11/15/2022
As pushing urges begin, a surge of naroadrenalines prompts birthing women to change position, usually upright or leaning forward. The baby's head swings under the p***c bone and that triggers the opening of Rhombus of Michaelis which is a kite shaped area on the lower back as the front-to-back dimensions of the pelvis increase by several centimeters.
As this happens, it triggers a series of spontaneous movements for the mother which are termed fetus ejection reflex which brings the baby down.
The baby needs this extra space in the pelvis to be born.
And the mother needs a freedom of movement for the 'back to open'...
While it is typical in the hospital environment for women to be put in their backs during pushing, it truly does not support the physiology and the instinctual needs of labor.
Before you get to this stage in labor, talk to your birth team- your provider, your nurses, partner, and doula and come up with a plan to support you and your freedom to move during the second stage of labor- pushing.
This client in the picture had an epidural ( that was somewhat weak at this point- we encourage letting the epidural run out for pushing, to encourage the natural feeling) but she had enough feeling in her body and enough support from her amazing birth team to allow her to change positions as she was bearing her baby down.
If you have an epidural and don't have enough feeling to change positions, just laying on the side will at least allow your 'back to open'.
We can't stress this enough.
A provider that will not respect your freedom, your autonomy, and your maternal/birthing instints is not a good provider, no matter their smile and sweet voice. ๐คทโโ๏ธ
May all of you feel empowered and supported as you magically bring your baby earthside โค๏ธ
๐ธ: Me- Dominika Buck
