The Cardinal Movements

The Cardinal Movements are a series of movements your baby makes throughout labor & birth to navigate the three levels of the pelvic bowl-inlet, midpelvis, & outlet.

The Cardinal Movements unfold as follows

Engagement

Descent

Flexion

Internal Rotation

Extension

External Rotation

Expulsion

You can support baby’s cardinal movements

Relaxing & Releasing tension in lower back, hips & pelvic floor with movements, breathwork & sound

Changing the shape of your pelvic bowl with movementgives baby new spaces to turn, settle & adjust into an optimal position for them

Listening to your body & Intuition: let it guide you into positions that feel right to you

Crowning

Your baby will move through your pelvic bowl by following the cardinal movements. During Extension, baby lifts their head and slowly crown through your perineum.

This sensation can feel intense physically, emotionally, and energetically as baby’s head is sitting right on your root chakra, your pelvic floor, and emerging earthside.

Pelvic Floor

We want to slow things down as baby is moving along your pelvic floor and emerging from your vulva.

Breathwork and Maternal positioning are the keys to a smooth birth both for you and for baby. The pelvic floor is made up of four muscle groups that lattice at the root of your feminine power

Baby’s head on your pelvic floor will bring you back into your body just in time to focus on relaxing and contracting the pelvic floor.

Breathwork

You will use breathwork to harness the power behind the urge to push, to slow down time & space, and to give your baby the chance to navigate the outlet and give your body the chance to open.

Exhaling and panting are breathing techniques using to release energy

Inhaling and slow breathing are used to harness energy.

These techniques will support you when you have the urge to push, when you begin pushing, and as baby crowns and births through your perineum.

They will help you create space and prevent tearing.

Tearing

Your tissues and ligaments are in the best condition to stretch at this point in your life. Your tissues have softened all through pregnancy and labor from hormones and down ward pressure.

To avoid tearing you’ll want to use your breath, listen to your body as it guides you into the best position and birth baby slowing and intuitively.

There are four types of tears. Grade 1-Grade 4

Grade 1 is a mild skid or tiny sliver within the top layer of tissue

Grade 2 mild to moderate tearing into the vaginal tissue

Grade 3 moderate to severe tearing through the vaginal tissue at the base of the anal sphincter

Grade 4 severe tearing through the anal sphincter

Common homebirth tears are Grade 1 and 2.

Healing

If you do tear, you likely won’t feel it in the moment.

but…in postpartum, you’ll want to be mindful when moving, using your core, bathing & going to the bathroom.

Time and space mama, resting and avoiding positions like butterfly sitting or activities like walking up stairs can help keep the tissues approximating, allowing them to come together and heal over time.

The more you rest the faster you will heal.

I want to recognize that not all mamas have the support or resources they need to rest fully in postpartum.

Herbs

My favorite herbs for your padsicles, peri bottle tea, and sitz bath include >>>>

THYME

LAVENDAR

CHAMOMILE

CALENDULA

PLANTAIN

ROSE

Breathwork for Postpartum

While breathwork will help you navigate labor and birth, it is also so beneficial in postpartum. Deep intentional breathing oxygenates the body, including the brain & other vital organs. It triggers our central nervous system, tells our body & brain that we are safe, grounding us & allowing our other systems to unfold properly. Intentional breathwork is meditative & can activate flow state. This will be your biggest ally in motherhood.