When it comes to preparing for birth, we often think about packing the birth bag, setting up the nursery, and choosing a care team but one often overlooked piece is the baby’s position inside the womb.

While babies have an incredible way of finding their way earthside, the position they’re in during late pregnancy can influence how labor starts, progresses, and how comfortable it feels for you. At our birth center, we love supporting families in understanding Optimal Fetal Positioning (OFP) and incorporating gentle, practical ways to encourage babies into a position that helps birth unfold more smoothly.

What Is Optimal Fetal Positioning?

Optimal Fetal Positioning refers to the most favorable position for your baby to be in for birth. Ideally, this is the Left Occiput Anterior (LOA) position where the baby’s back is toward your left side and their head is down, with their chin tucked.

This position helps baby navigate the pelvis more efficiently and can often lead to:

• Shorter, more straightforward labors
• Fewer interventions
• Less back pain during contractions
• Smoother pushing phases

Why Position Matters

Babies in less optimal positions like posterior (baby’s spine against yours, sometimes called “sunny-side up”) or asynclitic (head tilted to the side)can still be born vaginally, but may cause:

• Longer labors
• Intense back labor
• Stalled or uneven dilation
• More fatigue for the birthing parent

By gently encouraging the baby into an ideal position during pregnancy, you’re helping set the stage for a smoother, more comfortable birth experience.

Simple Daily Practices to Encourage Optimal Positioning

The goal is to create balance, space, and movement in your body—so baby can find their best position naturally. Here are a few tried-and-true practices:

1. Mind Your Posture

• Sit on a birth ball instead of slouching into soft couches when possible.
  
• Keep your hips slightly higher than your knees to give baby room to rotate.
  
• Lean forward slightly when sitting to encourage baby’s back toward your belly.
  

2. Gentle Movement

• Daily walks help keep your pelvis mobile and encourage baby’s descent.
  
• Cat–cow stretches (on hands and knees) create space for baby to shift.
  
• Pelvic tilts and gentle hip circles on a birth ball are wonderful for balance.
  

3. Spinning Babies® Techniques

Techniques from Spinning Babies focus on balancing muscles and ligaments, encouraging baby to settle into LOA. These can include:

• The Forward-leaning Inversion (done carefully!)
  
• Side-lying releases to help open the pelvis
  
• Daily stretches to release tension
  

(We always encourage checking with your midwife or provider before starting any new positions or exercises.)

Balance Over Perfection

Not every baby will be in the “textbook” position, and that’s okay! Babies often rotate during labor itself. What matters most is creating an environment of balance and mobility, so your baby has the freedom and space to find their way.

The Miles Circuit

Another wonderful tool to encourage optimal positioning is the Miles Circuit. This gentle, three-step sequence of positions is designed to help:

• Create more space in the pelvis
  
• Encourage baby to settle into an optimal position
  
• Sometimes even help nudge labor along when the body is ready
  

The circuit can be done in late pregnancy to promote good positioning, or during early labor if contractions are inconsistent or the baby seems to be in a less-than-ideal position. Many families find it relaxing and grounding, as well as a beautiful way to connect with your body and baby.

Our Role at The Addice Birth Center

Our midwives are trained to recognize different fetal positions and can suggest positions, movements, or comfort measures during labor to help the baby rotate if needed. We also love sharing prenatal positioning tips during appointments and childbirth classes, so families feel empowered and informed!