Simple ways to increase your chance of a straight forward birth

OFP, or Optimal Foetal Positioning is the rather official sounding term for enabling your baby to get into a good position ready for birth.

OFP can help you have a straight-forward labour and birth, reducing the potential length of labour and the need for an assisted birth or caesarean.

What is the ideal position for birth?

Ideally baby will be head down, with the chin tucked into the chest, with the baby's back facing the mothers front. You may see on your maternity notes 'LOA' this stands for Left (baby is on mother's left side of her body), Occiput (the part of the skull that is like a lump at the back of the head) Anterior (towards the mother's front).

A common position for babies can be LOP or ROP - this is where the baby's back is against the mothers back - commonly called 'back to back'. It is still possible for a baby to be born naturally from this position, but generally back to back labours tend to be longer and sometimes mother's experience more pain in the back. As the labour is longer, there is an increased likelihood of the mother becoming tired, needing more pain relief or assistance to give birth (forceps or ventouse)

Back to back labours seem to be more common in modern times, possibly due the way we live our lives. Many people spend work hours sitting, often in positions that encourage this back to back position. So what can you do to help encourage your baby into a better position for birth?

Firstly you can think about your own position . Try to sit with your knees lower than your hips. Avoiding reclined positions such as comfy sofas where the pelvis is tipped back - try to find positions where the pelvis can be tipped forward. You could try sitting on a dining chair the wrong way round, where you lean across the back, or you could kneel on the floor and then lean over a pile of cushions or a birth ball if you have one. Birth balls are ideal to help good pelvis position as they enable you to move your pelvis too - hip circling can be a great way to encourage baby into a good position either before or during labour.

Great for pregnancy

There is another way to encourage baby into a good position and also help prepare your body for birth - Bowen.

Bowen is a holistic therapy that is safe and gentle for use in pregnancy and great for babies too. It works by addressing tension and restrictions in the fascia - a network of connective tissue throughout our body.

The psoas are a large pair of muscles that run from the spine between the pelvis and ribs and wrap like cradling wings around to the front of the pelvis, where they drop down to attach at the top of the thigh. These muscles help us to walk upright and support our abdominal organs and can also affect the movement of the baby into the pelvis and position of the baby.

Releasing tension in the psoas can also relive low back pain, leg pain and help to open and centre the pelvis - all key areas for pregnancy and birth.

Bowen can help alter the baby's position by working on the mother's pelvis, hip flexors, upper legs and also diaphragm. It can help a back to back baby turn round or a breech baby to turn head down. Regular treatment can help the common aches and pains associated with later stages of pregnancy stay at bay.

The body can move into a calm state with Bowen as tension and stress is reduced, improving sleep and digestion. Blood pressure is reduced, heart rate slows and breathing becomes peaceful. Many mothers tell me how nice it is just to have time to lie on a couch and fully relax.

Babies love Bowen too!

Even the most straight forward birth can impact on the alignment of the bones of the skull which can in turn effect jaw/tongue movement and feeding. Some babies may experience neck or shoulder issues as a result of position in the womb or the birth (in particular forceps or ventouse).

A caesarean birth can result in misalignment of the jaw as the baby's head is lifted from the mothers belly. A fast birth may leave a baby feeling 'jangled' and unsettled or difficult to calm - the Bowen can calm their systems. Tightness in the diaphragm can cause colic symptoms or reflux. Bowen gently releases tension enabling realignment, bringing relief from reflux, sleep issues, difficulties with feeding and constipation.

To find out more, or book your treatment

please visit https://www.somersetbowen.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions