Posture in Pregnancy

Right-Right AngleGravity-friendly maternal posture is the 2nd Principle of Spinning Babies. Here are some suggestions for pregnancy. These postures can also be used in labor.

 


Maternal posture in pregnancy

Jean Sutton, co-author of Understanding and Teaching Optimal Foetal Positioning, recommends we sit with our:

    * Knees lower than the level of our hips
    * Belly lower than your hips
    * Let your belly be a hammock for your baby.
     * Let your lower back sway forward as you stand and walk



      Sit on a kitchen chair - backwards! Jean Sutton suggests the Swedish chair be put on rockers. When using an exercise ball make sure your hips are not lower than your knees! Keep a straight back or lean forward.


"Rest Smart" Nap or sleep in positions that let your baby's back settle in your "hammock."



Rest SmartWhile resting or while on bed rest, make a little pillow nest to lay nearly on your tummy. Pillows hold your weight off the baby. Use your breastfeeding pillow, curve your body pillow, or semi-inflate a swim doughnut to dip your belly in the "nest." It's so comfy.

Sometimes you may want to just lay on either side. One hip is directly over the other, like a right angle. Don't lean back, at least not for long. Leaning back without support can give you a muscle cramp. Change sides frequently for comfort and to help the uterus be a little  more symmetrical.

 



Changing positions is good for the baby in general. If your care provider asks you to avoid a position, ask them why. It may be that monitoring of the baby's heartbeat or your blood pressure shows that a particular position is not good for you at that time. In general though, switching sides during the night is helpful for you and the baby.

 

Computer posture in pregnancy

At the computer in pregnancy 


Sit on a Swedish chair or exercise ball for a straight back. Let the abdomen become the hammock for the baby.

Elbows and knees are at a 45 degree angle and wrists float above the keyboard.

A ball helps your hip keep moving. Get up and move around frequently. 

 

Your kindness matters!


Information about fetal positioning is given freely throughout the many articles of the Spinning Babies Website. Perhaps this information made a difference in your birth. Perhaps you refer the families you work with to Spinning Babies. Please donate if and when you can. Each occasional donation is a big boost!

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