Vertical position during the first stage of the course of labor, and neonatal outcome.

This study included 369 normal term labors. In 145 cases the women were sitting, standing or walking at will during the first stage, whereas 224 remained lying in bed during the whole labor. When the mother remains in the 'vertical position during the first stage of labor (1) the physiological timing of the spontaneous rupture of membranes is not altered, (2) duration of the first stage is shortened in 25%--this shortening may reach 34% in the nulliparas, (3) cephalic molding is not increased, (4) the incidence of forceps delivery diminishes and (5) perinatal morbimortality is not increased.