Expert Tips: Getting Baby Into Position for Birth
Key Highlights
One of the best positions for a baby is head-down and facing the mother's back, with the chin down toward the chest.
This is called the occiput anterior (OA) position. It allows the baby's head to move more easily through the birth canal than other positions.
You can use different techniques and exercises to help your baby get into a better position for birth.
Good posture, prenatal yoga, seeing a chiropractor, and other exercises can help with proper fetal positioning.
Introduction
As your pregnancy moves into the third trimester, you'll probably hear more talk about where your baby is positioned and how it affects labor and delivery.
One of the best positions for birth is when the baby is head-down and facing your back so that their back is towards the front of your tummy. This position helps make the birthing experience easier. While babies often find this position on their own, there are ways you can help them get there.
Understanding Optimal Birth Position
One of the best fetal birth positions is the occiput anterior (OA) position. In this position, the baby's head faces the mother's back with the chin close to the chest. This helps the smallest part of the baby's head move through the birth canal better.
The occiput anterior position is beneficial in several ways:
1. It lets the baby's head put the correct pressure on the cervix, helping it open by triggering the Ferguson Reflex.
2. It helps the baby turn through the curves of the birth canal more easily.
3. It lowers the chances of difficulties during labor, possibly reducing the number of needed interventions.
Techniques to Encourage Optimal Positioning
While there's no guarantee that the baby will flip into the correct position, some of these techniques have been found to be helpful.
These techniques include certain exercises and stretches.
For the best possible results, it's recommended to apply these techniques regularly.
As always, you should also talk to your care provider before starting any of these techniques during your pregnancy.
Exercises to Promote Proper Fetal Alignment
Specific exercises can help the baby move into a better position by making more room in the uterus.
One way is to take a prenatal yoga class! Prenatal yoga is also a great way to help the baby move into an optimal position. Many movements help you relax and open up the abdomen, giving the baby more room to turn. If you're local to Rockland County, NY, a great place to go is Playful Yogi Space in Nyack!
Some specific exercises to add to your routine might be:
Pelvic Tilts: This exercise moves the pelvis forward to create more space in the lower part of the uterus.
Cat-Cow Pose: This yoga pose helps spinal movement and encourages the baby to turn to the anterior position.
Forward-Leaning Inversions: Doing these exercises against a wall or off a couch with help can encourage a baby to turn from breech to a head-down position.
The Miles Circuit
The Miles Circuit is a powerful tool for helping get your baby into an optimal position for birth.
It’s a series of three simple positions designed to open the pelvis and create space for baby to rotate into a better position for birth.
Step 1: Open Knee Chest
Step 2: Exaggerated Side Lying Position
Step 3: Get Up and Moving & Asymmetric
Find out more: Miles Circuit instructions →
Interventions for Repositioning: What You Need to Know
In some cases, if your baby hasn't settled into the optimal birth position as your due date approaches, your care provider might suggest interventions to encourage repositioning.
External Cephalic Version (ECV)
This is a procedure in which a qualified care professional attempts to manually turn your baby. Note that his procedure can be uncomfortable or painful.
Chiropractic Care
Specific techniques may help align the pelvis and create space for the baby to move. Be sure they are trained in the Webster Technique!
Acupuncture
May help relax muscles and improve blood flow to the uterus