The power of movement

The one key piece of advice I give pregnant women is when you go into labor, MOVE! Move to find comfort and move to keep labor progressing. Gravity is your friend when birthing a baby. Movement helps your baby descend into the birth canal and turn into the correct birthing position. Restricting a laboring woman to a back lying position inhibits all the processes that need to take place for the baby to come out.

I labored for a while at home with both of my babies. Throughout my labor I rocked on an exercise ball and walked around the room. I spent a lot of time on my hands and knees and leaning on the bed. It all worked in my favor because my labors progressed quickly and my babies came out successfully. 

So be insistent that you need to move. Have a yoga mat with you to lay on the floor so you can use it to get into positions on the floor that help you. Don't let anyone insist that you lay down. And screw that electronic fetal monitoring. I hear a bath is great for relieving tension and relaxing through contractions. I would have gotten in the bath if there was time during my labor, but my babies decided to come quickly.

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