This is the reason why we give birth on our backs

Jody Coffey

If you’ve ever questioned why women tend to give birth while lying on their backs, you’re not alone.

While it’s not the sole birthing position, it does seem to be the most common pose for a person to get into when they are welcoming a baby.

You may have, like me, believed that this is down to reasons of comfortability or mimicking the women we’ve seen give birth on film and TV doing, however, there is actually a reason why giving birth happens more often on our backs.

However, women who are expecting are advised not to sleep on their backs throughout gestation, so why is it the go-to position for birthing?

The most surprising revelation is that laying on your back isn’t actually the most comfortable or easy way to give birth.

In fact, this position can constrain your sacrum and coccyx’s ability to move and flex to make room for the baby, who also has to push uphill against gravity from the birth canal.

It turns out that giving birth on your back dates back to one 18th-century man’s preferences, and is now more out of routine than anything.

One TikTok account (@thebirthcollective) revealed that this style of birthing came from a monarch who had, well, a birthing fetish.

French King Louis XIV, a father of 22, apparently received sexual gratification from witnessing his wives and mistresses give birth.

@thebirthcollective Why we started birthing on our backs (even thought it’s the hardest position to give birth in). Did you know this?? Learn more about birth and pushing positions in my classes!#birth #hypnobirthing #activebirth #birthtips #birtheducation ♬ Paris – 斌杨Remix

In the American Journal of Public Health, Professor Lauren Dundes’ study called ‘The Evolution of Maternal Birthing Position’ explains his motives.

Professor Dundes writes that the monarch took pleasure in watching women giving birth, and, apparently, the view wasn’t working for him.

Women, at this time, would deliver their children in upright, squatting or forward positions, often on a birthing stool, but because of the obstructed view, King Louis coined a new ‘reclining position’ so as to not miss a moment of the action.

He demanded that from then on, mothers-to-be would have their babies delivered while on their backs with their legs apart.

The study also determined that King Louis likely liked to watch for ‘perverted’ reasons.

This mind-boggling revelation, as expected, has social media users rushing to the comments to discuss what they learned and share their experiences of giving birth this way.

“It’s much more comfortable for HIM,” one sarcastically wrote.

“First baby was on my back and took 1 hour to push. Second baby i was on all fours it was more painfull but took 15 mins to push,” one user shared.

“So many mothers talking about their permanent back problems after childbirth,” another wrote.

“Seriously I am so scared from having a second baby because my back never felt so much pain in my life it is so uncomfortable,” one user added.