I had the great opportunity to attend a Spinning Babies conference this last week led by Spinning Babies expert Tammy Ryan. I’ve utilized many Spinning Babies moves with labor patients and doula clients for some time now, but actually attending an in-person event helped me understand the nuances and principles behind the moves. I’m so excited to put into practice the ways I’m improving my birth skills.
The central question of Spinning Babies is not how open is the cervix (dilation), but where is the baby (station in the pelvis). Contractions will be much more effective, and dilation and effacement will come more smoothly when we are able to make space for baby to descend through the pelvis and apply pressure to the cervix.
If labor is progressing steadily, carry on, there’s no need to interfere.
But where baby is makes all the difference in the world if you are experiencing some kind of lull or stall in your labor. Instead of focusing on your dilation number after a provider performs a vaginal exam, ask them how high your baby is. If baby is on the high side (-2 or -3 station above your pelvis), your hard work needs to focus on opening the top of your pelvis to allow baby to enter that space. If baby has come down to your mid-pelvis (-1 to 0 station) and labor has stalled, then you need to think about shifting those bones around to help with descent. If your baby is low (+1 station or lower), but things have slowed or you feel no urge to push after your cervix has completely opened, then it’s time for you to try making more space in your lower pelvic bones or outlet of your pelvis.
Sometimes, these are things moms intuitively do as they move and labor without an epidural. But sometimes, birth needs a little guidance from someone skilled in identifying the cause of a stall and which body maneuvers can best overcome that particular holdup. When mom has opted for an epidural, then she is completely dependent on her birth team to help position her body in ways to help baby descend and rotate through her pelvis.
So next time, instead of asking your provider how dilated you are, ask them where baby is! And then get to work helping baby move lower.
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