I often receive messages from mothers in other countries who say that they will be forced to birth on their backs. They are stressed and scared reading the literature about the benefits of flexible sacrum and upright labor positions knowing that they will have to give birth on their backs. Several mothers have told me that they will be held down if they try to move into a different position.
I want to make it clear that IN NO WAY do I think this okay. I hope that medical systems across the globe can change. Mothers have a right to birth in whatever position feels right to THEM.
I hesitate to post something like this because
1. It’s not the mother who should have to compromise. However, if a mother doesn’t have a choice (or even if she just prefers to birth on her back) then possibly this towel trick can make it a little easier.
2. A physiotherapist shared this tip with me, but this position is not evidence-based as it has never been included in any studies. It also doesn’t use the benefit of gravity. It’s simply an idea considering physiology that may make a difficult situation a little better.
Choosing positions where the sacrum has the flexibility to move (flexible sacrum positions) will help the pelvis open to help baby down and out.
Flexible sacrum positions include: hands and knees (quadruped), kneeling, standing, squatting, sitting/squatting on a birth stool, floating in the water, and side-lying.
Benefits of flexible sacrum positions:
decrease perception of pain
shorter pushing phase
reduce risk of cesarean sections, instrumental deliveries and episiotomies
Also, when it’s time to push, using internal rotation (knees in, ankles out) will open the outlet of the pelvis helping baby down and out.
Share with a mother who may need (or want) to birth on her back.
Note: I’m not currently pregnant.
Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32531856/#:~:text=Flexible%20sacrum%20positions%20in%20the,the%20second%20stage%20of%20labour.
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Jessica Pumple is a registered dietitian, certified pre & postnatal fitness instructor, and pregnancy & postpartum core exercise specialist. She helps pregnant women stay fit, have healthy babies, and easier labors. She helps new moms with postpartum recovery, to heal and strengthen their core and find more energy!
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