What is Optimal Fetal Positioning?
Optimal Fetal Positioning is a theory developed by Jean Sutton and Pauline Scott which states that a mother’s own position and movement can positively (or negatively) influence her baby’s position in the womb.
The ideal position for birth is called Left Occiput Anterior. This means that the baby is vertex (head-down), with their back on the left side of mama’s belly, and with the back of baby’s head (their occiput) facing mom’s front (anterior).
Why does it matter?
OFP matters because mother’s whose babies are in an ideal position tend to have easier labors and births since baby’s head is well-placed to help dilate the cervix and navigate through the pelvis.
What can you do?
Educate yourself on how your own movement and posture impact your baby’s position in utero!
Ask your prenatal care provider and doula about their own experiences supporting mamas who’ve experienced malpositioning. What did they suggest to their patient or client to help remedy the situation? Can they recommend a chiropractor trained in the Webster Technique, demonstrate a self-care practice you can do at home, or suggest written or online resources?
Here is a list of my favorite OFP resources. Enjoy!
Optimal Fetal Positioning for a Better Birth from the DoulaMomma blog.
3 Principles in Pregnancy from Spinning Babies.com.
How to Prevent a Posterior Labor from MotherSpirit.net.
Get Your Baby Lined Up! Optimum Feotal Positioning from the Homebirth Reference Site.