what position to accelerate the opening of the cervix?

Childbirth is an important stage in a woman’s life. Which position to choose to dilate and accelerate the opening of the cervix? Explanations.

A true marathon, childbirth is taxing, both morally and physically. During the last trimester of pregnancy (and sometimes before if the situation so requires), specialists (gynecologist-obstretist or midwife in particular) are required to carry out examinations of the cervix. The objective is to ensure the correct position of the latter and to provide more precise indications on the delivery to come, or at least the beginning of the labor. The cervix dilates gradually, although it can widen more quickly in a few days.

To make childbirth faster and less painful, there are several techniques to accentuate the stage of dilation in order to help the baby to descend into the pelvis faster. Among the advice given to women about to give birth: change position! So, which position to favor to accelerate the opening of the collar? Find out all in this article.

The cervix, a precious sphincter to be treated with care

When it comes to giving birth, the question of induction of labor may arise. Behind this medical term, it is in fact to promote the dilation of the cervix to accelerate childbirth. It requires understanding what this organ is and how it works. The cervix is ​​a sphincter that must be treated with care.

According to Ina May Gaskin, a world famous midwife and author of the “Guide to Natural Birth”, cervical opening is faster when you are intimate with people you know and when you are standing up to do it. play gravity. Unfortunately, birth rooms are often noisy. The woman lying on her back is usually in the midst of a back and forth of sometimes unknown medical personnel.

To get ready for your birth, here are some natural techniques that you may use to gently trigger your baby’s descent.

Do not stay still to dilate the cervix faster

Keeping still is counterproductive for the pregnant woman who is about to give birth. In fact, immobility prevents the smooth running of labor since it creates compressions and numbness in the body which help to slow the dilation of the cervix. On the contrary, specialists have proven that being in motion during childbirth makes labor faster and reduces the pain of the procedure. This is why it is particularly advisable to use a pilates ball to mobilize the pelvis and facilitate the descent of the baby.

Change position to pull the fetus out

If you want to speed up the birth, the advice your doctor can give you is to change your position often. Adopting several different postures is a great help. This allows the baby to progress more easily in his mother’s pelvis but also to better experience the pain of contractions. Which is not a luxury when you know how painful they can be for some women. Here are some examples of positions to adopt:

  • Sitting cross-legged on a cushion: the fetus is pulled down by a kind of natural pressure;
  • seated with arms resting on an armchair;
  • sitting astride a chair: this speeds up contractions and therefore encourages the fetus to descend into the pelvis;
  • standing, leaning on a cushion;
  • kneeling: to open the pelvis thanks to gravity and thus push the fetus in the right direction;
  • lying on your side (lateral position): a position that both allows you to rest and promotes the onset of labor;
  • sitting on a gymnastic ball.

Doctors recommend changing positions every 30 minutes or so.

Take a bath for faster dilation of the cervix

The positions that you can take (apart from standing) can also be carried out under specific conditions, for example in a bath. On request and when possible, some women can take advantage of an expansion bath in their maternity ward. The water has a relaxing effect on the muscles and relaxes the muscle fibers, which allows the proper dilation of the cervix.
As a general rule, a water birth is three times faster than a traditional birth. However, if the baby requires special attention, the woman will usually not be able to do some of the labor in the tub for health reasons.

Make childbirth easier thanks to walking

Another solution to facilitate the opening of the cervix: walk. It is not for nothing that women who are not sufficiently dilated are advised to walk in the corridors or the courtyard of the hospital. Walking allows you to use gravity to show the baby the way out. And since the pelvis is still, the contractions are not more frequent, which does not create additional pain. If you can and if you think about it, then do not hesitate to walk and support yourself during the uterine contractions to relieve the pain.

To further improve the situation, you can use a pregnancy balloon. This accessory is recommended to facilitate childbirth and help you position yourself better. The ball allows the pelvis to make an effortless, almost permanent movement. Sit on the ball and do circular movements. You will also relieve the pain of your contractions.

Do exercises to relax your jaw, useful for dilating the cervix

Not many people know it, but the muscles of the genital area and those of the mouth are linked. So when your jaw is closed and tight, so is your cervix. Otherwise called “law of the sphincters”, the method consists of accompanying each contraction by relaxing your body and your jaw and promoting movements. You can also vibrate your lips to prevent tightening of the jaw. A bit like blowing bubbles …

Sexual intercourse to promote descent of the fetus

Having sex at the end of a pregnancy has been scientifically proven to speed up the onset of labor. This method is even called “Italian childbirth”. This is because intercourse emits oxytocin, the love hormone, the same which is also injected into the pregnant woman to induce childbirth. If there was a preferred sexual position? This of the Andromache or the teaspoon (lying on the left side to avoid compressing the vena cava) …

Very focused on pyscho and sexo subjects, Leila Gheiro is a versatile journalist who loves to vary the themes and explore subjects to tackle it in all its …

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