![]() ![]() You might be surprised to learn that a two step ‘delivery’ is not common practice in many US hospitals. If your OB starts pulling on your baby’s head and neck and doesn’t wait for the uterus to help - that’s a one step delivery (there’s no ‘receiving’ of baby but an anticipatory intentional pulling on baby’s head). ![]() If you’re giving birth in a US hospital a one step birth is normal practice unless you ask for a two step ‘delivery’. Research is finally catching up on what midwives have been doing forever - waiting for the next surge and NOT pulling on baby’s head is the healthiest and safest option for both you and your baby especially when all has been well throughout your labor. Watch this video to see these incredible cardinal movements babies make to be born. What I just described above are the hallmarks of a two step birth. With the next surge baby’s shoulders begin to be born and baby slips into your careprovider’s hands as they receive your baby without any pulling or force. The process of waiting for baby’s head to turn and the shoulders to line up is known as restitution ( a ‘two step delivery’). ![]() Now we know the shoulders inside are aligned with baby’s head and coming through the widest opening of the pelvis. What are we waiting for? We’re waiting for something magical to happen inside - we’re waiting for an important part of labor called ‘restitution’ when baby’s head begins to turn on the perineum to face mom’s thigh. Baby’s head moves forward a tiny bit more, he’s facing downwards, we can see his tiny eyebrows, next his eyes emerge…his nose….mouth and a gorgeous little chin - you hear the words "the head is out - almost there” …and we wait for the next surge….sometimes that next surge follows quickly…sometimes there’s a moment or two (or three or four) and we’re all patiently waiting, honoring the wisdom of the body that has done such an incredible job so far - we trust that for most healthy well parents the body knows how to finish it too. ![]()
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