In every aspect of our daily lives, whether it is the language we speak, the culture we embrace, the tools that sustain us, or the identities we shape, all of it emerges from thousands of intersecting histories. Childbirth is no exception. For most of human existence, women delivered upright. Yet today the dominant image is of mothers lying flat on their backs.
Research shows that for nearly all of human history, women gave birth in upright positions such as squatting, kneeling, or using birthing stools. These methods relied on gravity and often made delivery easier.
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The supine position, however, took root in France, first linked to gallstone procedures in the 18th century. This posture, lying flat on the back, would later become associated with childbirth.
So how did this posture become the standard way of bringing newborns into the world?
The answer lies not in medicine but in power, spectacle, and convenience
In the 17th century, King Louis XIV of France, popularly known as the Sun King, insisted that his mistresses give birth lying on their backs so he could watch the process. What began as the indulgence of a monarch slowly seeped into practice.
By the 18th century, German physician Heinrich Meibom challenged this custom. He argued for mobility, for gravity, for the natural strength of the body. His warnings, however, were ignored.
By the 20th century, childbirth had shifted into hospitals. Doctors found it easier to manage women lying flat, and convenience became the new standard. Painful interventions such as sedatives, forceps, and later epidurals reinforced the practice, even though it often prolonged labor and made breathing harder for mothers.
In a video recently shared on Instagram, a digital creator asked why women continue to give birth lying down. She explained that in ancient African traditions, lying on the back was seen as “easier to see and harder to breathe,” a posture that benefited observers more than mothers. Generations of women were trained into this practice, which often proved more comfortable for someone else rather than the mother herself.
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The creator questioned when professionals last challenged practices that do not favor our bodies, our environment, or our people. She pointed out how many traditions we follow without knowing their true origins.
Have you ever wondered why the Yoruba call childbirth “Ojo Ikunle” (the day of kneeling) instead of “Ojo Idubule” (the day of lying down)?
According to research, before modern medical influence, the primary birthing position in Yoruba land was kneeling. Historically, women would count their children by the number of times they had “kneeled,” using phrases like “Ikunle meta” (three kneels) to indicate they had given birth to three children.
Under the same post, filmmaker and actor Jayeola Monje commented, “My mom usually gave birth kneeling down and it was easy. Oyinbo just dey make us pay for sins we did not commit”. That is why they said in my language, ‘Ti o ba fi otun kunle, wafi osi dide’ (if you kneel with your right, you’ll rise with your left). “It’s the reason for Ikunle Abiamo”.
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Every human knows bringing a life into this world is not an easy task, and women need all the strength they can gather when giving birth. Following the body’s natural signs during childbirth could reduce long or slow labor, unnecessary interventions, and even the rising rate of cesarean sections (CS) in modern hospitals.
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Imagine giving birth simply for a king’s fascination to watch, and now generations have adopted the position even though he is no longer here to watch.
As humans, we should learn to embrace our culture, listen to our bodies, and question traditions that may not serve us. Childbirth is not only a medical event but a cultural and human one.
Before adopting any practice, whether as professionals or individuals, we should know its origin, question its purpose, and ensure it truly serves those at the center of the experience.
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