Positions and exercises to help your baby fit

To help the baby turn upside down, so that the delivery can be normal and reduce the risk of congenital hip dysplasia, the pregnant woman can do some exercises from 32 weeks of gestation, with the knowledge of the obstetrician. Meet the development of the baby at 32 weeks pregnant.

These exercises use gravity and promote the stretching of the pelvic ligaments, favoring the baby's rotation, helping him to stay upside down.

Exercise 1

Place a mattress or pillow on the floor. In the position of four supports, lower your head and raise your butt, leaving only your head and arms resting on the floor. You should stay in this position for 10 minutes, and repeat the exercise about 3 to 4 times a day.

Exercise 2

Place a pillow on the floor, close to the bed or sofa and with your knees bent over the bed or sofa, lean forward until you reach with your hands on the floor. Support your head on your arms, which should be on top of the pillow and keep your knees firm at the edge of the bed or sofa.

You should stay in this position for 5 minutes during the first week, increasing in the following weeks, until you reach 15 minutes, repeating 3 times a day.

Exercise 3

Lie on the floor with your legs bent and then raise your hips to the maximum height you can. If necessary, place a pillow under your back to help keep your hips high. You should stay in this position for about 5 to 10 minutes and do it 3 times a day.

How to prepare for the exercises

To prepare for exercise, the pregnant woman must:

Being on an empty stomach so as not to get heartburn or sick. Find out what home remedies are used for heartburn in pregnancy; Talk to the baby and expect some fetal movement, to ensure he is awake; Wear comfortable clothing; Be accompanied, so that the exercises are done correctly and safely.

In addition, these exercises should be done every day until the baby is turned upside down, a position that can be verified on ultrasound. However, it is common for pregnant women to feel the baby turn during or after exercise.

How to know if the baby fit

This happens when the baby's head begins to descend on the pelvic brim in preparation for delivery and occurs around the 37th week of pregnancy.

To find out if the baby has fit, the doctor can palpate the abdomen to see if the head has started to fit. If three or four fifths of the head feels above the pubic bone, the baby is not seated, but if it feels just a fifth, it means that the baby is already deeply seated.

In addition to the medical examination that can confirm that the baby has fit, the pregnant woman may also experience slight differences. The belly is lower and as there is more space for the lungs to expand, it breathes better. However, the pressure on the bladder may increase, making the mother-to-be urge to urinate more frequently or experience pelvic pain.

What if the baby doesn't turn around until 37 weeks pregnant?

If even when performing these exercises the baby does not turn alone, the doctor may choose to do an external cephalic version, which consists of turning the baby through specific maneuvers in the pregnant woman's belly. In this case, the doctor administers a medicine through the vein to prevent contractions and uses this technique so that the baby does a somersault in the uterus, standing upside down:

However, the baby's sitting position does not totally contraindicate normal delivery, and with proper help, the woman may be able to give birth to the baby in this position.

See also a home remedy to speed up labor.