Hanging in first stage
In some cultures there is a birthing tree for women to hang from as contractions come and go. Any position that takes the weight off the feet and pelvic floor, allowing the cervix to open freely… in a house, good places are door frames, tops of doors although you may want to experiment in pregnancy to find suitably heighted places. Our shed has a cross beam which was where I was for the majority of the first stage of baby number 2 and for number 3 I asked a friend to put me some hooks in the ceiling in our lounge. Tied some strong fabric around these to make a beam and heh presto a perfect birthing tool.
I believe this helped me to get the babies down down into the pelvis as I was doing some really inspired leg movements (almost like breast stroke one leg at a time) opening the hips but also such high circular movements as one might associate with the manoevre used with shoulder dystocia, freeing the foetus from being caught on bones.
Intuitively allowing my body to tell me what position i should be in, hanging allows all over body shaking, big stretches throughout to relieve tensions, and of course aides the pull of gravity by releasing any muscles that may stand in its way.
Lets get those hooks into maternity suites!! Just brilliant for pain relief – the best pain relief is to listen and act swiftly to what your body is telling you. This way, that way a bit, swaying, wiggling, swooning, rolling, hanging firm, and words I could not dream of to describe the skilled art in your muscle sequences, known only by you and probably for the most part unconscious.
Safe skills, safe birthing.
my intention
Starting from my own experience of 3 natural births, 2 of which were breech (one diagnosed, one undiagnosed) I aim to present information of use to others who’s baby has chosen breech position.
You can fairly easily find advice about ways to try to get your baby to turn in pregnancy but what if they don’t? Of course the answer is different for different women. I understand my breechies to have been a challenge to listen to my body and be fully present in the birthing process. My births empowered me, they were a vital transition into the massive journey as a woman and a parent. I am glad that I looked beyond the options presented by some midwives and doctors and wanted this to be an easy reference site for others in this position.
Contact me if you’d like more info and I haven’t answered your question yet in this space. Similarly please share your thoughts and stories if you would like to.
Thanks for reading, may this site be of use and of interest.
Ali C
