Lecture Notes: Optimal Fetal Position

Introduction

• Presenter: Deb Flaschenberg
  • Founder and director at Prenatal Yoga Center
  • Certified Lamaze teacher
  • Labor support doula and mother of two
• Topic: Optimal fetal position during childbirth

What is Optimal Fetal Position?

• Ideal position for birth
• Baby's chin is tucked
• Occiput (back of baby's head) is anterior towards the front of the mother's pelvis
  • Anatomy: Pubic bone, anterior superior iliac spines, sacrum, tailbone, lumbar spine
• Avoid baby being against mom's back

Positions

• Optimal Positions:
  • LOA: Left Occiput Anterior
  • OA: Occiput Anterior
  • ROA: Right Occiput Anterior
• Non-Optimal Position:
  • OP: Occiput Posterior (occiput towards mom's sacrum)
  • Challenges: Harder for cervix to dilate properly, higher cesarean birth rates (70%)

Importance of Optimal Fetal Position

• Easier birth and better experience
• Aligning the baby's head for effective cervical dilation
  • Cone-like molding of baby's head aids in dilation
• Positions like breech are not ideal

Techniques to Achieve Optimal Position

• In-Class Techniques:
  • Balancing the uterus
  • Ensuring chin is tucked and spine is forward
  • Working on internal rotation of legs
  • Balancing ligaments (broad, round, utero-sacral)
  • Equal pelvic floor tone

Addressing Misalignment

• Misalignments such as twisted ligaments or misaligned pelvis can lead to posterior positioning
• Use of Webster Technique with chiropractors
  • Balances ligaments and uterus
  • Addresses intrauterine constraint

Conclusion

• Optimal fetal position is crucial for easier birth and better experience
• Importance of balanced uterus and aligned ligaments
• Mention of further resources (upcoming videos on yoga positions)

• Closing: Encouragement for happy birthing, Namaste.