forward Leaning Inversion in pregnancy

Can forward leaning inversion help your baby get into a better position for birth?

Forward Leaning Inversion (FLI) is a pregnancy positioning technique commonly associated with Spinning Babies. It involves briefly positioning the body upside down, with the aim of releasing tension in the pelvic ligaments and surrounding tissues to potentially create more space for your baby to move.

In this animation, you'll see a baby moving from the occiput posterior (OP) position, sometimes called back-to-back, towards the occiput anterior (OA) position, where baby's back is towards the front of your abdomen.

The OA position is generally considered favourable for vaginal birth, although babies can also be born successfully in other positions.

While forward leaning inversion is popular in birth preparation, there is currently limited scientific evidence that it can reliably turn an OP baby into an OA position. The fetal rotation shown is an illustration of what may happen, not a guaranteed result of the exercise.

Forward leaning inversion isn't suitable for everyone. Speak to your midwife or maternity healthcare professional before trying it, particularly if you have pregnancy complications.

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