24 | June 2020 |motherandbaby.co.uk
Mariehasworkedwithhundredsof
mums-to-beandsaysoneof thebest
waysto prepareyourbodyforlabour
is to get yourbabyready!‘Yourbaby’s
position plays a key part in you having a
quicker and more comfortable labour,’
says Marie. ‘From 34 weeks you can ask
your midwife what position your baby
is in. Ideally, you want your baby to be
looking towards your spine and to have
as much space as possible in the front
of your pelvis. This position is called
“occiput anterior” and basically means
the smallest part of your baby’s head
will come through the pelvis first.’
To get your baby into this prime
position, start with one thing: gravity.
‘The heaviest part of the baby is
actually that part of their head,’ says
Marie. ‘If you keep your knees lower
than your hips it helps it come forward
first, because gravity is on your side.’
To get the most impact, simply tweak
the way you are sitting. If you have a
job where you spend a lot of the day
seated, Marie recommends sitting on
a birth ball, which will help get you into
an upright, forward and open position
(referred to as the UFO position). But
if an office birth ball is a no-no, there
is another solution.
‘Sometimes chairs mean you end up
sitting in a position where your knees
are actually higher than your hips,
especially if you’re a bit shorter,’ says
Marie. ‘So sitting on top of something
thattiltsyourpelviswillhelp. Even
poppinga cushionunderyourbottom
willtiltandraiseyourpelvisupabove
yourknees.’Theselittlethingswe do
every day without thinking can make
such a big difference.
And when you’re pregnant and still
working, it’s easy to slouch on the
sofa the minute you’re through
the front door. Why not sit on
your birth ball in front of the TV,
instead? ‘Or go on all fours in
front of your favourite show for
10 minutes,’ says Marie. ‘You
could also try kneeling up and
putting your arms over your
coffee table for the same amount
of time. Another good position is
simply standing. But only do this
if you’re feeling up to it. UFO is a
great way of getting your baby
into the right position.’
Want to combine your labour
prep with getting active? Then
head to the pool. ‘Swimming is
brilliant for getting your baby into
position,’ says Marie. ‘If you don’t
have SPD or pelvic girdle pain,
then do breaststroke. But if you’re
suffering from either, just use
a float and stretch your legs
out behind you, instead.
As you do this, the back of
your baby’s head will
gravitate around
towards the front.’‘My first birth
was quite traumatic, so to
help my anxiety when nearing
my second birth, I would have a
bath most nights, spray lavender
essence, practise my breathing, and focus
on a happy thought – my daughter and
I playing on a beach. I took this with me
into labour and it worked brilliantly!’
Sally Wilkes, 32, from
Derbyshire, is mum
to Rosanna, one, and
Jasmine, threeGET SET TO GIVE BIRTHGet your baby into position