Why Movement Matters in Labour: How Your Body Knows What to Do (Even When You Don’t)

One of the most powerful truths I share in every birth class is this: movement matters in labour. Not just for comfort—though that’s a big part of it—but because the way you move can literally create the space your baby needs to be born. And the beautiful part is, your body knows how to do this. If you’re left undisturbed and given the freedom to move intuitively, you’ll naturally shift, sway, rock, kneel, or lean in exactly the way that helps your baby descend and rotate through your pelvis

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I’ve seen it time and time again: a labouring woman starts instinctively leaning forward during a contraction, or begins to sway her hips in a rhythmic pattern. She might not know why she’s doing it, but her body does. Her baby does. It’s this deep, primal dance between mother and child—and when we make space for that dance to unfold without too much interference, amazing things happen.

But let’s be honest. Labour is intense. It’s a full-body, full-mind, full-spirit event. One of the aims of birth preparation (especially in the style I teach) is to help your thinking brain step back and allow your birthing brain to take over. This is brilliant for progressing labour, but it can mean that in the moment, it’s hard to “think” your way to a new position or idea when things are getting challenging.

That’s where your birth support team becomes so important. Whether it’s your partner, doula, or midwife, they can gently offer position suggestions or help you listen to what your body might be asking for when you’re too deep in the zone to articulate it. Maybe you’ll suddenly feel the urge to stand and lean forward through a contraction—perfect for opening the top of the pelvis. Or maybe you’ll feel better on all fours or in a deep squat—amazing for opening the lower part of the pelvis, encouraging your baby down and out.

I’ve put together a PDF of movement and position suggestions that your birth team can refer to in the moment. It’s not a checklist or something rigid—it’s more like a toolkit. A way to support you in moving freely, while also making sure your baby has the space they need at each stage of labour.


Let’s Talk About Angles: Why Positioning Changes Everything

There’s real science behind why movement works. Different positions open different parts of the pelvis. For example, standing or lunging can open the inlet of the pelvis (where the baby enters), but those same positions might slightly narrow the outlet (where the baby exits). On the other hand, deep squatting or being on low hands and knees can open the outlet beautifully, but might close the inlet. That’s why moving during labour—shifting as your baby descends—is so helpful. You’re not just “coping,” you’re facilitating birth.

This kind of knowledge isn’t about memorising the “right” moves—it’s about understanding your body, feeling confident in the process, and having a team around you who knows what to suggest if needed.

If you want to learn more about how to use movement, positioning, and instinct to support a smoother labour, I’d love to invite you into my online birth course. You’ll walk away knowing exactly what to do, when to do it, and how your support team can help. Birth doesn’t come with a script, but when you’re prepared, it becomes a whole lot easier to trust the story your body is writing.


You were made for this!

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