Natural Pregnancy Project

Today’s technique for natural child birth is ~ labor positions. Your position during labor is really important. In America pretty much the only example of labor positioning we see is a woman flat on her back (and of course screaming), this is actually one of the worst positions, and most painful.

During the different stages of labor you will want to use different positions. This will allow your pelvis to open up during early labor ~ allowing the baby to move down. Later in labor your positioning will allow you to alleviate the affects of gravity, open your pelvis up to 28% more than laying on a bed, as well as help alleviate back pain and allow your supporters access to your back to rub. (which feels really good).

It is a really good idea to familiarize yourself with a variety of [tag-ice]labor positions[/tag-ice]. You never know where your child birth may lead you so it’s good to be prepared. You can learn which positions are good to assist with what issues. We made a book of different labor positions, so my husband would be able to better suggest a position if one was not working. Of course your doula and midwife will be able to suggest good labor positions as well.

If you are laboring in a hospital with an OB, I’d make sure you had a good understanding of which positions work best for what and when so you have the information you need to have the labor and natural childbirth you are wanting. You may not necessarily be able to count on hospital staff to offer these kinds of suggestions.

Here’s a great site that goes over all the labor positions and talks about them as a [tag-ice]technique for natural child birth[/tag-ice].

Recommended Reading: These books will assist you in learning more about labor positions

The Labor Progress Handbook:

The Birth Book:
Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth

The Pregnancy Book:
Month-by-Month, Everything You Need to Know From America’s Baby Experts

[tags]alleviate back labor pain, labor positions, Natural Childbirth, natural pregnancy, technique for child birth, the labor progress handbook[/tags]

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At 39 weeks my baby was still breech. I was beginning to panic, as my midwife was talking c-section and that really was NOT the plan. I used a number of these 15 ways to turn a breech baby and had a natural childbirth.

Visualization ~ as with most things visualization will work with this too. Just close your eyes, take some deep breaths, relax and visualize your baby turning. The clearer you can make this visualization the better.

Swimming ~ Swimming is awesome, it not only helps keep your hips and pelvis loose, but it is like a gravity free zone which helps the baby turn.

Headstands in the pool ~ An excellent way to turn a breech baby. Doing headstands in the pool takes advantage of the gravity free zone as well as letting the baby float/turn in the right direction.

Breech Tilt ~ Get an ironing board or another flat surface. Rest the edge on a stable surface (couch, chair, bed) 12 to 18 inches off the ground. Lay with your head near the floor and your feet at the high end. Prop some pillows under your pelvis. Do this for 15 minutes 2 or 3 times a day until the breech baby turns.

Pelvic Tilt ~ much like the Breech Tilt but on the floor ~ Put some ice or frozen peas at the top of your tummy (you’re creating an aversion for the baby) Then prop pillows under your pelvis so it is tilted in the air.

Circular Massage ~ while you are in either of the tilt positions you can gently ~ like applying lotion ~ massage your tummy in circular motion. Use both hands. Start with one on the top of your belly the other on the bottom, move your bottom hand up toward the other and then move the second hand back down.

Light ~ Kind of like a cat chasing a laser pointer ~ take a strong flashlight and start at the top of your tummy, run the light around your belly toward your pelvis. The baby will follow the light thereby turning. (This is best done in conjunction with the Breech Tilt of Pelvic Tilt)

Music ~ This may sound crazy ~ but I’ve heard it works well for some. Take headphones and put them next to your pelvis. The baby will hear the music and turn toward it. Classical is best for this technique.

Feet up the Wall ~ this is similar to the tilts ~ you will lay on your back, walk your feet up the wall and then prop your pelvis up with some pillows. Do this 3x/day for 15 minutes.

Flower Essences ~ Bach Flower Essences can be a life saver for many issues. For turning a Breech Baby you will want to use Bach’s Bougainvilla Essence. Follow the instructions on then bottle.

Pulsatilla ~ A homeopathic frequently used to help turn breech babies. You can start using Pulsatilla as soon as you find out your baby is breech, but do not continue past 4 weeks from your due date. Your doula or midwife should be able to assist you in the use of Pulsatilla.

Chiropractic ~ There is a chiropractic maneuver called Webster’s Breech Technique. You will need to find a qualified and experienced chiropractor for this technique. Make sure to ask your chiropractor if they have experience in this technique before allowing them to work on you. Regular chiropractic care will help your pelvis stay open also allowing the baby more room to turn.

This is my favorite and the one that worked for my incredibly stubborn baby when nothing else did.

