The position of your baby in your uterus later in pregnancy can have an influence on how your labour starts and how well it progresses.
***Key Points***
When your baby is head down, with their back on your left and their head down so their chin is on their chest this is considered the optimal position for labour and birth.
This position makes their journey as they descend and rotate through the pelvis the easiest as the smallest dimensions of the baby’s head leads the way.
There are things you can do to help your baby into a good position during pregnancy and during your labour and birth.
***Key Points***
***Preparing during pregnancy***
There are things you can do during pregnancy to encourage baby into the best position for labour.
How you sit and move your body in late pregnancy can affect the position of your baby in the uterus.
There are some exercises you can practice for short periods each day to help get your baby in a good position and these encourage alignment and mobility in the mothers pelvis in preparation for labour and birth
- On your hands and knees, sometimes referred to as on all fours
- Sitting on a ball or stool, like you were in a squat
- Sitting with your hips higher than your knees and your back straight,
- Walking briskly with good posture
- Pelvic rocking or tilting.
- You can rest lying on your left side with a pillow between your legs.
During pregnancy you can practice positions to keep active during labour such as: kneeling, rocking, squatting -using a ball or stool, walking, dancing, sitting backwards on a chair, lunging or kneeling on hands and knees.
These positions restore balance in the body creating space for your baby
Always follow the ‘No Pain’ rule. If you are experiencing any pain always consult your doctor or midwife
***Preparing during pregnancy***
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