12/01/2022
The Rhombus of Michaelis, also known as the quadrilateral of Michaelis, is a diamond shaped contour that is visible on the lower sacral region of the back into the second stage of labor as we prepare to push. This photo I captured gives a beautiful view of the body making space for baby to maneuver themselves through the pelvic outlet. It also teaches us the importance of exploring upright, side lying or hands and knees birth positions so this bony structure can move freely when needed. Our bodies are brilliant! xx UMA]
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In Jean Sutton’s words, “The rhombus of Michaelis (sometimes called the quadrilateral of Michaelis) is a kite-shaped area that includes the three lower lumber vertebrae, the sacrum and that long ligament which reaches down from the base of the scull to the sacrum. This wedge-shaped area of bone moves backwards during the second stage of labour and as it moves back it pushes the wings of the ilea out, increasing the diameters of the pelvis.”
“If you’re going to have a normal birth you need to allow the rhombus of Michaelis to move backwards to give the baby the maximum amount of space to turn his shoulders in. Although the rhombus appears high in the pelvis and the lower lumbar spine when it moves backwards, it has the effect of opening the outlet as well.
“When women are leaning forward, upright, or on their hands and knees, you will see a lump appear on their back, at and below waist level. It’s much higher up than you might think; you don’t look for it near her buttocks, you look for it near her waist. You can also feel it on the woman’s back, it’s a curved area of tissue that moves up into your hand, or you may suddenly see the mother grasp both sides of the back of her pelvis as the ilea are pushed out and she is suddenly aware of those muscles that have never been stretched before. Normally, the rhombus is only out for a matter of minutes, it comes out just as second stage starts, and it’s gone back in again by the time that the baby’s feet are born, in fact sometimes more quickly than that.”
Photo x UMA] with