How prenatal yoga can facilitate birthing? (2 min read)

Caitlyn texted me after her natural birth which took place in a course of mere two hours, that “the yoga classes paid off”.  I remember her as she was one of the few who came to me with clear intention of doing prenatal yoga to facilitate birth. 

With such an intention, I remember I focused a lot on widening the pelvic floor by achieve outward rotation in sessions with her. 

This practice is especially significant due to the close connection between the pelvic floor and the outward rotation of the hips. Below is an explanation in anatomical fancy language: a group of muscles that form a hammock-like structure across the bottom of the pelvis, namely the levator ani muscle, originates from the inner surface of the pubic bone and the fascia of the obturator internus muscle.  And one of the latter’s functions to externally rotate the hips.

This anatomical relationship underscores the importance of outward hip rotation in preparing the pelvic floor for the demands of labor, allowing for a smoother and more efficient birthing process.

Here’s three postures to externally rotate the hips and therefore facilitate the widening of the pelvic floor:

• Garland Pose (Malasana)

• Goddess pose (Utkata Konasana)

• Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)