Written By: Hira Hassan

Do you see the two muscles running down each side of the pelvis from the spine and attaching to the top side of both femurs?

The muscles that connect our upper body to our lower body?

They are the PSOAS muscles.

Also known as "The Muscle of the Soul" and "The Trauma Muscle".

Tension in these muscles may actually prolong your labor and make it difficult for baby to engage in the pelvis!
Tension in the muscle can be caused by our modern lifestyle:

  • Sitting for Prolonged periods of time
  • Running (excessively)
  • Biking (excessively)
  • Any position that creates a lot of hip flexion
  • Stress/trauma response

The PSOAS plays a vital role in our SURVIVAL RESPONSE, aka fight or flight response. When faced with a threat, the PSOAS contracts, bracing the body for action. But if that stress contraction persists, the PSOAS becomes chronically tight, storing the physical and emotional tension within, and that's how trauma gets stored in the hips. Fear, stress, negative experiences, relationships, internal, external factors, horrifying birth stories, or any traumatic experience all of these can activate the stress response in the PSOAS, which causes it to tighten!

Imagine someone coming to tickle you. Notice which muscle you feel responding and tightening as a response!

What we are looking for is SUPPLENESS. Not just for birth but for life!
Yes, stretching might help it to relax a bit, but in order to fully release it, we need to take one more step and tune into regulating our nervous system too!
And that will allow us to fully release every emotion intentionally!

Remember, muscles have memory.

Personalized Birth Prep care from a trained professional can help assess and release tension in these muscles and others that act as a guidewire for our baby to pass through the pelvis!

No momma-to-be ever regretted being proactive ahead of birth!