Birth is not like pushing a watermelon out of a lemon
There is no end to the awful ways that birth is described. We grew up hearing awful phrases like these, so it’s no wonder that most of us are terrified of birth before we even get pregnant!
“Birth is like pushing a watermelon out of a lemon” not only sounds scary, but it’s just totally not true. Here’s why:
Your body is full of Relaxin
Relaxin is a hormone produced by your ovaries and your baby's placenta. It loosens and relaxes all your muscles, joints and ligaments... including the ones in your pelvis.
Meaning that when it comes to birth, your pelvis can stretch and open to allow your baby to be born.
Magic!
Baby skulls are malleable
Newborns have soft skulls which help them pass through the birth canal. Their 5 skull bones are not yet fused, meaning they can change shape and even overlap while they are coming out the vagina.
That's why babies are often born with a slight cone-shaped head and breech babies and caesarean babies tend to have rounder skulls!
Fun fact: Babies are also full of Relaxin which helps them get down the narrow birth canal!
Your baby rotates down
Your baby does not descend from womb to earth in a straight line. In order to come out, they rotate down, finding the widest parts of the pelvis as they descend.
Moving instinctively during labour and birth helps your baby rotate down the birth canal. Positions that are upright, forward and open can help your baby make their descent as easily as possible. That’s why birth workers talk about moving so much!
Your baby is made for you
Mother nature is very clever, and you are not likely to make a baby that you cannot give birth to. Your body has all sorts of clever ways to birth your baby.
Did you know, when your baby's head pushes against your perineum, you release a surge of relaxin which helps the perineum to yield and stretch for your baby to pass through. Your body has got it all worked out!!
Birth is like magic! And the more we understand about birth, the more we realise that everything is in place for us to give birth, and the more confident we become.