Why I Teach Biomechanics for Birth Prep in Ashby & Why It Matters

Giving birth is one of the most transformative experiences a person can go through and your experience can stay with you forever.

As I prepared for the arrival of my second birth, I felt both excitement and anxiety. The thought of labour, with its unpredictable challenges (as I learnt first time around) motivated me to explore every option available to ensure a smoother and more positive experience. This led me to much dedicated research into biomechanics for birth, where movement and body alignment are crucial in optimising outcomes and enhancing the birth experience to be a positive one - which is the experience I so desperately needed after a difficult first experience.

Embracing Informed Birth Prep

Recent studies, including a significant report from the British Journal of Midwifery, indicate that biomechanics techniques can significantly improve labour outcomes.

https://www.britishjournalofmidwifery.com/content/research/bouncing-your-way-to-labour-and-birth-using-biomechanics-and-fetal-optimal-positioning/

For example, women who practiced these techniques experienced up to a 30% increase in spontaneous labour onset. This not only made labour progression smoother but also reduced the likelihood of inductions and emergency ceasarean births.

Understanding how our bodies function, especially the pelvis, helps us navigate a safer and can help a smoother birthing journey. The pelvis is not just a structural component; it plays a vital role in the delivery process. Biomechanics for birth techniques can help open the pelvis, facilitating the baby’s descent and giving baby much needed space to rotate and be born. It is much needed education that is missing in current antenatal classes and is not often taught in hypnobirthing classes either.

Isn't this crucial and important education that all women deserve to have?

The Role of the Pelvis in Birth

Through my own research and my professional training with the brilliant Rosie Moore (a women's health physio and birth worker) I learned that imbalances within the pelvis can impact the ideal positioning of the baby. When alignment is off, the baby can struggle to navigate the birth canal. The bones and soft tissues of the pelvis are designed to adjust during labour, but misalignment can restrict this crucial movement.

By focusing on mobilising and aligning our bodies, especially the pelvis, we can harness natural forces during labour. Gravity becomes our ally in promoting effective contractions, which can expand our pelvic space. A well-aligned pelvis enables greater freedom for the baby to descend and rotate, ultimately making their entrance into the world smoother.

My First Labour & Experience

Being pregnant with my second child, I faced many emotions and thoughts about upcoming labour. I had fears about I would have another difficult labour and delivery but I knew this was because my first baby was back-to-back, (often known as OP position) and I also knew from my research why this resulted in me experiencing a tricky, long and slow labour. A long, incredibly intense labour that stalled once I reached 10cm, despite being in the birthing centre and in water for a lot of my labour.. I felt the hypnobirthing I had learned kept me calm and feeling positive but my body was becoming so low on energy - I had been in labour for over 20 hours. It felt like I wasn't progressing and I remember thinking, surely I cannot go on like this. I don't seem to be getting closer to meeting my baby boy. Now I know this was because of the positioning my baby was in and because I wasn't active in labour (I was in the birthing pool, not moving, just keeping calm and focussed) but not moving and changing positions, using techniques that biomechanics can offer to not only progress labour but to encourage baby to rotate and descend.

Preparing For A Positive Experience Second Time

Being informed about biomechanics second time around equipped me with valuable knowledge to alleviate these concerns. Continuing my yoga practice as well as reading, researching and (looking back) becoming a little bit obsessed with optimal positioning and how I could achieve this were things I put in place.

Understanding the importance of positioning and the impact this can have really shifted my perspective on labour. This knowledge made me feel more in control and less anxious about the unknown. I knew I would do all I could to get baby no 2 into a great position (also known as OFP - optimal foetal positioning) so I could have the birth I desired.

A healing and positive experience - that was exactly what I wanted and also an easier transition to postpartum recovery - another amazing benefit of biomechanics. Isn't that what all mothers deserve to experience!

Incorporating specific movements into my routine helped align my body and build my strength. Educational components allowed me to envision a positive birth, creating a powerful mindset as I approached labour.

Positive Birth Prep in Ashby

Birth is not just about the end result; it's about the journey we embark on leading to it and also the impact that stays with us - in our fourth trimester and postpartum. Movement and education are key components of this process.

My Birth Ready package is all about guided movement, techniques and research-led information that is essential antenatal education - you will leave feeling deeply supported, empowered by new knowledge and connected to your body, feeling calm for birth, feeling ready.

How I Can Support You

For anyone in Ashby expecting a baby, I encourage you to prioritise specialist led, modern, informed and research-led birth prep and I'd love to support you with my birth prep sessions in Ashby.

Whether you are hoping for a smooth first vaginal birth or aim for a different experience after a ceasarean birth, I can support you on an individual basis creating sessions for your specific birth preferences.

Birth is not just an endpoint; it is a journey filled with strength and trust in your body.

Let me support you with these essential techniques - I'd love to share them with you so you may experience the benefits for birth, and also postpartum.

Sessions held in person in Ashby de la Zouch

Each session is 1 hour 15 mins

Can be booked in blocks of 3 - 6 sessions

Ideal from 28 weeks onwards in your third trimester

Private, nurturing and tailored to your unique body and birth preferences

Pricing available on request depending on how many sessions you would like