27/08/2026
6 INCREDIBLE MOVEMENTS YOUR BABY MAKES DURING A VAGINAL BIRTH
Have you ever wondered how a baby actually moves through the pelvis during vaginal delivery? 🤰🏽
It’s not simply a straight journey down the birth canal. Your baby makes a series of remarkable movements that help the head and shoulders fit through the pelvis.
These are called the cardinal movements of labour 👇🏽
1️⃣ ENGAGEMENT
The baby's head enters the pelvic inlet and begins to fit into the mother's pelvis.
2️⃣ DESCENT
The baby gradually moves downward through the birth canal as labour progresses.
3️⃣ FLEXION
The baby's chin moves towards the chest. This helps present a smaller diameter of the head to the pelvis.
4️⃣ INTERNAL ROTATION
As the baby descends, the head rotates inside the pelvis to find the position that best aligns with the mother's pelvic dimensions.
5️⃣ EXTENSION
As the head reaches the vaginal opening, it extends. The back of the baby's head, face and chin are then delivered.
6️⃣ RESTITUTION, EXTERNAL ROTATION & EXPULSION
After the head is born, it turns to realign with the baby's shoulders. The shoulders are delivered, followed by the rest of the baby's body. ❤️👶🏽
✨ THE AMAZING PART?
These movements happen through a combination of uterine contractions, the baby's position and the shape of the mother's pelvis.
Every labour is different, and the movements may overlap rather than happen as six perfectly separate steps.
🤰🏽 Pregnant mama, save this post! Understanding what your baby is doing during labour can make the birth process much easier to visualise.
👇🏽 Which movement did you NOT know about before reading this?
Share this with an expecting mother who should see it! ❤️