What is Optimal Maternal Positioning?
Optimal Maternal Positioning (OMP) is a set of techniques and exercises aimed at making room within your body so that your baby can find a good position for birth. This practice can help facilitate a smoother labour and birthing process, reducing the need for interventions and easing discomfort.
How Does Optimal Maternal Positioning Work?
OMP involves specific movements and postures, stretches and releases, that allows room for the baby to move into. These techniques are designed to:
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Create more space, balance and alignment in the pelvis.
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Allow the baby to move into a favourable position.
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Reduce tightness in the muscles and ligaments around the pelvis and uterus.
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Benefits of Optimal Maternal Positioning
Practising OMP techniques can lead to numerous benefits for both the mother and the baby:
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Relieve pregnancy discomforts.
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Enable partners to be very involved, hands on and supportive.
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Shorter Labor: having a balanced, aligned and flexible pelvis can help labour progress more efficiently, and potentially shorten its duration.
A balanced and aligned pelvis means that baby (and Mum) doesn’t have to work as hard to get past knots of tight muscles or the resistance of inflexible ligaments to descend through the pelvis to be born.
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Lower Risk of Interventions: OMP can decrease the likelihood of requiring interventions such as forceps, vacuum extraction, or caesarean sections.
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Easier Birth: The birthing process can be smoother as a result of your baby moving through the pelvis more easily.
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Reducing fear: By understanding of the normal physiology of birth.
When to Practise Optimal Maternal Positioning
OMP techniques can be practised throughout pregnancy, but are especially beneficial in the last trimester and leading up to labour. Incorporating these exercises into your daily routine can help make room for your baby to get in a good position for birth.
Support From Hello Baby! Midwifery
At Hello Baby! Midwifery, I offer personalised guidance on Optimal Maternal Positioning to help you prepare for a positive birthing experience. I will support you and your partner in learning these techniques and answer any questions.