Baby’s Position
Think about baby and Baby’s Position as being in a water balloon… when I press into the water balloon, baby’s position changes based on where the space is available for them to move. If space is restricted on the left or right, baby shifts to the opposite side. If space is restricted on the bottom, baby shifts upwards. And so on.
*Baby’s Position During Birth*
What are the supporting structures that may influence the shape and Baby's Position?
Uterine ligaments: there are several ligaments that attach the uterus to the pelvis and surrounding structures. If one of the ligaments is shortened or restricted, it can pull the other side more taunt. The tighter ligament or side could decrease space in the uterus on that side, as well. Things that may help w the uterine ligament balance could include seeing a Webster certified chiropractor! Our gym has Dr Ring of Sandhills Family Chiropractic that supports our local community!
Pelvic Shape and Alignment: the pelvis is the structural foundation of the uterus and other pelvic organs. Since the pelvis is the foundation, it’s general position can influence the uterine shape. The surrounding muscles may contribute a lot towards the pelvic alignment, such as a tight hip flexor may pull the pelvis more forward. Seeing a chiropractor can help adjust your pelvis, and then check out the next bullet!
Muscles that support the pelvis: there are a lot of muscles that support the pelvis from the upper body and lower body! Muscles can have a huge influence on the alignment of our pelvis; if something is shortened on the front side of the pelvis, such as the hip flexors or quads, the pelvis will be pulled more forward. If the left side is shortened, then the pelvis may torque. Fitness programming is a great way to support muscular balance.
Pelvic Floor: the pelvic floor is the muscular foundation of our core and supports the pelvic organs to include the uterus! The pelvic floor is also what baby needs to descend through in order to be born. Pelvic floor tension could influence baby’s head position, such as causing it to move into flexion (which is a goal) or maybe the opposite (not desired in most cases) or even tilt sideways. Working with a pelvic floor PT can be a great way to determine if you have any pelvic floor tension that is uneven! We have two pelvic floor physical therapists in our fitness facility that offer twice a week group fitness classes.
Scars or adhesions: if you have had any cervical procedures, vaginal tears or episiotomy, c-section, or other abdominal surgery, you may have a scar that needs to be mobilized to support baby’s position. Vaginal tears could influence uneven pelvic floor tension, while c-section or abdominal surgery scars could contribute towards an adhesion (or restriction of movement) between the uterus and bladder, or surrounding muscles/tissues. Mobilizing those tissues can be beneficial to supporting not only your overall function, but also supports baby’s position. Working with a physical therapist to mobilize your scars can be a great option!
Baby’s position is not random! They go where there is space available, and there are a lot of structures that influence the shape of that space.