Adapting Hospital Obstetrics to Birth in the Squatting Position

This is a review of why and how the obstetric staff at Trinity Hospital, a traditional hospital in Montana, incorporated the squatting position for birth. During the 16‐month period of this study, 45 of the 152 vaginal deliveries were in the squatting position. Benefits of the squatting position discussed here include ability to push more effectively, encouragement of the rotation of the fetal head to an anterior position, better access to the woman's back, abdomen or sides for massage, and women feeling more in control of themselves.