Belly mapping—a term you probably haven't heard from your OB-GYN, but I believe it can help mamas accept a more optimal natural childbirth.

Abdomen mapping helps y'all know baby's position in utero

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

I was clueless well-nigh how my first infant, Griffin, was positioned. I knew he should be head downward. I likewise went to a Webster chiropractor to loosen and rest my pelvis for an optimal birth. I climbed stairs. I did squats. But I didn't really sympathize how Griffin was truly presenting in my womb—or what the best position for him would be.

The issue? A Very. Long. Labor.

I'm talking 27 hours. With horrible back pain. Griffin got stuck, and the birth stalled for a adept 4 hours. When he finally did come out, I'll never forget how "coned" his head was. Conflicting baby! Fortunately, the midwife got that fiddling baby cap on him quick 😉

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

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This fourth dimension effectually, I'm trying to exist more proactive

I want to get baby in a good position now so I don't have to struggle with a more complicated birth later.

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

My inspiration for this mail

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 you. She asked that I include the following information:Abdomen Mapping, SPINNING BABIES® and all original works of authorship independent in Gail Tully's associated publications, websites and related platforms are the belongings of Gail Tully and Maternity Firm Publishing, Inc., with all rights expressly reserved. Excepting uses otherwise permissible nether applicable law, any/all uses crave written licensing from Maternity House Publishing, Inc.

Start in the latter half of the 2nd trimester

This is when infant settles into his/her "home" position, and you can tell if your pelvis is balanced or non. It's much easier to found good positions for babe now versus afterward in 3rd trimester.

Patently, we want our baby to be caput downwardly. A head up, or breech presentation, tin exist very difficult; in some states information technology'southward a mandatory c-department. Fortunately, there are exercises we tin do to aid flip baby, and most babies prefer head down orientation.

But caput downward is non enough if you desire a smoothen, natural childbirth. The next nearly important affair to consider is if your babe is posterior (infant facing outwards or looking at mama'southward belly) or anterior (infant is facing mama'south back). Anterior is the favored position because it encourages the baby to tuck their head and mentum, creating the smallest head circumference as he/she passes through the birth canal.

Posterior, on the other hand, presses the hardest office of the baby's head against the female parent's spine, where pain receptors lie, and can cause major back labor pain.

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

What y'all will need

The first thing you'll need to exercise belly mapping is your 7-8 month meaning abdomen! Side by side, a non-toxic marking or canteen of finger paint. It'south likewise handy to take a doll or some kind of prop with head, limbs, and back to use to assistance yous visualize your infant.

As a general rule, it's best to do belly mapping subsequently 30 weeks, and shortly later a medico or midwife date, as a nascence professional tin assist you determine if babe's head is down or upwards.

Showtime, allow'south find your baby'south caput

For about mamas, that means head downwards. If you haven't been to a doctor's appointment for awhile, you lot tin can feel for yourself by laying downward on bed and putting slight force per unit area effectually your pelvic expanse. The head will feel like a mini bowling bowl.

The baby'southward hands and arms will most likely be near the baby's head, as they like to suck their fingers and take them close to their face.

Call up as well almost move. Are you lot feeling pocket-sized movements near pelvis? Do they feel more than outward facing and centralized (posterior), or are they more than internal and to one side (anterior)?

Next, find the heartbeat

Again, your doctor or midwife can help you pinpoint the heartbeat. I recommend using a fetoscope, equally it doesn't employ any ultrasound. Once you know where heartbeat is, marking it on your belly.

The heart volition obviously be function of the baby's dorsum and you should feel a hard, long mass. If you tin can't discover hardness like this, it's probably considering your baby is in a posterior position, in which example you are going to experience a softer area, which normally indicates the babe's limbs and abdomen (or it could be an inductive placenta). Either way, marking this area on your belly as function of your belly mapping

Here's where that doll comes in

Now, as part of belly mapping, use your doll prop and start playing with positions based on the caput and back locations. This will help you visualize how babe is resting in your womb.

Side by side upwards, allow'south discover your baby's butt. This volition exist hard and circular and can sometimes feel like the head. Depict a symbolic "butt" on your belly.

Now, remember nearly movement over again. Where are you feeling your baby move the nearly? Of course, you'll feel their legs the nearly giving you those infant kicks. Besides, the knees can create substantial movement.

Keep in mind there will be some variations since baby can bend knees or extend legs, simply you should still be able to sense a pattern. Are you feeling the kicks up to 1 side of your ribs (anterior)? Or are they falling on both sides of your upper abdomen (posterior)? Marking it down on your belly.

Again, employ your doll to see how baby is positioned at present that you are complete. Now you can think near baby in a whole new style.

You can get creative with your belly mapping!

My belly map was more about office than art, but some people become all out with their belly mapping projects:

belly-mapping-elaborate-paint-cute

What if baby is in a "bad" position?

Is your baby in a less than platonic position, practise not despair. You still have time to reposition baby… fifty-fifty if it's during labor. Here are 7 easy exercises to aid your babe'southward position.

Final thought on abdomen mapping

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

How nearly you?

Have you lot ever done belly mapping? Did it assist you lot? How was your infant positioned? Share with us in the comments below!

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