In many childbirth classes, and sometimes, in a doula’s prenatal visit with a client, there are ice cubes. I saw ice cubes in my training when I became a Lamaze educator and ice cubes in various professional development workshops. So what gives? The ice is given to pregnant people and their partners to simulate the […]
Pushing side lying OR, how to turn a squat on its side!
Amy might look slightly awkward here, but this pushing position in bed is one of the best I’ve found. Let’s break it down. If you look at this image sideways, you can see that Amy is actually squatting. Brilliant, I say! As we know, squats can open the pelvis 1 – 2 cm to make […]
Pushing while Seated, Using the Squat Bar
This is one of my go to pushing positions for mothers in a hospital setting. It’s a position that can be used both with or without an epidural and that’s what makes it so wonderful. Josh is sitting in the chair so that when Amy pulls on the scarf, she doesn’t tip the chair over […]
Standing in Labor to Manage Contractions
Standing labor postures keep you active and moving, which helps to facilitate baby’s decent and rotation though the pelvis. These postures also help you to manage pain. In all phases of labor, before pushing, it’s generally better to be active and upright during contractions. Standing and leaning over something, in this case a chair, allows […]
Help Open your Pelvis in Labor with Kneeling and Lunges
I’m a big fan of labor postures that involve a mother kneeling. Though we can get the same benefit from standing postures that are similar, the kneeling versions avoid the issues of balance, potentially falling, fatigue, sore feet, etc. I’d encourage moms, if they are in the hospital, to kneel on the bed, as opposed […]