Ways to use a birth scarf

What is a birth scarf?

A birth scarf is simply a long piece of fabric that is used as a tool during birth. They can also be used during pregnancy and postpartum.

• You can use a rebozo. That is the birth scarf that is a cultural practice in Mexico and Central America.
• You can use a woven wrap intended for babywearing.
• You can buy fabric and make your own with basic sewing skills. 9 or 10 feet is a good length. I’d recommend about 24 inches wide. Good fabrics are strong and durable that you can really pull on: linen, jacquard cotton (think fabric tablecloth), cotton, or silk. You don’t want anything that stretches easily, tears easily, or is thin. You want the fabric to be continuous without sewing pieces together.
• With basic sewing skills and a low budget, try a long tablecloth folded to fit your comfort (probably in half). You can also buy a sturdy canvas drop cloth for painting and sew it. Make it about 10 ft. by 2 ft.
• You can also use a spare sheet folded over. A twin flat sheet folded longways can do many of the support methods, but isn’t long enough to do all of them.   

Where do you find birth scarfs?

• You can purchase through online retailers.
  
• Note: It is only an authentic rebozo if it’s made in Mexico or Central America. If you purchase a rebozo, please buy from indigenous people. Using rebozos for birth support is part of their culture.
• Woven wraps can be bought through online retailers or local baby stores.
• Check your local fabric stores to see what they have available.
• Local department stores may have a good size tablecloth. You can order fabric tablecloths online.
• An old bedsheet you already have can be used.
• You may be able to find a sheet or possibly a long tablecloth at thrift stores.
• Borrow a birth scarf from a friend.
  

Caution and consent

CAUTION
There are a few things you do NOT want to do with a birth scarf.

• Do not try to flip a breech or reposition a baby with this.
• You do not want to jiggle or sift rigorously when using any abdominal support techniques. Always be gentle. You are handling a baby as well.
• Ask your provider before using if you have an anterior placenta.
• If the woman has low or high blood pressure or any cardiac issues, be cautious about which techniques you use. 

 
CONSENT
Always ask the mother’s permission before using this tool. Explain each technique to her before practicing. Make sure she is comfortable. Ask for feedback.

How do you use them?

DURING PREGNANCY 
These techniques can also all be used during LABOR.
 
Sifting

• Sifting the boat: Lay the birth scarf out on the floor. Have the woman lay in the center of the scarf with the bottom of the scarf just under her buttocks. You can also do this on a bed or couch. There are two ways to do this. Take both ends of the scarf standing over her legs if she is on the floor or at her side if she is on furniture.
  • Sift gently as if you are sifting flour. Pull up on one side at a time and sift back and forth.
  • Take both ends of the scarf and gently rock side to side like a slow-motion exercise bike.
• Belly sifting: Have her get on hands and knees or on her knees while resting her arms on a couch or birthing ball. Wrap the middle of the scarf around her belly.
  • Take the sides of the scarf and gently lift the belly and sift pulling up on one side then the other slowly.
  • If she is using a birth ball for this position, the support person can lift up and the woman can sift at her own pace by rocking side to side.  

 
Lifting

• Abdominal lift with a partner behind pulling up on the scarf
• Abdominal lift with back crisscrossed and the woman pulling over her shoulders to lift the belly
  • With this technique, add support by having her partner come behind her to lift up from her lower belly.
  • Mother may also want to sift by pulling on end of the scarf to pull up, then doing the other side.
• You can also have her sitting on a birth ball and wrap the scarf around her belly gently pulling up from behind her to take some pressure off.

 
Counter pressure

• With the woman on hands and knees, wrap the scarf around her belly bringing the sides of the scarf together over her lower back. Using one hand to gently tug on the scarf (pulling up towards you), use your other hand to apply counter pressure to the sacrum.
• Tie a big knot over her lower back with the scarf. Press into it for counter pressure or she can lean into the wall to add pressure. 
• With a scarf tying a corn bag or rice pack to her back, she can lean into the wall for mild counter pressure or have someone press into the bag.  

 
Other methods

• A scarf can also be used to tie an ice pack or heat pack (corn bag, rice sock, etc) on her lower back leaving her free to walk around. 
• Shake the apple tree. This method is using the scarf to jiggle the buttocks for the purpose of releasing tension. She may be more comfortable with her husband/partner doing this technique at first as it is a bit intimate physically. In my class, I demonstrate on a birth ball first what the shake looks like.

 
DURING LABOR
 
For squatting

• The door knob squat: Find the middle of the scarf. Leaving the door hanging open, wrap the scarf around both sides of the door handle. Use the scarf as support while squatting. 
• Over the door rope: Tie a big knot in one end of the scarf. Throw that over the door and close the door leaving the unknotted portion to hang on the side that you are. You can then use that scarf as a rope to lean into as you squat. Lean on the side of the door that is opposite of the way it swings (If a bedroom door swings in, lean on the hallway side of the door instead of the bedroom side so it can’t swing on you).
• Tie two rebozos together and throw the knot over the door. This allows you to have more fabric to squat with. If you have a strong and sturdy wreath hanger, you can use that as well to have longer fabric than the over-the-door knot.  
• If you are in a hospital and the bed has a birth bar, you can wrap the scarf around that and use it to assist in a squat. You can also straddle a peanut ball or sit on a birth ball in front of the birth bar and use a scarf to lean into.
• Have a partner sit in a chair or on the bed with the scarf over their shoulders. The laboring woman can squat in front of the chair and lean into the scarf for stabilization. (Her back to the partner’s front)
• For a squat with more support, have the mother straddle a peanut ball and lean into the scarf wrapped around her partner (her back to the partner’s front or her facing the partner).
• With two partners, you can use a birth scarf for a lap squat. Have one partner sit in a chair with knees apart. Have the laboring woman sit on that partner’s lap facing them (straddling). The second partner is behind the person in the chair. Using a scarf under that woman, she can gently drop her hips and hang between the seated partner’s knees.

 
Other methods

• Use the scarf for a double hip squeeze with two people.
• Use it with the seated knee press (counter pressure).
• Spread the scarf over the partner’s shoulders. She can then grip the scarf and lean into her partner.
  • Do this standing. She can be facing her partner or have her back to the partner’s front and scarf wrapped around both.
  • Do this leaning into your partner.
  • Do this on a birth ball facing each other.
  • You can also do this on a birth ball with the mom’s back to the partner’s front.

 
DURING DELIVERY

• Throw the scarf over the birth bar on the hospital bed to pull on while squatting or semi-reclined.
• Tug-of-war: Have a support person use the scarf as a tug of war while she is bringing her baby down. 

 
 
POSTPARTUM

• Belly support can be a comfort postpartum. You can wrap the scarf around the postpartum belly and tie it in the back or wrap it around again and tie it to the side. If you find you like that support, look into Bengkung belly binding. 
• If a scarf is long enough and made of durable material, it can be used for babywearing.
• If there are no fringes, cut it and use it as a baby blanket.
• You can shorten it, hem it, and use it as a nursing cover.

There are over 35 ways listed here.
How will you use a birth scarf?

Maternal-infant Wellness Education
with Leanna Mae

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