Background
At Maputo Central Maternity Hospital, the standard position for a woman to be in during childbirth is on her back with her legs up in stirrups. This is often a comfortable position for the midwives to work with, but not always ideal for the woman in labour. Research shows that alternative positions, such as squatting, kneeling, standing or lying on the side, are efficient and have advantages for both the woman and the baby.

About the project
This project was created to encourage women to choose their desired position during delivery at Maputo Central Maternity Hospital. The purpose of this was to increase the women’s satisfaction and sense of comfort during childbirth – and to evaluate if there was any difference in the duration of labour depending on which position was chosen. The project team sensitized the midwives and doctors at the hospital and trained four midwives, who would implement the project in their daily work.

Results
Out of 25 women, 10 preferred the standard position (lying on their back) where the duration of the delivery was 10-25 minutes. 15 women chose the squatting position, where the delivery lasted between 5 and 10 minutes. Interviews were done with the women after the childbirth and they were all satisfied with their choice of position. One woman said: “I was afraid of asking if I could deliver in a squatting position, but I was so happy when you asked me if I would like to deliver in that manner”. Although the midwives were initially uncomfortable offering the squatting position, they became positive towards it when the women expressed their gratitude and happiness.

Year: 2006