Belly mapping—a term you probably oasis't heard from your OB-GYN, but I believe information technology can assist mamas have a more optimal natural childbirth.

Abdomen mapping helps yous know baby's position in utero

…then take any necessary action to help babe into a more platonic position for birth.

I was clueless well-nigh how my starting time babe, Griffin, was positioned. I knew he should be head down. I also went to a Webster chiropractor to loosen and balance my pelvis for an optimal nascence. I climbed stairs. I did squats. But I didn't really sympathise 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 dorsum pain. Griffin got stuck, and the birth stalled for a good 4 hours. When he finally did come out, I'll never forget how "coned" his head was. Alien baby! Fortunately, the midwife got that picayune babe cap on him quick 😉

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

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This fourth dimension around, I'thousand trying to exist more proactive

I want to get baby in a good position at present so I don't take to struggle with a more complicated birth afterwards.

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

My inspiration for this post

Gaily Tully of SpinningBabies.com is the pioneer and creator of the Abdomen Mapping process. She was gracious enough to allow me share her concept will all of yous. She asked that I include the following information:Abdomen Mapping, SPINNING BABIES® and all original works of authorship independent in Gail Tully'southward 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 nether applicable police, whatever/all uses crave written licensing from Maternity House Publishing, Inc.

Beginning in the latter one-half of the 2nd trimester

This is when baby settles into his/her "abode" position, and you tin can tell if your pelvis is balanced or not. It's much easier to establish good positions for baby now versus subsequently in 3rd trimester.

Evidently, we desire our babe to be head down. A head up, or breech presentation, tin can be very difficult; in some states information technology's a mandatory c-section. Fortunately, in that location are exercises we can do to help flip babe, and most babies prefer caput down orientation.

But head down is not enough if you desire a smoothen, natural childbirth. The side by side most of import matter to consider is if your baby is posterior (baby facing outwards or looking at mama's abdomen) or anterior (babe is facing mama'south dorsum). Anterior is the favored position because it encourages the baby to tuck their head and chin, creating the smallest head circumference as he/she passes through the birth canal.

Posterior, on the other hand, presses the hardest part of the babe's head confronting the mother's spine, where pain receptors lie, and tin can cause major back labor pain.

Belly Mapping can help you determine what position your babe is in and and then take the necessary steps to "spin" babe to the right position for optimal birth.

What you volition demand

The starting time thing you'll need to do belly mapping is your vii-eight month pregnant belly! Next, a non-toxic marker or bottle of finger paint. It'due south likewise handy to have a doll or some kind of prop with caput, limbs, and back to utilize to help you lot visualize your baby.

As a general dominion, it's best to do belly mapping subsequently thirty weeks, and shortly after a doctor or midwife appointment, every bit a birth professional can help y'all decide if babe'southward head is down or up.

Get-go, let'south find your baby's head

For nearly mamas, that means caput down. If you lot haven't been to a doc's appointment for awhile, you can experience for yourself past laying down on bed and putting slight force per unit area around your pelvic expanse. The caput will feel like a mini bowling bowl.

The baby's hands and artillery volition well-nigh likely be almost the baby's head, as they like to suck their fingers and have them close to their face.

Call back also near movement. Are you feeling small-scale movements nigh pelvis? Do they experience more outward facing and centralized (posterior), or are they more internal and to one side (anterior)?

Next, discover the heartbeat

Again, your medico or midwife tin can help y'all pinpoint the heartbeat. I recommend using a fetoscope, equally information technology doesn't use any ultrasound. Once you lot know where heartbeat is, mark it on your abdomen.

The middle will plain be part of the babe's back and you should feel a hard, long mass. If you can't find hardness like this, it'due south probably because your baby is in a posterior position, in which case you are going to experience a softer area, which usually indicates the baby's limbs and belly (or it could exist an anterior placenta). Either fashion, mark this area on your belly as function of your belly mapping

Here's where that doll comes in

Now, as part of abdomen mapping, use your doll prop and start playing with positions based on the head and back locations. This volition assist you visualize how infant is resting in your womb.

Next up, permit'due south discover your baby's barrel. This will be hard and circular and can sometimes feel like the head. Draw a symbolic "barrel" on your abdomen.

At present, recollect almost motion again. Where are you feeling your infant move the about? Of course, you'll feel their legs the most giving you those infant kicks. Also, the knees tin can create substantial motility.

Keep in mind there volition be some variations since baby can bend knees or extend legs, but you lot should notwithstanding exist able to sense a pattern. Are y'all feeling the kicks up to ane side of your ribs (anterior)? Or are they falling on both sides of your upper abdomen (posterior)? Mark information technology down on your belly.

Again, utilize your doll to see how babe is positioned now that you are complete. Now y'all tin think about infant in a whole new way.

You tin can become creative with your belly mapping!

My abdomen map was more about function than fine art, only some people go all out with their abdomen mapping projects:

belly-mapping-elaborate-paint-beautiful

What if baby is in a "bad" position?

Is your infant in a less than ideal position, do non despair. Y'all still have time to reposition baby… fifty-fifty if information technology'due south during labor. Here are 7 like shooting fish in a barrel exercises to aid your baby'southward position.

Final thought on belly mapping

If you're interested in babe positioning, I highly recommend finding a doula and/or midwife that understands baby positioning and abdomen mapping. With their expertise, they can aid yous become babe into the best position for nascency.

How about you?

Accept you ever washed belly mapping? Did it help you? How was your baby positioned? Share with u.s.a. in the comments below!

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