An upright position for birth eliminates the possibility of supinehypotension syndrome. This condition can occur when a pregnant women lieson her back. The weight of the uterus can compress the major blood vessels--the aorta and inferior vena cava--interfering with the woman's circulation and causing a lowering of her blood pressure. When a woman is in a vertical position, the baby's direction of descent is down and out, in harmony with gravity.
-Susan Smith, RN
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 1 Issue 10, Mar 5, 1999)
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