We all have moments where we think, “I am exactly where I’m meant to be.”
Attending the Spinning Babies® workshop on the beautiful coast of Malahide, funded by the Iolanthe Midwifery Trust, was one of those moments for me. Surrounded by midwives, doulas, and birth workers, whom our instructor Claire lovingly called “nannies of birth”, we immersed ourselves in the Spinning Babies® approach. On the surface, their message is simple: comfort in pregnancy and ease in birth. But it quickly became clear that the philosophy runs far deeper.
Claire opened the session by showing us an embroidered cloth from South America depicting a two-headed eagle. This powerful image represents the internal conflict many birth workers experience. One head is driven by the calling to be with women, to honour choice and support physiological birth. The other is bound by institutional systems, protocols, and growing pressure from worsening outcomes, staff shortages, and burnout. It was the perfect place to begin, reminding us of our purpose in an often challenging landscape.
Over two days, we explored maternal anatomy and physiology, fetal positioning, and how the baby’s movement through the pelvis can be supported through Balance, Gravity, and Movement- the three pillars of Spinning Babies®. We shared experiences of birth, discussed what has and hasn’t worked in practice, and reflected on how we can integrate this knowledge into our care.
A moment that struck a chord came from a labour and delivery nurse from California. She shared that her hospital has implemented Spinning Babies® techniques for years, and their caesarean section rate sits at just 7%.
The room fell silent. That number, so far from what most of us are used to, was a clear sign that change is not only possible but already happening.
The benefits of reducing unnecessary intervention are well known: shorter hospital stays, lower rates of maternal and neonatal complications, improved breastfeeding outcomes, and greater satisfaction with birth.
But more than that, Spinning Babies® empowers both birthing people and those who care for them. It allows women to feel they’ve done everything possible to support their birth experience, and equips midwives with the tools and understanding to guide them.
This course reaffirmed my commitment to supporting physiological birth and reducing unnecessary intervention. I now plan to pursue certification as a Spinning Babies® Professional and continue my learning in this field.
While my application to the NIHR Masters in Public Health was not successful, I remain passionate about research into pelvic morphology and the long-term implications of rising surgical birth rates. Spinning Babies® has already enriched my practice, and I believe its principles have the power to transform maternity care by restoring trust in birth and in ourselves as those privileged to support it.
