Movement
birth is a dance between you, your body and your baby
You have every right to move during birth.
Move
You’ve probably seen those dramatic scenes on TV - racing to the hospital, water breaking, and then the classic shot of someone flat on their back, screaming while everyone else yells “push!”
No wonder birth seems so scary!
But what if a lot of the pain we see is actually from working against how our bodies are built to give birth?
And one of the biggest ways we do that…is through position.
Your baby needs to move down and out - so why are we encouraged to lie flat on our backs?
The answer isn’t always explicit but embedded in the environment around us. Most Canadian hospital policies support freedom of movement, yet we know from research on women’s maternity experiences, many people still end up birthing on their backs - a position that can sometimes make things harder for baby to navigate. There’s often so much to remember in birth education, and a lot of mixed messages in the media and birthing environment that influence how we approach it.
Let’s look at how that plays out in real life.
One of the biggest influences is the environment itself.
If you look at the average hospital room, the bed is right in the middle, practically inviting you to lie down. Even if no one explicitly tells you what to do, the options in the environment has a lot to do with your sense of choice.
Having the bed as the central feature in the room, subtly suggests that this is the "right" position for labour. Beds are great for a lot of things and they definitely have their use in labour - but it’s important to know how they may be working against the anatomy and physiology of birth.
So if the environment is gently encouraging us to be stationary…what does that mean for how the body actually works.
Think about the route your baby takes to be born.
It’s not a straight chute - it’s a twisty, turny path where your baby has to wiggle and move through all kinds of spaces in your body. If you’re lying flat, your bones and tissues can actually block that path, making things harder. In fact, studies show that lying down can make birth more uncomfortable.
There’s also another reason to consider avoiding too much time on your back in labour - and it’s the same reason why pregnant people are told not to lie flat during the third trimester. The weight of the uterus can put pressure on the inferior vena cava, the largest vein in the body, which can restrict blood flow back to the heart and placenta. This isn’t ideal in labour, when your muscles need a steady supply of oxygen - and so does your baby.
Let’s take a step back for a moment and talk about what is happening in the body during birth.
When you’re pregnant, your body is flooded with hormones that help everything soften and open, creating space for your baby to grow - and eventually be born. But lying on your back locks up your sacrum and tailbone, making it harder for your body to open fully when your baby’s ready to move through. And when it comes to fitting through the pelvis, it’s not just about head size - it’s also about movement.
Babies have super-flexible skulls made of plates that can overlap and mold as they move through the pelvis. This is why those cute little “cone head” babies don’t stay that way forever - your baby’s head is designed to adapt. And your pelvis is designed to move too.
When your pelvis is free to shift and open, your baby can find the best path through. When it’s restricted, things can feel more difficult than they need to.
So what does this look like in practice?
There are so many ways to support your body before and during labour (check out www.spinningbabies.com for ideas). The more mobile your pelvis, the more space for baby — and that can make a big difference.
A simple way to remember birth-friendly positioning is: UFO - Upright, Forward, Open.
Upright: Use gravity to support baby’s descent.
Forward: Leaning forward creates space in the pelvis.
Open: Keep the pelvis free to move and adapt.
But more than anything else - do what feels right for you and your baby. Sometimes that means resting. Sometimes that means moving. Sometimes that even means lying on your back - and that’s okay too! Rest and relaxation are just as important as movement. If you are on the bed, try propping yourself up with pillows or lying on your side with a peanut ball - these positions allow rest without the same level of restriction.
Birth is a dynamic process. What works in one moment may not work in the next. It’s okay to change your position, to follow your instincts, and to respond to what your body is asking for.
Which bring us back to the bed.
If movement is so helpful, why is the bed still the centrepiece of the birthing room?
In many ways, it comes down to practicality within the system. A stationary, elevated position makes it easier for care providers to monitor, assess, and intervene if needed. But just because the bed is there doesn’t mean it’s always the best choice for your comfort - or for supporting the natural flow of labour.
Canadian guidelines are clear: you have the right to choose your birthing position.
takeaway: trust yourself
Understanding how movement supports birth gives you more than just information, it gives you options. And options are what allow you to respond in the moment, rather than defaulting to what the environment suggests. Birth doesn’t follow a script and you don’t need to follow it a certain way.
Much of our modern birthing environment is not set up to support physiological birth, but your body is! So trust what you feel. Stay connected. Keep moving if it feels right and rest when you need to.
because movement isn’t just your right - it’s one of the best tools you have for a smoother, more supported birth.
In the Mongan Method program, I’ll walk you and your birth companion through 20 different birth position options, teach you ways to get your mind and body ready, and help you build trust in your instincts. Over five weeks, you’ll get more comfortable with your body, your baby, and the whole birthing process. Birth not only becomes less scary, but something you can actively look forward to!