Early Labor | Positions + Tools

Set your environment

  • Lighting

    Choose low or natural light to support a calm nervous system. Consider alternate lighting sources, like flameless candles, twinkle lights, or night lights.

  • Music

    Choose or create several playlists to help create the atmosphere you want during labor. Make a playlist that is long, and consider packing a bluetooth speaker in your bag.

  • Clothing

    Choose clothing that will make you feel comfortable and at-ease. Laboring in your own clothes is often more comfortable.

Learn Forward and Rest - Use a birth ball to learn forward and rest on a bed. This encourages rest and makes sleep during contractions easier, while promoting optimal position for your baby.

Learn Forward and Rest - Use a birth ball to learn forward and rest on a bed. This encourages rest and makes sleep during contractions easier, while promoting optimal position for your baby.

Slow Dance - Hold onto your partner or support person and sway. This position uses gravity to help bring baby down, while keeping your hips soft.

Slow Dance - Hold onto your partner or support person and sway. This position uses gravity to help bring baby down, while keeping your hips soft.

Belly Lift Tucks - If contractions are spacing out or have been in the same place for hours, try this position. Standing against a wall for support, lift your belly up with your hands, and gently tuck it back. Do this during contractions only, for

Belly Lift Tucks - If contractions are spacing out or have been in the same place for hours, try this position. Standing against a wall for support, lift your belly up with your hands, and gently tuck it back. Do this during contractions only, for the duration of the contraction, then rest. Best practice is to do this for 10 contractions.

Walk - Going for a short, leisurely walk will help with both comfort and positioning of your baby. Make sure to choose a restful position after your walk!

Walk - Going for a short, leisurely walk will help with both comfort and positioning of your baby. Make sure to choose a restful position after your walk!

The Miles Circuit

  • Forward Leaning Inversion

    - Use pillows and blankets to support your position so you can completely rest.

    - Hips should be raised higher than chest.

    - Try opening knees and legs for more comfortable position.

    - Stay here for 30 minutes.

  • Exaggerated Side-Lying Position

    - This position is down on the left side.

    - Use a peanut ball or multiple pillows between your thighs and knees.

    - Bottom leg should be straight, while top leg is bent and pulled as close to the chest as possible.

    - Try rotating your bottom arm behind you to get deeper into the position.

    - Stay here for 30 minutes.

  • Asymmetric Movement

    Choose one of the following:

    - Side lunges, 15 minutes on each side.

    - Stairs, skipping steps, 30 minutes.

    - Curb walking, 15 minutes on each side.

Next

Active Labor | Positions + Tools