Curriculum Topic: Group Activity, Student Demonstration, Practice
Activity Type: Labor & Birth, Healthy Birth Practice 5
Purpose: Examine how internally rotating the femur opens the pelvic outlet during second stage
Supplies: Dot stickers in assorted colors – 2 stickers per family
Cell phone belonging to family to record/reinforce
Pillows or mat for comfort on floor (optional)
Instructions:
Introduce the idea of closed knee pushing, explaining how internally rotating the femurs by bringing knees together and separating the feet opens the pelvic outlet. I suggest that this could be a very helpful position when the baby is well engaged and below zero station. Show the included video clip (https://www.lamaze.org/Portals/0/Connecting_the_Dots/Images/pronatal%20knees%20together.gif?ver=2020-01-29-185224-737). Ask the pregnant person to find their own sitz bones, by placing their hands underneath their bottom while sitting or squatting and feeling for the “sharp” bones at the bottom of their pelvis. They are instructed to place one sticker on each sitz bone. Invite pregnant people to get on their hands and knees (using the optional pillows/mats.) Have partners take out their phones and record the pregnant person’s bottom and the dots while the pregnant person practices closed knee and open knee positions. The narrowing of the dots is easily observed as the knees are opened. Upon bringing the knees together the dots move further apart, as the outlet widens. Partners are observing first hand and recording as well. Ask them to show the recording to the pregnant person so they can see for themselves how the dots move on their own bodies! After running through this exercise, everyone returns back to their seats and we discuss as a group how this might be an effective position for pushing out their babies.
Set-Up:
Pass out stickers to families. Have pillows or mats available.
Talking Points:
Perinatal professionals are using this technique to help babies navigate the pelvis once they are below zero station and progress to birth. Mindy Cockeram's piece on this topic will give you background information on this activity (https://www.lamaze.org/Connecting-the-Dots/Post/narrow-the-knees-to-push-with-ease-challenge-the-norm-and160get-the-job-done-1). This activity helps families understand how and why the knees together pushing position is a great technique to add to their toolbox.
Modifications:
Reverse roles and ask the partners to go through the same exercise.
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