for an Easier Pregnancy and Birth
MAP™ – Structural Analysis and Correction
mamasherpas
The body naturally seeks balance. When we support this process, we not only reduce discomfort but also create space for the baby to find an optimal position, making birth more efficient and less stressful.
(“MAP™ for Better Birth Prenatal Visit Protocol” – Developed by Debra McLaughlin)
During pregnancy, your body undergoes immense changes. Your pelvis adapts to your growing baby, muscles and ligaments stretch, and your posture shifts. If your body is out of alignment—whether due to past injuries, poor posture, or old movement patterns—it can lead to tension, discomfort, and even hinder your baby’s optimal positioning for birth.
The MAP™ is a gentle yet effective method designed to restore balance in the body, ensuring greater comfort during pregnancy and a smoother birth experience.
What is MAP™ and How Can It Help You?
The MAP is a specialized assessment and correction technique that focuses on restoring biomechanical balance in the body. Developed by Debra McLaughlin, this method is based on years of studying the structural changes that occur during pregnancy and how they can be optimized for a smoother birth.
MAP is about analyzing and correcting your body’s alignment—not forcing the baby into a different position.
Your uterus is not a water balloon floating in space; your baby can only move within the space that is available to them. The tissues surrounding the uterus affect its shape and position, and in turn, your baby’s ability to settle into an optimal position for birth. When your body is in balance, your baby naturally has the most room to move and find the position that best supports labor and birth.
The goals of MAP include:
✔ Restoring balance in the body and pelvis
✔ Releasing muscle tension and joint restrictions
✔ Supporting optimal fetal positioning
✔ Promoting a smoother labor and reducing the need for interventions
When Should You Start MAP™?
MAP is beneficial not only during pregnancy but even when preparing to conceive. A well-aligned body before pregnancy can lead to a more comfortable pregnancy and an easier birth.
🔸 Before Pregnancy: Helps optimize posture, address past injuries, and prepare the pelvis for pregnancy.
🔸 During Pregnancy: Relieves tension, reduces pain, and encourages optimal fetal positioning.
🔸 Before Birth: Supports pelvic mobility, helps the body relax, and prepares for a smoother labour. Encourages the baby to descend.
MAP is not a forceful or manipulative technique. Instead, it uses gentle manual adjustments, body positioning, and craniosacral therapy principles to help the body find its natural equilibrium.
Why Consider MAP™?
Many women assume that aches and pains during pregnancy are “normal,” but in reality, they often stem from imbalances and tension that can be corrected or alleviated.
MAP can help if you experience:
🔸 Pain on one side of the body (groin, back, hip, or leg)
🔸 Sharp pain around the pubic bone
🔸 Lower back tightness or discomfort around the sacrum
🔸 Sciatic nerve pain
🔸 Instability while walking
🔸 Lower abdominal pressure or discomfort
🔸 Previous difficult or prolonged labor
🔸 “Back labor” in a previous birth
🔸 A breech or suboptimal fetal position
These issues don’t have to be “just part of pregnancy.” By restoring balance, you can reduce pain, enhance comfort, and support a smoother birth experience.
What Happens in a MAP™ Consultation?
During an individual session, I will:
🔎 Assess your posture, movement patterns, and pelvic alignment
👐 Use gentle hands-on techniques and specific movements to release tension
📋 Provide personalized exercises and positions to help your baby find an optimal position and improve your comfort
🎯 Teach you techniques that can support you in the birthing room—such as:
- Forward-Leaning Inversion – Helps lengthen and balance the uterine ligaments, giving your baby more space to position optimally.
- Side-Lying Release – A gentle stretch that softens deep pelvic muscles, improving flexibility and space in the pelvis.
These techniques are powerful tools you can use during labor to support your body’s natural movements and make birth smoother and more efficient.
MAP can be applied at any stage of pregnancy, but it is particularly beneficial in the second and third trimester when your body undergoes the most significant changes.
Want a More Comfortable Pregnancy and an Easier Birth?
I would be happy to show you all this in person!
I warmly welcome you to my practice in the heart of Budapest’s 9th district. Let’s work together to help you feel more comfortable in your body and prepare for a smoother birth experience.
Kinga
