Meaningful Movement For a Better Birth
Choosing an unmedicated birth is an incredible journey of trust in your body, your instincts, and the natural rhythm of labor. One of the most powerful tools available to support that process is movement. From gentle swaying to upright positions, movement isn’t just about comfort, it’s a key to helping labor progress smoothly and effectively. Let’s look at what movement in labor does!
Promotes Comfort and Pain Relief
Without medication, coping with contractions becomes about finding rhythm, relaxation, and release. Movement allows you to stay in tune with your body’s signals. There’s no “right” way to move. Follow your instincts. Your body often knows what it needs better than your mind does. It is a common hospital practice to have women lie on their backs in labor, but evidence suggests this position can actually increase the likelihood of experiencing lower back pain. Walking, swaying, or even dancing can reduce the perception of pain by increasing circulation and releasing endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain relievers.
Encourages a Sense of Control
Unmedicated labor can feel intense, but movement empowers you to respond actively to what’s happening. Changing positions gives you a sense of agency. Instead of labor happening to you, you are participating with it. This connection can enhance confidence and help you stay grounded in your body’s ability to birth your baby.
There are a wealth of beneficial labor positions to try. It’s always a good idea to have a few go-to positions in your mind before labor, but your midwife or doula can also make suggestions in real time!
Potentially Shortens Labor
Research has shown that people who stay upright and mobile during labor often experience shorter first stages, decreased perception of pain, and higher satisfaction than lying on their backs. The combination of gravity, alignment, and activity helps the uterus work more efficiently, potentially reducing the overall duration of labor.
When you stay upright, gravity works in your favor. It helps your baby descend and apply pressure to the cervix, encouraging dilation and overall labor progress. Alternating between walking, then kneeling on hands and knees during contractions can keep labor active and productive. Positions like standing, squatting, or sitting upright on a birthing ball allow you to harness this natural force, making contractions more effective.
Helps Baby Find the Optimal Position
Your baby’s position plays a major role in how efficiently labor progresses. Upright positions use gravity to encourage your baby to move down into the pelvis and align for birth. When you move your hips in circles, figure-eights, or gentle sways, you’re helping your pelvis open and shift, making space for your baby to navigate through the birth canal.
Involves Your Partner
Encouraging movement also invites your birth partner to get involved. Receiving physical and emotional support from your partner is an excellent source of oxytocin, which is the hormone that helps facilitate uterine contractions. Your partner can help you with counter-pressure, hip squeezes, or support while you squat or lean. This teamwork not only helps with physical relief but also strengthens emotional connection and support during labor.
Benefits Your Baby’s Descent
Movement in labor isn’t only beneficial for you! Think of it as a dance between you and your baby. Your movements help them find their way, while their descent guides your body to open and release. As you move and shift positions, your pelvis changes shape slightly, creating more room and guiding your baby through the birth canal with greater ease. This natural motion helps your baby rotate and descend in alignment with your contractions and gravity.
These movements also gently stimulate your baby’s body and lungs as they move downward, preparing them for life outside the womb. Passing through the birth canal helps clear fluid from their lungs and exposes them to beneficial bacteria that support their developing immune system.
Trust the Wisdom of Your Body
When you come into care with the midwives of Indiana Birth Center, you will be encouraged to listen to your body and move as freely as you like. Most hospitals have restrictions on movement and birth positioning, which can be a barrier to labor progress. Labor is not a static process. It is an unfolding journey of movement, breath, and rhythm. Every sway, step, and stretch brings you closer to meeting your baby. Your body was made for this. Trust it. Move with it. Whether you’re walking halls, rocking on a birth ball, or sinking into a warm bath, remember: movement is your ally.
If you are looking for a birth where you have freedom of movement and autonomy to listen to your body, send us a message!
