Embracing Active and Upright Labour

At Tugun Osteopathy we prioritise wholistic approaches to health and wellness, especially during the miraculous journey of childbirth.

Active and upright labour refers to positions and movements during childbirth that promote gravity-assisted delivery and utilise the body's natural biomechanics. Unlike what you see in movies such as lying-down, reclining or semi-recumbent positions, active and upright labour encourages women to move, sway, squat, kneel, or stand during contractions and delivery.

Benefits of Active and Upright Labour:

1. Facilitates Optimal Foetal Positioning: By allowing the pelvis to open up more freely, upright positions can help the baby descend into the birth canal in the optimal position, potentially reducing the risk of complications during labor.

2. Shortens Labour Duration: Studies have shown that women who remain upright and active during labour often experience shorter labour durations compared to those in traditional lying-down positions. The combination of gravity and movement can help progress labour more efficiently.

3. Enhances Pelvic Mobility: Active labour encourages pelvic mobility and flexibility, which can aid in the rotation and descent of the baby through the birth canal. This can contribute to a smoother and less painful birthing process.

4. Alleviates Discomfort: Movement and changing positions can provide relief from the discomfort of contractions and help manage pain naturally, reducing the reliance on medical interventions such as epidurals or other pain relief methods.

5. Empowers Women: Engaging in active and upright labour empowers women to take an active role in their birthing experience. It fosters a sense of control, confidence, and connection with the process of bringing their baby into the world.

At Tugun Osteopathy , we understand the importance of optimising musculoskeletal health to support women throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Our osteopaths utilise techniques to enhance pelvic alignment, alleviate tension in surrounding muscles, and promote overall mobility, all of which can facilitate active and upright labour.

As well as offering external and internal pelvic floor assessment and treatments and osteopathy pregnancy care we also offer active birth preparation workshops that aim to empower and educate the birthing person and help to prepare for birth. These sessions focus on:

Coping Strategies: Managing the physical and emotional intensity of labour is important for the wellbeing of both mother and baby. We teach a range of coping strategies including; acupressure, visualisation, breathing techniques, movement and other distraction techniques to help relieve any discomfort that may arise.

Active Birthing: We provide you with an abundance of active birth positions, utilising tools such as the birth sling, birth ball and peanut ball to optimise pelvic positing during each stage of labour. You are provided with in depth education on the importance of optimal positioning during labour and the number of ways this can help facilitate the labour process.

Birth Partner: We aim to include numerous techniques and strategies for your birth partner to incorporate during your labour and pregnancy. We understand how important a birth partner can be for the labour process and aim to ensure you both leave feeling empowered and educated.

Education, advice and support is also provided.

We also have birth kits that are available to hire that include; A birth Sling, A birth Ball, A peanut Ball, Affirmation Cards, Essential Oils, Fidget Rings and a Rebozo. Each item is designed to help facilitate a physiological birth, encourage an upright and active labour and help manage the intensities of labour.

At Tugun Osteopathy, we believe in empowering women to embrace active and upright labour as a natural and empowering approach to childbirth. By prioritising pelvic health, mobility, and wholistic support, we aim to enhance the birthing experience and promote the well-being of both mother and baby. If you're expecting or planning for childbirth, we invite you to explore the benefits of active and upright labour with our team of Osteopaths.

If you have any questions at all about active birthing and the service we offer please reach out to us on 0405 640 786 or info@tugunosteopathy.com.