3 🔑 keys 🔑 to a better labor
When moving for labor we need these 3 things:
1️⃣ variety
2️⃣ rhythmic movement
3️⃣ internal awareness
But why do we need these 3 things?
Variety
Moving your pelvis in a variety of ways prenatally will help you be able to move your pelvis in a variety of ways during labor! This is for a couple reasons. First, you’ll be able to do those movements during labor because you’ve worked on them prenatally - when we practice something we get better at it. Second, you will be able to create more space in a variety of areas in the pelvis which helps baby to descend, rotate, and be born! And finally, you have 3 joints in your pelvis and learning how to move them in all directions is just good for your overall pelvic and back health.
Rhythmic Movement
The fabulous Penny Simkin (author of The Birth Partner and so many other wonderful books and studies) did a study on how women coped with unmedicated labors. And she found that they did 3 things: they found rhythm, created rituals, and found ways to relax between contractions.
I teach people how to use rhythmic movements in a way that builds somatic awareness (being aware of your own bodily experience), creates ritual through circuits of movement, and allows for relaxation and respite in the thick of labor.
Internal Awareness
I have this last on the list, not because it’s less important but because I want it to be the last thing on your mind when you finish reading this. It’s perhaps the most radical aspect of this approach to movement in birth. Reclaiming your connection to your body and building your internal awareness leads to body fluency - the ability to understand and communicate with your body. Body fluency is what will guide you through birth, being able to understand what your body wants to do and then executing it is so important for birth. It will help you find ways to ease the intensity and pain. It will create the ability for you to respond to and communicate with your body and your baby to facilitate birth together. I cannot overstate the value in being able to do this. It is not something we will ever be perfect at, so meet yourself where you are and continue to explore your body fluency. Listen, respond, and listen again.
I’m hosting a workshop to learn this IN DEPTH on July 8!
Recording and added materials will be sent out to all registered participants.
Members get 50% off all workshops! Not a member? Join now and…
save $35 on Demystifying Labor Positions
save $100 on the signature Yoga for Your Birth workshop on July 22!!
and more!!