Moxibustion ~ This is an acupressure technique used with heat on a pressure point on your toe. My chiropractor showed me how to do it and gave me the moxa sticks. I then was able to do it home regularly until she turned. Here is a great article with pictures on Moxibustion. Placement of the heat is important that’s why I really like this article. You can also use the pressure point used in Moxibustion for regular acupressure whether with your fingers or a clothespin.

Acupressure ~ There are many pressure points in the body that will assist you not only with turning a breech baby but during labor and delivery. They can help open your pelvis, keep calm, help get labor started again if your labor stalls. All in all acupressure is a great thing to know during your pregnancy because you can do it yourself, and it can help with so many different things.  If you are interested in using accupressure to turn your breech baby and use during labor and delivery you can download this guide right now and have it in your hands in a couple of minutes.

I hope this helps ~ I know I tried many things to get Hanna to turn. I think the fear that takes over ~ worrying about getting a c-section also hinders the baby moving, so stay calm and just know that you have a 96% chance your breech baby will turn.

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By Nathalie Fiset

Natural childbirth is a way of giving birth using no medications. Some women would even refer to this as giving birth by letting nature take its course. Moms-to-be who choose to give birth using this method rely on relaxation techniques and are usually more in charge when going through the stages of labor and the actual delivery process. Although some people may think that natural childbirth is about being self-sacrificial or brave, it actually gives the mom-to-be that feeling to be more in touch with the birth experience and bond with her baby in a more significant way. Because of this, natural childbirth has re-emerged as the preferred method of delivery. And to make the experience more empowering and rewarding, most would-be-moms opt to go for the nearly pain-free tool for natural childbirth: self-hypnosis.

What is self-hypnosis?

Self-hypnosis is an offshoot of hypnosis, a practice which has been used in the nineteenth century even before Ether was introduced in surgery and obstetrics. This uses relaxed, gentle, and controlled breathing unlike in other methods which require forced breathing or hyperventilating. This, therefore, promotes a relaxed and calm experience, which proves to be very beneficial both for the mother and the baby.

In addition, self-hypnosis is also an effective method to alleviate or eliminate the pain associated with natural childbirth. Some people even consider this as a natural analgesic or anesthesia. This enables a mom-to-be to give birth without the use of any medication. If you go through this method, trance state will be induced while you still participate in and experience the joy of childbirth. As labor progresses, you are able to relax each part of your body, imagining yourself in a place where you are completely comfortable. This relaxed state is achieved through the positive suggestions given to you, eliminating those feelings of aches, discomforts, and tensions and ensuring that breathing is performed in a right manner.

Why not use drugs for childbirth?

As mentioned above, natural childbirth does not use drugs. But you might ask, why would any mom-to-be consider childbirth without using potent drugs and rely on self-hypnosis instead? You have to keep in mind that there is a vulnerable being involved during pregnancy and birthing, and that is your baby. The placenta receives the nutrients, antibodies, hormones, and oxygen from the mother’s blood but even if it acts as a filter, most drugs can still cross its barrier and are passed on to your baby. These medications can bring potential risks to the unborn. That is why if you will notice, even during pregnancy you are advised by your obstetrician not to take any drugs which are not prescribed to you.

How to use self-hypnosis for natural childbirth?

The best and safest way to use self-hypnosis as a tool for natural childbirth is to seek the help of a trained professional. This way, you are assured of a complete series of training sessions that will help you learn the techniques in using self-hypnosis. For now, you may wonder if you will be able to remember anything that happened during the entire labor and delivery process. Keep in mind that self-hypnosis is only a state of deep physical and mental relaxation. As you go through this method, you will be deeply focused on the positive aspect of childbirth rather than the fear and tension. So, this does not necessarily mean that you will miss out anything on such a momentous event.

Moreover, once you practice and master self-hypnosis through those training sessions, you will be able to achieve eyes-opened hypnosis. In this manner, you can talk and move around freely during labor and use the other important tools to have a pleasant natural child birth using self-hypnosis such as massages, using the tub or Jacuzzi, using gravity to support the baby’s descent, and frequently changing positions.

Self-hypnosis, as a tool for natural childbirth, really answers a profound need of future mothers like you to experience the joy of giving birth more comfortably. If you decide to use this tool, you should begin practicing the techniques early in your pregnancy. You must also have a complete trust on the technique and on yourself to really enjoy a natural and comfortable childbirth.

For more information on pregnancy and natural childbirth, please visit:

http://www.hypno-beginning.com/products.htm

http://www.hypno-beginning.com

http://www.drnathaliefiset.com

[tags]self hypnosis childbirth, hypnobirthing, hypnosis for childbirth, natural childbirth, tool for natural childbirth[/tags]

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