Rebozo or Belly Sifting to Position Your Baby for Birth

Position your baby for birth with Rebozo Manteada – belly sifting. A robozo scarf is an exercise tool that can be integrated into your pregnancy experience. Used daily, it reminds the body where gravity is to help your baby find balance and the best position for labor. A spine forward position on the maternal body is ideal, where the baby’s back is directly forward on the mother.

We explore belly sifting with Myla Flores and Seevon. Myla is a Babu birth doula, childbirth educator and Spinning Babies^® certified parent educator. Seevon is about 32 weeks pregnant.

How to Use a Robozo Scarf for Belly Sifting

1. A Robozo is a very sturdy cloth used by traditional midwives in Mexico. It has firmness in both directions. Ultimately we want the sturdiness, so we can truly support the belly of the pregnant person.
2. Wrap the cloth around the belly. Sometimes people start by kneeling first, and then they get on hands and knees later, but you can wrap it around the belly by standing above in a comfortable position.
3. Comb through the fabric to support the belly like a little hammock. Continue to comb through around the base of the belly.
4. The support person needs to be in a position that is good for their body as well so they don’t have to bend over. Stand above the mother to find a position that supports them, as they help carry the baby.
5. Gently lift. Check in to see that it feels good – that it’s not too much or not enough. From here you might want to make some adjustments or start again to better spread the Robozo.
6. Take a nice big inhale.
7. The support person should feel themselves carrying the weight of the baby.
8. Start sifting. It can be kind a like a little bicycle movement, or maybe a figure 8. And if you look at the fabric on the belly, you bring the belly with you as you do this lift.
9. Keep the belly supported on both sides as you do a little lift on each side
10. Check in for a comfortable speed and preference for slow or fast sifting.
11. When it’s time to stop, slow down. Think about releasing before you release so it’s as slow as possible, giving her back the weight.

You can do this for a few minutes each day to help your baby find balance and optimal fetal positioning.

Always check in with your doctor. Avoid belly sifting if you’ve had any bleeding or cramping in early pregnancy, and a threat or history of miscarriages.

Find Myla Flores, LCCE, CD(DONA), CLC and other birthing experts at Babu: A diverse community of curated service providers supporting expecting parents with everything they need, from conception to the first play date. www.babuvillage.com