Labor Positions: Knee-Chest

What it is:

The knee-chest position is a variation of the hands and knees position in which the hips are higher than the shoulders.

How it works

This, and other hand and knee positions, use gravity to allow the baby to rotate out of a posterior position. Because this variation places the head lower than the hips, gravity may help slide the baby out of the pelvis enough to allow more room to rotate.

When to do it:

This position is helpful if a mother is feeling pressure on her back. It may also help the baby move into a better position if the mother is experiencing a long labor.

Incorporating it into labor:

Place a rebozo (long scarf), under the mothers belly before she moves into the knee-chest position. Once she is in the knee-chest position, pull up on both ends of the rebozo to relive some of the weight being supported by the mother's legs.

Have the mother get into the knee-chest position, then have her move her knees further apart, causing the hips to lower slightly while the pelvis widens. The mother should look like she is in a frog position. Keeping the hips higher than the shoulders while widening the pelvis may give the baby more room to turn.

While the mother is in the knee-chest position, use massage or pressure on her lower back.

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