Is the practice of 'baby spinning' evidence-based?

Baby spinning is an approach that is set to optimize the physical relationship between the bodies of the mother and the baby for the easy of childbirth. It is a new culture that relies on clues from the baby’s position and state for a natural, physiological solution.

So, how does it work?

1. It starts with the alignment of the uterus so that the baby can curl and enter the pelvis and become a more active participant

2. One should release the ligaments and muscles that may pull or twist thus relieving pain or discomfort during birth or while pregnant

3. The next step is supporting of what is loose in the womb or pelvis with a pregnancy belt

It is a technique that is famously made by Gail Tully. It is widely understood that easing a baby’s rotation and making it easier helps the mother at birth is often easier for the mother. This approach is a normal occurrence for the body allowing mothers to use their own strengths and allow labor to start on its own. An advantage is that by knowing the fetal position and the space available in the womb. Use of less force and medical involvement is necessary.

Why should pregnant women take baby spinning classes?

Women who take these classes have a great opportunity for understanding how the baby is an active participant in labor. It teaches women how to maintain their body balance in their body prior to labor assisting in the creation of ease and pleasure when conceiving. The classes allow both partners to practice comfort techniques letting the couple feel free to ask questions and to learn new setups daily. The lessons help to instill confidence in a woman’s body when giving birth. Some of the daily routines or habits that one goes through like sitting for a long period, placing more weight on one leg versus the other whenever you are standing creates imbalances in the body. It enables one gain more symmetry to the tensions of the joints, ligaments, and muscles hence helping the baby to navigate the pelvis and surrounding tissues easily.

It is normal for women to have fears from the birth process thus making the knowledge more helpful as it leaves them more empowered and excited.

Evidence-based advances have helped many midwives and mothers to develop new methods that involve controlling trial and identifying new ideas required for treatment and possibly predicting the actual outcome. The integration of clinical expertise means the proficiency and judgment that physicians acquire through experience and practice. Expertise is shown in many ways and is usually more effectively increased through efficient diagnosis. The baby spinning technique involves sensory integration treatment which is an approach to physical therapies that first emerged in the late 90’s. Evidence-based practices require total emphasis on observation, reliance on literature and the ability to summarize and apply information read to day-to-day operations.

It, however, downplays the importance of clinical experiences and expert opinion. Another disadvantage is that there are some scenarios to which there is a doctor to rely on. The other disadvantage is that there is little evidence of what works i.e. it rarely provides the basis for action in a primary care consultation.

The evidence-based medicine model consists of three phases namely practicing, where midwives develop and come up with practice questions to where they are based in their field. There also needs to be evidence as one needs to conduct research, synthesize the internal and external sources of finding acquired and translate this information creating and implementing action plans that will assist in the evaluation and publicizing the information.