In Labor
Help baby engage in labor
A baby can not get through the pelvis if the baby can't get into the pelvis.
Lack of engagement is a common issue for the woman who labors but the baby remains high in the pelvis. A common obstetrical solution is to do a cesarean. There are a few simple techniques that can be done. Some are easy to do, some are challenging. But once they are done, the labor is very, very likely to progress. And sometimes, the labor will even finish quite quickly with suddenly less pain than when the uterus was overworked trying to get a baby into the pelvis for days of labor. In fact, learning how to help baby engage can save hours and even days of labor. Check this out.
3 Principles to Support Your Labor
If labor doesn't start or progress as you expect, read this article. The first thing to do in labor is to help your pelvis into better balance. Particularly, attend to the ligaments, muscles and fascia supporting your womb. This will help labor to progress.
Comparing OA and OP labor patterns
There are differences seen in the labor pattern of an anterior baby and that of the posterior baby. These signals may help you determine whether a baby is in the occipital posterior position. These signals may also show up in labors where the baby has to get symmetrical for labor to progress, whether or not the long labor is caused by a posterior position.
Labor progress with Spinning Babies
Labor Progress Tips with the Three Principles of Spinning Babies©
Find what to do when in this list of labor activities for each phase and stage of labor.
Waters release b4 labor
A doula writes, "need suggestions for what to do to get a labor going...she has been ruptured for over 24 hours and not really contracting and wanting to avoid pit...."
When a baby is in the posterior position the head is not often applied on the cervix. Of posterior labors, 21% begin with the waters releasing (amniotic sac opened). Read Induction? and labor progress tips.
Is this labor or not?
- Early labor comes on gently and doesn't pick up;
- Early labor comes... and then goes
- Labor comes at night and leaves during the daylight; or
- Labor comes on strong and then stops. And tries to start again, only to stop again.
What's the deal? "Is my starter broken?" Why can't labor get rolling? Here's why...
Early urge to push
Tips and discussion
What to do for a long labor
The art of the long labor involves helping a mother keep up her morale while addressing her body's needs for marathon activity. We can sooth the mother, especially helping her ease her busy mind or labor pain when we can.
It is important to address the reason for the long labor. When the issue is in the tissue there is something we can do. Tight muscles, tight ligaments -these can be relaxed with body work and things the mother can do herself or with help. Four specific techniques that are amazing.
What to do In a posterior labor
While some posterior labors can go fast and finish with a flourish, others take days and finish with help. If you are experiencing (or anticipating) a posterior labor here are specific suggestions. Forget what you learned about the labor curve. Put on your hiking boots. You may have a walk in the park, but you may have just entered the "expert's trail."
Swollen cervix
Too often a swollen cervix sends birthing women to the operating room. Here's what to do about it.
Cesarean or Labor?
Surgery or Nature? Women today are more often told that a cesarean is the safest option for them. Whether presented as an absolute or "as needed", the given reasons for a surgical birth, cesarean section, are becoming so common that it can be a challenge to discern whether or not the surgery is medically necessary for an individual person.
Announcing!
A co-venture video experience with Spinning Babies and Blooma Yoga! Coming Soon!
Spinning Babies; Daily Essentials For Pregnancy Video.
Together Sarah Longacre, international prenatal yoga instructor and birth doula, and Gail Tully, yours truly, created a unique instructional video for flexibility and comfort in pregnancy and to support better fetal positioning in time for birth.
Here are daily activities for stretching and balancing a pregnant body. Start early in pregnancy to prepare to make the most space for baby's best birth position and the most ease for mother's opening during the birth process.
We begin the program for women of average flexibility (or just plain stiff to start with) and beginner tips. But soon, you'll be ready to move freely! That's when Sarah brings the stretches all together into her easy to follow, playful, sensual, and flowing "Blooma Style" daily routine.
Sarah's "dance of opening," moves joints and ligaments to come alive under the delightful melody and percussions of Carin Vagle. This isn't about core strength; its about freedom of movement and creating space in the body.
Sarah plays along with Gail's little game of "Flashlight" to show pregnant women how to evaluate their own posture and positions. Smart Maternal Positioning helps baby snuggle their backs into the front of the womb for Optimal Fetal Positioning.
The Daily Essentials For Pregnancy includes tips for using Maternal Positioning around the house. Actual scenes in the bedroom, living room -and even the bathroom- gives practical instruction like no other video. You will be sleeping more comfortably immediately when using these tips. Within a week or two many pregnancy discomforts of the pelvis and lower back may be reduced when all these nurturing techniques are integrated into your daily lifestyle. Spinning Babies and Blooma Yoga-- a natural collaborative!
Spinning Babies Childbirth Preparation Class.
Soon pregnant parents around the world can take a Spinning Babies class from their own monitor! Join six couples as they learn the reason why Spinning Babies works and how it can enhance your labor and birth.
See techniques to do daily or weekly. Actual, real consultations with two couples right at our class location, one with a breech baby (head up) and one with a baby in a transverse lie (lying sideways).
Couples do the techniques together and show you how to do these at home.
Used alone or with the Daily Essentials, Spinning Babies Childbirth Preparation Class goes beyond the basics. Simple props show complex concepts sweetly. Little-known anatomy is linked to childbirth and the role of fetal positioning.
The section on labor discusses two labor patterns- the one "promised" in other books and the unexpected one associated with the posterior labor. Learn the common causes of long labor and techniques to help baby through the pelvis.
Be empowered; be prepared. After using this video throughout your pregnancy, while we can't promise, of course, you may not need the tips for labor progress. You can use that knowledge to help your neighbor. This video is all Spinning Babies.
Blooma Yoga Prenatal Yoga for AM and PM.
Warm up in the morning and cool down in the evening in two 30-minute sequences. Sarah Longacre shares her own blossoming pregnancy, Blooma style, to the exquisite music of Carin Vagle. Sarah's affirmations will carry you through labor with emotional strength and encouragement. Play this video when the others become too basic and you just want to dance and have fun. Wait, dance? Isn't this yoga? With Blooma and Carin Vagle, your spirit won't know the difference. Soar to greater freedom of movement. Bring your hormones into harmony with the day. Begin your day with serious play. Cool down at night with a sleep enhancing stretch before bed. This video is all Blooma!
Sarah's video is ready for you now! Get Blooma's AM/PM Yoga here
All three videos are professionally produced by Melissa Koch of Grey Duck Productions, with stills by Tanya Villano Photography, each of these three videos are dynamic on their own. Together they will enhance your pregnancy and labor experience with fun and empowerment in the most practical manner. Feel hope for your birth abilities, this is support for your journey. Gain the confidence and flexibility to fully bloom. I believe these videos carry the potential to bring your best birth dreams into the gentle reality.
Compassionately priced. Estimated Due Date for Daily Essentials March 2014; for Spinning Babies Parent Class, Fall 2014.