Getting Baby into Optimum Position for Birth

As the day of birth draws near, it is recommended to avoid positions that influence baby's spine to fall back against yours (posterior), such as resting and leaning too far back in the lounge with feet up, or anything where knees are higher than your pelvis. Instead, try resting positons that have you laying on your side, not your back. Spend more time leaning forward, kneeling and when sitting your trunk should be tilted slightly forwards. Sitting on a birth/exercise ball is a great way to encourage the pelvis to tilt forward (anterior).

Certain yoga postures can help avoid posterior positioning of the baby and these include:

“Majari” the Cat Posture is a wonderful way during pregnancy and labour to rock baby into an optimum birthing position. This yoga posture utilises gravity to encourage baby to turn away from the spine. Try to circulate the hips to create space for baby to move. These can be natural positions to utilise in your labour.

Majari - The Cat Posture

"Shashankasana” the Hare Posture, is an introverting pose that is not only helpful for alleviating anxiety, it can help to relax back muscles and encourage baby to turn with the use of gravity. This posture can be a wonderful resting position in birth, leaning over a bean bag or the bed, giving easy access for support people to massage your back.