Cardinal Movements

Activities

Discussion

Resources

PFB book page 14 PowerPoint slides 39 – 40

Babies help with the birth process through their movements during labor and birth.

Discussion Prompts

• How can you help your baby find the best fit through your pelvis?

Demo doll / pelvis model

Key Points

• Strategies to assist baby’ s descent:

• Stay upright, walk, rock sway or circle hips, use forward-leaning positions, lunges, squats and positions that keep the pelvis open.

• Put pillows or a peanut ball between knees while resting on side.

• Push in positions that open the bottom of the pelvis.

• Cardinal movements: seven distinct fetal movements to pass through the bones of the pelvis:

• Engagement: baby’ s head moves into the pelvis.

• Descent: baby’ s head moves deep into the pelvis.

• Flexion: baby’ s chin tucks to their chest.

• Internal rotation: baby’ s head rotates when it reaches the pelvic floor.

• Extension: baby’ s head extends to fit under the pubic arch.

• External rotation: baby’ s head rotates from face-down to facing sideways.

• Expulsion: baby’ s shoulder moves out from under the pubic arch.

Your Labor Guide

Activities

Hands-on practice

Resources

You can review and reinforce understanding of the stages of labor using the table found in the book, the Labor Scenarios activity or the Stages of Labor activity. Parents can bookmark these pages for a helpful in-labor reference. Keep in mind these are generalities. Each labor is unique.

Dilation 0 – 6 cm 6 – 8 cm 8 – 10 cm Complete Complete

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