-By Bushra Hatahet, UK-Trained Clinical Midwife
“Your baby doesn’t simply slide through the birth canal. As they move through your pelvis they perform a remarkable sequence of movements, each one helping them navigate one of the narrowest passages they will ever travel through. These movements happen naturally, guided by your contractions and your baby’s own instincts.”
As your baby reaches the lower part of your pelvis, the final stage of birth begins.
By this point, your cervix is fully dilated, your uterus is contracting strongly and your baby’s head is gradually making its way towards the vaginal opening.
Although every contraction looks similar from the outside, something different is happening with every one.
Sometimes your baby moves a little lower.
Sometimes they rotate slightly.
Sometimes they simply stretch the tissues a little more.
Even if you cannot see obvious progress, your baby is constantly adapting to find the easiest path through your pelvis.
One of the cleverest things your baby does during birth is tuck their chin down towards their chest.
This movement is called flexion.
Imagine trying to fit a large beach ball through a doorway.
Now imagine turning it so that the smallest part goes through first.
That’s exactly what your baby is doing.
By tucking their chin down, the smallest diameter of the head presents to the pelvis, making birth easier for both mother and baby.
This happens naturally and usually requires no assistance from your healthcare team.
As your baby moves lower, they soon reach the narrowest part of your pelvis.
To continue descending, they often need to rotate.
This movement is called internal rotation.
Think of it like trying to move a sofa around a corner.
Sometimes it has to turn before it can continue moving forwards.
Your baby does exactly the same thing.
The shape of your pelvis guides this rotation.
Many babies begin labour facing slightly towards one side but gradually turn so that the back of their head comes underneath your pubic bone.
This is why labour can sometimes seem slow before suddenly progressing quickly once your baby has completed this rotation.
“Sometimes we ask you to change position during labour—not because something is wrong, but because changing position can give your baby a little more room to complete these natural rotations.
A simple change onto your side or onto your hands and knees can sometimes make all the difference.”
If you are looking for calm expertise and genuine continuity of care, let’s talk.
