Babies like to move in the womb, sometimes their movements can cause them to settle into unfavorable positions for labor and birth. A doula by the name of, Megan Hamilton Miles, created a set of three positions to help babies correct their positioning and for labor to progress more quickly. This has become known as, "The Miles Circuit". You can find more information on it at the website: www.milescircuit.com
I have seen this set of moves benefit many laboring mothers over the years. On the website you can find greater detail on each position and for time duration. The ideal time to start using the circuit is around 37 weeks, only holding each position for 10 minutes, once or twice a day or even a couple of times a week. But don't worry, even if you haven't practiced it before labor, you can still use it and be just as effective.
The first of three moves consist of a variation on child's pose from yoga, it is called Open-knee chest. It consists of you "placing your knees fairly wide apart, and the angle between the torso/thighs should be wider than 90 degrees." Then drop your chest as low as possible to the floor or bed with your bottom as high as you can. Go to their site for pictures and more detailed description. Make sure you have lots of pillows around you to make it as comfortable as possible.
The second position is an exaggerated side lying position, again pillows are a must for comfort. If you are repeating the circuit, make sure you are alternating between your left and right sides.
The third step is movement, lunges, walking, bouncing/rotating on a ball, climbing stairs or squats, anything that opens up your pelvis. Change it up, make it fun.
What I like most about this circuit is that you can use it while in active labor to help reposition the baby if labor seems to have stalled, contractions begin to spread out, do not get stronger or do not set a obvious pattern. This can be a game changer, often times if the providers begin to talk about using pitocin to speed up labor, I will suggest or ask if this is something that we could try first. A good majority of the time it works and labor speeds up.
Take a look at it and keep it in the back of your mind for your delivery. Let me know if you have success. For more information and the women who created it go to: www.milescircuit.com
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