If your goal is to “get things moving” in labor, there are specific positions you can use that are known to do just that. Gravity and movement play key roles in the progression of birth and it’s important to use both of these to your advantage when possible.
Powerful positions that can help speed up labor:
- Standing or Walking – It helps you work with gravity, allowing your pelvis to open and your baby to move down into your birth canal.
- Rocking – Rocking, either on a chair or swaying back and forth, allows your pelvis to move and encourages the baby to descend.
- Squatting – Like standing, squatting also employs Newton’s finest while opening up the pelvis to give your baby more room to move on down.
- Leaning over or kneeling – it encourages the baby to move forward, taking the pressure off your back.
- Side-lying – Better than lying on your back because it doesn’t compress the major veins in your body (which could compromise blood flow to your baby), side lying is a good option if you’re too tired for squatting or sitting.