Birth Preparation
Optimal Maternal Positioning
Your body knows how to birth. Optimal Maternal Positioning (OMP) uses gentle movements and postures to create space in your pelvis, encouraging your baby into the best position for birth.
What is OMP
Working with gravity and anatomy
Optimal Maternal Positioning draws from the work of midwife Jean Sutton and bodyworker Gail Tully (Spinning Babies®).
The way we sit, stand, and move during pregnancy affects how babies settle into the pelvis. Modern lifestyles—sitting in cars, at desks, on soft sofas—can encourage less-than-ideal positions. OMP offers simple, gentle techniques to create balance and space.
When babies are well-positioned (usually left occiput anterior), labour tends to progress more smoothly with less intervention. OMP isn't about forcing anything—it's about removing restrictions and inviting ease.
The Techniques
Gentle movements for balance
Each session includes practical techniques you can use throughout pregnancy and during labour.
During Pregnancy
- • Forward-leaning inversions
- • Sidelying release techniques
- • Rebozo sifting for pelvic balance
- • Daily positioning habits
During Labour
- • Active birth positions
- • Movement for stalled labour
- • Partner support techniques
- • Working with contractions
When to Start
Timing and sessions
While OMP principles can be applied throughout pregnancy, focused sessions are most beneficial from 30 weeks onward.
Sessions typically last 60-90 minutes and include hands-on teaching of techniques you can practice at home. Partners are welcome and encouraged to attend so they can support you in late pregnancy and during birth.
OMP integrates beautifully with pregnancy massage, birth support, and our other offerings. Many clients include positioning work as part of their comprehensive birth preparation.
Prepare for birth