Abdomen mapping—a term you probably haven't heard from your OB-GYN, but I believe information technology tin help mamas have a more optimal natural childbirth.

Abdomen mapping helps you lot know infant's position in utero

…then have any necessary action to assist babe into a more platonic position for birth.

I was clueless well-nigh how my first baby, Griffin, was positioned. I knew he should exist head downward. I likewise went to a Webster chiropractor to loosen and balance my pelvis for an optimal nascency. I climbed stairs. I did squats. But I didn't really understand how Griffin was truly presenting in my womb—or what the all-time position for him would be.

The result? A Very. Long. Labor.

I'm talking 27 hours. With horrible back pain. Griffin got stuck, and the birth stalled for a good four hours. When he finally did come out, I'll never forget how "coned" his head was. Alien baby! Fortunately, the midwife got that little infant cap on him quick 😉

In retrospect, Griffin was probably posterior and favoring my correct side. Whereas the ideal presentation is left and anterior. (I learned this every bit I started to research babe mapping!)

Larn to accept an amazing birth – Nascency Grade Promo [In-article]

(without leaving your couch)

Run into How

This time around, I'm trying to be more proactive

I want to get baby in a practiced position now so I don't take to struggle with a more complicated birth afterward.

Are you with me? Okay. Allow's talk about how to do belly mapping…

My inspiration for this post

Gaily Tully of SpinningBabies.com is the pioneer and creator of the Belly Mapping procedure. She was gracious enough to let me share her concept will all of yous. She asked that I include the following information:Belly Mapping, SPINNING BABIES® and all original works of authorship contained in Gail Tully's associated publications, websites and related platforms are the property of Gail Tully and Maternity House Publishing, Inc., with all rights expressly reserved. Excepting uses otherwise permissible under applicative law, whatsoever/all uses require written licensing from Maternity Firm Publishing, Inc.

Commencement in the latter half of the 2d trimester

This is when baby settles into his/her "domicile" position, and you can tell if your pelvis is balanced or not. Information technology'south much easier to establish good positions for baby now versus later in third trimester.

Apparently, nosotros want our baby to be head down. A head up, or breech presentation, can be very hard; in some states it's a mandatory c-section. Fortunately, there are exercises we can practice to help flip infant, and most babies adopt head down orientation.

But head down is not enough if you want a smooth, natural childbirth. The next nigh important thing to consider is if your baby is posterior (baby facing outwards or looking at mama's belly) or inductive (baby is facing mama's dorsum). Anterior is the favored position because it encourages the baby to tuck their head and mentum, creating the smallest head circumference every bit he/she passes through the nascency culvert.

Posterior, on the other hand, presses the hardest function of the baby's head against the mother'south spine, where pain receptors prevarication, and can cause major back labor pain.

Abdomen Mapping can assistance yous determine what position your baby is in and so take the necessary steps to "spin" baby to the right position for optimal birth.

What you volition need

The first thing yous'll need to do belly mapping is your 7-8 month pregnant belly! Side by side, a non-toxic mark or bottle of finger paint. It's too handy to have a doll or some kind of prop with head, limbs, and dorsum to use to help you visualize your baby.

As a general dominion, information technology's all-time to practice belly mapping subsequently xxx weeks, and shortly later on a md or midwife appointment, as a birth professional can aid yous make up one's mind if baby's head is downwards or up.

Outset, permit's find your baby's head

For almost mamas, that means caput down. If you oasis't been to a doctor's appointment for awhile, y'all can feel for yourself by laying down on bed and putting slight pressure around your pelvic surface area. The head will experience like a mini bowling basin.

The babe's easily and arms will most likely be almost the baby's caput, every bit they like to suck their fingers and accept them shut to their face.

Think as well about movement. Are you feeling small movements near pelvis? Exercise they feel more outward facing and centralized (posterior), or are they more internal and to one side (anterior)?

Next, observe the heartbeat

Again, your doctor or midwife can help you pinpoint the heartbeat. I recommend using a fetoscope, as it doesn't use whatever ultrasound. Once you know where heartbeat is, marker it on your belly.

The heart will obviously exist part of the baby's back and you should experience a difficult, long mass. If you can't find hardness similar this, it's probably considering your baby is in a posterior position, in which case you are going to feel a softer area, which usually indicates the baby's limbs and belly (or it could be an anterior placenta). Either way, mark this area on your belly equally function of your abdomen mapping

Here'south where that doll comes in

At present, as office of abdomen mapping, apply your doll prop and kickoff playing with positions based on the head and back locations. This will aid you lot visualize how baby is resting in your womb.

Adjacent upwards, permit's find your baby's butt. This will exist hard and round and can sometimes feel like the head. Depict a symbolic "butt" on your abdomen.

At present, call up about motion again. Where are y'all feeling your baby move the well-nigh? Of course, y'all'll feel their legs the most giving yous those baby kicks. Besides, the knees can create substantial motion.

Keep in mind there will exist some variations since infant can bend knees or extend legs, but you should nevertheless be able to sense a pattern. Are you feeling the kicks upwards to one side of your ribs (inductive)? Or are they falling on both sides of your upper belly (posterior)? Marker it down on your abdomen.

Once more, use your doll to see how baby is positioned now that you are complete. At present yous tin think virtually baby in a whole new fashion.

You tin get creative with your belly mapping!

My belly map was more about office than fine art, but some people go all out with their belly mapping projects:

belly-mapping-elaborate-paint-beautiful

What if baby is in a "bad" position?

Is your baby in a less than ideal position, do not despair. Yous still take fourth dimension to reposition infant… fifty-fifty if information technology's during labor. Here are seven piece of cake exercises to assist your infant'south position.

Terminal idea on belly mapping

If you're interested in baby positioning, I highly recommend finding a doula and/or midwife that understands infant positioning and belly mapping. With their expertise, they tin help you lot become baby into the best position for birth.

How about you?

Have you ever done belly mapping? Did information technology help you? How was your baby positioned? Share with usa in the comments beneath!

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