Fowler's position

In immobile patients and infants, the Fowler's position alleviates compression of the chest that occurs due to gravity.

Fowler's position increases comfort during eating and other activities, is used in postpartum women to improve uterine drainage, and in infants when signs of respiratory distress are present.

Fowler's position is also used when oral or nasal gastric feeding tubes have been implemented as it minimizes the risk of aspiration.

[citation needed] It is named for George Ryerson Fowler,[2] who saw it as a way to decrease the mortality of peritonitis: Accumulation of purulent material under the diaphragm led to rapid systemic sepsis and septic shock, whereas pelvic abscesses could be drained through the rectum.

[4] During childbirth, the semi-Fowler's position is preferred over the full-Fowler's as it is generally more comfortable for the mother, and reduces the need for analgesics and surgical interventions such as operative vaginal delivery or cesarean sections.