Innovation remains the key element of a developing world. You see it in different areas of life; medicine, technology, communication, electricity, construction, etc. Child delivery have always been known to use some procedures. However, there are now better creative way; forward leaning inversion for easier birth.
Are you a pregnant woman looking for a convenient way to deliver your baby? In this article, you will learn all about the forward leaning inversion for easier birth. You’d also know how long you should do it, its efficiency, and how it works.
What is forward leaning inversion in pregnancy?
Pregnancy arrives with many challenges; you may experience different symptoms like nausea, cough, cold, etc. Whatever the experience, pregnant women are always happier in the end expecting to see who their newborn looks like. Asides from the sicknesses, you wouldn’t want to experience further problems in childbirth, do you? This is why you should seek easier means.
Forward leaning inversion in pregnancy is a method of childbirth adopted by Dr. Carol Phillips, DC, a physician with expertise in dynamic body balancing. In this procedure, you bend over in opposite the normal method of childbirth thereby providing more space in the lower uterus for head of your baby.
A chair, bed, or sofa are essential to create a platform to rest your body. You should also get down on your hands and knees slowly and cautiously. There are further instruction on how to do forward leaning inversion which you’ll learn in this guide.
Video: How to help baby’s head engage in the pelvis “The right way” – Forward Leaning Inversion
Why is forward leaning inversion essential for easier birth
When done correctly, the Forward-leaning Inversion can free up the lower uterine and cervical ligaments that may have been knotted due to unexpected pauses or twisted positions.
Kneeling subsequently allows the uterus to be momentarily aligned with the pelvis via stretched ligaments. It’s possible that the cervix will become less tight, allowing the baby’s head to better position and allowing the cervix to expand more freely during childbirth.
Using this method may also help alleviate lower back, hip, or tailbone discomfort, as well. In addition, the fetus’s position can be improved. Even if you only manage to turn the baby’s head down, it’s still a good endeavor.
Cervical dilatation may progress normally throughout labor, but this is not always the case. The Forward-leaning Inversion is a viable option in certain scenarios. When the baby is at the -2 station or at the 0 station with severe contractions, this approach works exceptionally well.
Early in labor, you can do a daily Forward-leaning Inversion, but if labor hurts or takes longer than planned, you should do another Forward-leaning Inversion.
There are several situations when this approach can be useful, such as asynclitism and deep transverse arrest (add Side-lying Release), as well as when a baby simply refuses to come down even in the best possible position (add psoas release).
How does forward leaning inversion work?
The utero-sacral ligaments can be released in a different way with the FLI than with the yoga pose downward dog. Coming up and sitting up for some time after inversion helps the tissues settle into a more suitable posture, as does extending the uterosacral ligaments while inversion is being performed.
Having a hammering sensation in the head is not unheard-of. This will become less of an issue with time and repetition. Start with a shorter inversion time and work your way up to a longer one if necessary.
In order to give the lower uterus, cervix, and ligaments enough room to settle into a comfortable posture before the baby tries to descend during labor, it’s recommended to practice forward leaning inversion daily or weekly while pregnant.
How to do the procedure
- In the hospital, go on your knees and face the beds flank and look in that direction. 2.
- Place the elbows on the footboard of your hospital bed (or a chair beside the bed). Lower the foot of the bed with the aid of a friend or family member so that your hips are higher than your shoulders.
- As soon as you’ve completed one contraction, elevate the foot of the bed and ask for assistance getting into a full kneeling posture.
Slowly and carefully bring your hands to the floor and then your forearms to your sides, as shown in figure 4. Hold your elbows out and your hands together. Stools or steps may be helpful in the process.
Tuck your chin in and let your tresses swing loosely. Your neck may require some wiggle room if you let your head rest on the floor.
Close your knees to the edge and raise your bottom off the ground. The hips can be swayed or tilted as desired.
It’s best if you can flatten your lower back (posterior pelvic tilt) to give your ligaments more freedom to move.
Take a deep breath and hold on for one contraction before returning to knees with the assistance of a helper. Maintain a flat stomach and muscular shoulders. Keep your chin tucked in and your neck long.
Using a stool, a block, or an aid, raise yourself back up to a high kneeling posture.
Another contraction can be used to replicate this (or about 15 minutes later).
Safety tips for the forward leaning inversion
Start by asking for aid the first time around. Slow down with the aid of a friend or family member.
You should undergo a gentle inversion prior to a steep inversion while you are in your third trimester.
To rest your forearms below your knees, you’ll need a firm surface to lean on with caution. Before putting your hands on the floor, keep them here. Do not make the mistake of lowering yourself to the floor from a high kneeling posture all at once!
Avoid tumbling, dropping, or twisting when getting up and down.
Excessive muscular separation in the abdomen necessitates caution. Slow down and wear a pregnancy belt!
When you’re in an inverted position, if your shoulders are weak or excessively tight, you will feel stress. If you’re going to execute an inversion, start by rolling your shoulders first.
How long should you do forward leaning inversion
It is recommended that women who are expecting a breech baby perform the Forward-leaning Inversion many times a day for 30 to 45 seconds. 7 times in one 24-hour period for 32-week-old or more breech newborns, but not every day.