Good Positions for Labor Prep
My absolute favorite position to relax in when I am tired, and man am I tired (I am in my 36th week of pregnancy and I have a 2 year old who is not crazy about sleeping all night), is sitting in a reclined position on my couch with my legs up. It is comfortable for me and it allows me to still interact with my kiddo.
Some reclined sitting is not bad, but the amount I would love to do is not the best for my body or the positioning of my baby. I am nearing the end of my pregnancy so I want to make sure I can do everything in my power to position this baby in the optimal birthing position and decrease as much pain as possible for me.
When I sit in a reclined position, I inevitably have to sit on my tailbone. When I do that, it closes something called the pelvic outlet (the space between the 2 sit bones that the baby needs to pass through to exit my body). By closing that space, the baby has a harder time moving down into the pelvis for a vaginal delivery. This position can also cause the pelvic floor muscles to shorten, which also causes more difficulty for a vaginal delivery.
Sitting with my feet up also puts increased pressure on my lower back which makes me want to do the “pregnancy waddle.” This lovely pregnancy walk is not good for any of my muscles or joints and let me tell you, it also makes me feel extra large. This of course, makes me feel sorry for myself because it takes so much effort to move. Feeling sorry for myself does not help me, the baby, or anyone around me!
If you want to sit, sit up on your sit bones instead of your tailbone. This will allow the pelvis to open and allow the baby room to move down into it. A great position to be in, while not the most natural for just hanging out, is on your hands and knees. This will allow the baby room to rotate into the optimal position and it will help open up your pelvis and relax your pelvic floor muscles.
If you want to fully relax, lying on your side with a pillow between your knees is the best position. That way you can relax all your muscles without putting increased pressure on your tailbone.
As always feel free to ask any questions or leave any comments.
