There continues to be much discussion about optimal foetal positioning, and rightfully so because it is often the key to obtaining healthy vaginal births. The subject of ‘which way the baby’s face is facing’ and how it can impact labour, has been documented in the medical literature over the centuries by midwives and doctors alike. If the baby's face is up, or at mom's symphysis p***s, it often is cited as a reason for doing a c section.
With more than enough medical evidence and research to show how babies born in the posterior position or have been in a posterior position during labour has led birth workers worldwide to teach “Optimal Foetal Positioning” (OFP) - a handbook by Jean Sutton and Pauline Scott – to pregnant women where they are taught to understand how the baby moves during labour, which positions to avoid, and which positions help turn a posterior baby.
Tips such as not sitting in the bucket seat of a car for too long are given, and mom’s willingness to follow suit is essential. However, the emphasis on having babies positioned in the Left-Occiput-Anterior (LOA) position before or at the start of labour can also trigger other insecurities, fears, exhaustion, and interventions for mom and baby.
Many women are opting for a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) because their previous birth team missed classic signs of a posterior before and during labour including: going past due dates, mom feeling lots of limbs in front during her pregnancy and back pain during pregnancy, slow-to-start early labour, irregular contraction patterns, slow dilation with slow progress, or even rapid dilation with a slow and often difficult, if not excruciating second stage of pushing, or continuous back ache during labour and where the backaches are more intense than the contractions itself.
Whilst OFP has contributed to the knowledge of both pregnant mothers and birth attendants alike in enabling smoother deliveries, it also has its flaws that have not been taken into consideration such as the fact that research shows that over 60% of mothers start labour with the baby in Left-Occiput-Transverse (LOT) and not Left-Occiput-Anterior (LOA).
Also, when we assume that LOA is the most favourable position, we do not take into consideration the different types of pelvis there is amongst women, and even if the mother has the type of pelvis that majority of women have, imbalances within the pelvis can also hinder the progress of labour.
During pregnancy a woman’s body changes, hormones are released to increase joint mobility. The pelvis and sacrum are designed to move out of the way and give space for the baby to navigate through the birth canal during labour. The condition of the mothers soft tissues such as her muscles and ligaments that surround the pelvis can impair its ability to move which limits the space needed for baby to make the necessary cardinal movements for birth.
Having a baby pass through the pelvis is like putting the key through the keyhole. If the key hole is rusty or damaged, there may be problems of a smooth insertion. The key may get stuck and cause difficulties turning to unlock or even removing the key. The good news is there are many things that pregnant women can do to not just help with the key – key, meaning the baby! And there is a lot more than she can do to create space within the keyhole – meaning the pelvis, for the baby to pass through.
This is where ‘Optimal Maternal Positioning’ (OMP) comes in. OMP is an equally important concept which has a direct impact on optimal foetal positioning. Creating a smooth path for the baby to navigate through the pelvis during labour and birth depends on the ability for the baby to work through the cardinal movements during the processes of descent and dilation. And because of this perspective, the teamwork between the mother and her baby will give her the best chance of a swifter and easier delivery.
Optimal Maternal Positioning focuses on creating space within the keyhole, where the pregnant mother and birth providers learn about:
Hypothesis of Optimal Maternal Positioning (OMP).
Using the concepts of Optimal Maternal Positioning (OMP) to enhance Optimal Fetal Positioning (OFP).
How body balancing during pregnancy can contribute to a pregnant mother’s potential and ability to have an easier and more comfortable pregnancy, labor and birth.
Daily maternal movements and positions during pregnancy that can help ease aches, pains and discomfort for a more comfortable and easier pregnancy.
Increasing prenatal bonding between the pregnant mother, her birth partner and her baby by learning to be aware of the baby’s position and movements during pregnancy.
Maternal positions during labour and birth that optimizes the pelvis to enhance a smoother delivery process.
Enhancing the self-awareness of the pregnant mother’s own body during pregnancy by learning to recognise normal and abnormal pregnancy pains and discomforts.
Recognising labour patterns so both the pregnant mother and her birth providers are aware of what is normal, and when to intervene with using tools and techniques that enable labour to progress.
The importance of body balancing exercises during labour & birth, before movement and gravitational techniques are being utilized.
Tools and techniques that enhances and enables labor to progress in challenging and difficult labors and births.
In addition to signing up for this workshop, the workshop fees also includes the following:
Optimal Maternal Positioning (OMP) E-Book
4 weeks FREE access to OMP’s instructional videos from International Birth Professionals Association (IBPA) online mentoring platform. The videos are made for the participants to review and instill all you have learned after the workshop.
4 weeks FREE access to the online OMP Community through International Birth Professionals Associations’ (IBPA) online mentoring platform. This is for OMP participants to discuss what they have learned, share their experiences of application of OMP, as well as receive added mentoring from the OMP trainers with a live webinar!
Certification of Attendance
Many workshop participants ask if they can teach what they have learned to their clients…. The answer is YES!!!! Simply complete our certification program requirements to use Optimal Maternal Positioning (OMP) in your practice.
In 5 easy steps, you can receive accreditation from International Birth Professionals Association (IBPA). As a member you will have access to a global community of birth professionals and continued access to the online mentoring platform.
1. Be an International Birth Professionals Association (IBPA) member during your certification!
2. OMP Certificate of Attendance (within 2 years)
3. Subscribe to the IBPA online mentoring platform where you get the workshop content online for refresher purposes, webinars, online community and support.
4. Submit and pass the assignments from the IBPA online mentoring platform OMP tutorials.
5. Take the online exam after you have fulfilled 1-4.
After requirements 1-5 have been fulfilled, we invite you to host an OMP workshop in your city, or simply attend another as an OMP supporter free of charge. This is where you would have the opportunity to reassess your talents and all you have learned by actively assisting us with the hands on portion of the workshop, as well as observing the teaching skills.
We would also love an opportunity to give you BY HAND your certificate of completion.
Certified OMP is valid for 3 years before recertification!
Advanced OMP which focuses on advanced anatomy, application skills and critical thinking during pregnancy and childbirth will be available in 2020!
