The ability to squat with both heels flat on the ground indicates good pelvic movement for labour and birth. While relaxing is important, learning to untuck your tail bone will assist you to breath your baby out, letting gravity do the job rather than having to push your baby out.  To learn to release the tail bone, we need to start sitting on our sit bones more, walk more, squat more and do more yoga! Learning to squat is a regular practice in our Active Birth Yoga classes.

“Attending the yogababy classes made me confident through the pregnancy which translated to being a more confident Mum” Being able to move gives you confidence in your pregnancy.

Going to hospital in established labour is recommended for first time, low risk pregnant mothers with spontaneous labours that have started at home. There is some great research that shows it is better to wait till you’re in established or active labour before going to hospital. You increase your risks of a Cesarean birth if you go into early. Attend a Active Birth Workshop with your partner to gain the confidence to stay home and manage labour and then go to hospital knowing you are in good established labour.

When I was in labour I had a picture of a lotus flower on my mantelpiece.  I remember clearly looking into the centre of the flower during labour surges and seeing the petals flowing outwards.  My mind was transformed into another place as I imagined my cervix like the flower opening. 

The TENS machine is really good to start in early labour to help you relax and find a rhythm with your contractions.  When labour gets stronger and more regular you will probably find you will need other comfort measures like massage and shower/bath

During labour, listen to, be patient and trust, your body will let you know what to do.  I have found that while women draw heavily on the birthing skills we learn in the Active birth yoga classes, the one’s that cope well usually do more than what they have learned in class. They discover their own ways of adapting spontaneously to the increase of physical demand that active labour brings.

Your own postural awareness and habits in your last trimester can potentially encourage your baby to lie with his or her back to your left front/side (occipito anterior) so that the baby's head engages in the pelvic brim in this position. This will increase the potential for a normal and straightforward birth.

A birth ball is simply an exercise ball that helps baby to rotate in labour. In pregnancy it is good to strengthen & balance and in labour it can help strengthen contractions.  It's good to sit with your knees slightly lower than your hips so your in an anterior position with the pelvis.  You an then make figure 8, circles, rocking and swaying movements to open the inlet of your pelvis so your baby can engage in the last weeks of your pregnancy.

Whichever avenue you decide upon, you can create your ideal birthing space with a little forward planning. You should be free to change the layout of the room and individualise it to suit you.

Here are my top tips for creating your ideal birthing space:

Open your heart....A practice for birth....Imagine a flower… a flower special to you….one you love to admire…see the flower as a tightly closed bud…hold the image still…see the colour of the petals and how they are wrapped around each other...very gradually,

A Birth Preference is a written record that gets your goals and wishes for your labour and birth across to the people providing you care.