air to show you why you need to change position in labour.
Changing position during labour so that you are not putting direct pressure on your coccyx (tailbone) can have several potential benefits:
✨Creates more space in the pelvis
When the coccyx is free to move backwards during labour, it can slightly increase the diameter of the pelvic outlet. This may make it easier for the baby to descend and rotate during birth.
✨Reduces pressure and discomfort
Sitting or lying directly on the tailbone can increase pain and pressure in that area. Positions such as side-lying, hands-and-knees, kneeling, or leaning forward may relieve discomfort and reduce strain on the coccyx.
✨May support more effective labour progress
Upright or forward-leaning positions that take weight off the coccyx can encourage optimal fetal positioning and allow gravity to assist the baby’s descent, which may help labour progress more efficiently for some people.
Common positions that avoid direct coccyx pressure include:
✨Hands-and-knees
✨Kneeling while leaning over a bed or birth ball
✨Side-lying
✨Standing or walking
✨Forward-leaning sitting (rather than reclining directly onto the tailbone)
The best position varies from person to person and may change throughout labour, so it’s often helpful to move around and use whichever positions feel most comfortable and effective.
