QuestionHello Helen,
I'm wondering your thoughts on how abdominal tightness affects fetal position.
I am petite (5'2", 99 lbs.) and my first child spent most of labor in face-up position (OP), making labor incredibly difficult, long (35 hours) and painful for me. In addition to being small I have always had pretty strong abdominals and I wonder if all this could have contributed to the malpositioning (by not giving the baby enough room to turn around)?
I am pregnant again and quite nervous about repeating my awful first labor experience. Should I skip the abdominal conditioning while pregnant, to allow as much room in my abdomen as possible? Or doesn't it matter much?
I had a minor separation the first time around -- about 3 to 3.5 fingers, and it closed to 0.5 - 1 finger by 2 years pp.
AnswerI can see how you would want to do everything possible to prevent another face-up labor, but strength in the abdominal muscles does not effect fetal positioning.
Don't skip abdominal conditioning. All pregnant women should work to maintain as much strength in their deepest abdominal muscle, the Transverse Abdominis, or TvA.
This is the body's internal "girdle" and when contracted, compresses the abdominal wall. Strength in the TvA helps to prevent back pain and diastasis recti (abdominal separation) and because it is the major expulsion muscle, greatly aids in the pushing phase of labor.
Most likely, you mid line will stretch again to at least 3.5 finger widths, which is common in petite women.
To prevent the severity of your diastasis in this pregnancy, perform the exercises shown here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cdSxWvF06g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkTlpSCmJyY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juMlSPiZHTw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxbsq808lxE
If this baby positions face-up too, look into prenatal Chiropractic care as a misalignment of the pelvis, particularly if it is twisted to one side, can impact uterine alignment and fetal positioning. Realignment of the pelvis helps to great more room for the uterus and can help your baby move into the ideal birthing position.
