How can I get my baby into the best position for birth?
As we come close to our ‘due date’ we become quite conscious of the position of our baby inutero. Is there an ‘Optimal position’ for the baby to be in? Yes there is. Preferably we want the baby’s head to be down and bottom up (known as ‘cephalic’). Labour is generally quicker and easier too if the back of the baby’s head is towards the front of your belly. We also look for the head to become ‘fully engaged’ by the time you are in labour (meaning, it has dropped right down into the pelvis). When the baby is in the optimal position, labour generally progresses quite well.
If your baby is not in the optimal position, there are several things you can do to move it to a better position. These can include:
- Leaning forward or on all fours as often as possible to move it around to the front.
- Belly dancing can be a terrific way to help the baby move into the right position or to help it move through the pelvis with ease.
- Communicating with your baby and ‘asking’ it to move
- Gentle regular massage to the belly in the direction that you want bub to turn
- Reflexology, shiatsu, acupuncture, acupressure, homeopathics etc. There are many different types of natural therapies that can be used, depending on your preferences. Always seek the advice of a professional practitioner though when using any of these modalities during pregnancy
There are many other things you can try. I suggest doing a google search. A fantastic website to visit for this is:
Also a great book to read on this topic, if you can find a copy, is ‘Understanding and Teaching Optimal Foetal Positioning’ by Jean Sutton and Pauline Scott.
Filed under: Questions & Answers | Tagged: acupuncture, baby, birth, birthing position, cephalic, childbirth, homeopathics, inutero, labor, labour, natural birth, optimal foetal positioning, pelvis, pregnancy, pregnant, reflexology, shiatsu
