Why We Practice Prenatal Work in Side-Lying Position

Recently we received some feedback from a client expressing her desire to receive prenatal work lying on her stomach.  They do make prop pillows to allow pregnant women to lay like this but we do not use them at Loosen Up.  So I thought I would take the opportunity to explain why we prefer side-lying position for our moms-to-be.

From the second trimester, as pregnancy progresses, women’s skeletal structure is pushed into a position to accommodate more room for the growing baby.  The ribs tip back, the pelvis widens, the shoulders and head may round forward slightly.  All of this adjusting, plus the added weight of the abdomen, put a lot of strain on the lower back.  When we put a woman who is in her last months of pregnancy on her belly, even with props, that pressure on the low back is exacerbated.  We can avoid all of that pressure altogether with a side-lying position.

Using a body pillow and head pillow, most pregnant women confirm that this is how they sleep and feel relaxed almost immediately. For the unique specialty case where a woman is not comfortable with these pillows alone, we have many other options for helping them get as relaxed and comfortable as possible.

As always, we love hearing from you and answering your questions, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.  We hope you are well and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours in health, Gina Tibbs