Baby Positioning

Let’s talk about baby positioning in labor. Your body and baby are designed to work together during birth, but how your baby is positioned can influence how smoothly labor progresses. The good news? There are ways to encourage an optimal position and make labor easier.

Why Does Baby’s Position Matter?

Think of your pelvis as a winding pathway your baby needs to navigate. When your baby is in an optimal position, they align with the natural curves of the pelvis, making descent and rotation smoother. On the other hand, if your baby is in a less favorable position—like posterior (back-to-back)—labor can be longer and more intense, often accompanied by back discomfort. The ideal position for birth is Occiput Anterior (OA)—head down, with the baby’s back facing your belly. This allows for the easiest passage through the pelvis. If your baby isn’t in this position yet, don’t worry! There are plenty of things you can do to help.

How to Encourage Optimal Baby Positioning

Your movement, posture, and daily activities can support your baby in finding the best position before and during labor. Here’s how: 1. Stay Active & Use Upright Positions Movement is key! Walking, gentle pelvic tilts, and sitting on an exercise ball can encourage your baby to move into a good position. Gravity works in your favor, so staying upright as much as possible is beneficial. 2. Encourage Forward-Leaning Positions While lounging on the couch is completely fine, spending long periods in a reclined position can encourage a posterior baby position. To promote baby’s rotation into an anterior position, try sitting on a birth ball, leaning over a counter, or spending time on hands and knees. The key is variety—switching up your positions throughout the day can be beneficial. There's no need to stress. Just aim for a balance between relaxation and movement. 3. Try the Miles Circuit The Miles Circuit is a series of movements designed to help babies move into an optimal position. It includes exaggerated side-lying, open-knee chest positions, and movement-based activities to encourage rotation—especially helpful if labor feels slow or baby needs a little nudge. I highly suggest getting familiar with the positions! Check out the website here 4. Use Spinning Babies Techniques The Spinning Babies approach offers targeted exercises and positions to encourage optimal fetal positioning. Techniques like the forward-leaning inversion and side-lying release can create more space in the pelvis, making movement easier for your baby. 5. Incorporate Water & Movement During Labor If labor has started and baby needs help rotating, using a birthing tub, swaying, lunges, or asymmetric movements (like putting one foot on a stool) can encourage baby’s movement.

Don't Stress About Baby's Position at the Start of Labor

It’s completely normal for babies to shift positions throughout pregnancy and in labor. If your baby isn’t in the perfect position right away, don’t panic! Many babies rotate into an optimal position as labor progresses. Your contractions, movement, and positioning techniques can all encourage baby’s final movements into place. And keep in mind that babies can be born in a "less than optimatl position".

Trust Your Body & Baby

While positioning techniques are great tools, babies rotate just fine on their own. Other times, they need a little help, and that’s where these techniques come in. Trust the process, listen to your body, and work with your birth team. The best thing you can do is stay flexible (physically and mentally), use these positioning strategies as helpful tools, and believe in your ability to navigate birth. You’ve got this!