Biomechanics & Birth: How Spinning Babies® and Rebozo Work to Support, Not Treat
Understanding Biomechanics in Birth
Biomechanics is the study of how the body moves and functions, particularly in response to external forces. In pregnancy and birth, this means understanding how the pelvis, muscles, ligaments, and baby work together to create the conditions for an easier, more efficient labor.
Techniques such as those taught in Spinning Babies® and the use of the rebozo focus on optimising these natural movements, helping the baby find an ideal position and allowing pregnant women to feel more comfortable. However, these approaches are not medical interventions—they are about supporting physiology rather than diagnosing or treating conditions.
The Cultural Roots of Rebozo
The rebozo is a traditional Mexican shawl with deep cultural and historical significance. Used by Indigenous and Mexican midwives for centuries, the rebozo is a versatile tool in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. It is used for comfort, relaxation, and to assist with fetal positioning through gentle movements and shifts in balance.
When incorporating the rebozo into birth work, it is essential to honor its origins and acknowledge the wisdom of the midwives and traditional birth practitioners who have passed down these techniques. Learning about the rebozo from culturally knowledgeable sources and giving credit to its roots helps ensure respectful and informed use.
Spinning Babies® & Rebozo: What They Do (and Don’t Do)
The principles behind Spinning Babies® and rebozo techniques emphasise balance, movement, and gravity. These methods aim to release tension in the body that may be affecting fetal positioning, making space for smoother rotations and descents. These practices:
Encourage balance in the pelvis and soft tissues
Support natural fetal positioning
Ease tension and discomfort
Facilitate movement that can aid in labor progress
However, they do not:
Provide a medical diagnosis of fetal position. Spinning Babies® offers a technique called Belly Mapping®, which helps pregnant women tune into their baby’s movements and identify positioning themselves. This differs from clinical assessments performed by midwives or doctors, which may use ultrasound or hands-on exams.
Manually reposition the baby (unlike medical procedures such as an external cephalic version)
Replace clinical care when a medical concern arises
Where Is the Line Between Medical and Non-Medical Care?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that these techniques are a form of medical care. The difference lies in intention and application:
Non-medical (Holistic Birth Support):
Uses movement and positioning to support physiological birth
Encourages body awareness and balance
Works with the body’s natural rhythms
No diagnosis, prescription, or treatment involved
Medical (Clinical Care):
Diagnosing fetal malposition using ultrasound or hands-on exams
Performing external cephalic version (ECV) to manually turn a breech baby
Prescribing interventions such as induction or C-section due to positioning concerns
Why This Matters
Understanding the difference ensures that women can access the right support at the right time. Techniques such as Spinning Babies® and rebozo can be incredibly empowering, but they are not a substitute for medical care when necessary. Instead, they complement midwifery or obstetric care, giving women tools to work with their bodies during pregnancy and labor.
My Experience with Spinning Babies®
I completed a one-day training with Spinning Babies® in 2016, which provided me with foundational knowledge in their approach. Since then, I have incorporated these techniques into my pregnancy yoga classes, helping pregnant women create balance and space in their bodies. Over the years, I have witnessed firsthand how movement and positioning can make a difference. In some cases, babies in breech positions have shifted to head-down presentations following gentle, guided movements.
Recently, I completed another day of Birth Biometrics training at Da-a-luz with Roma Hearsay, an experienced birth doula from Brighton. Roma has been using these techniques in her practice for several years with impressive results. I am excited to continue working with her as my birth work expands, deepening my understanding and application of these techniques.
While I have not yet completed the next level of training to become a Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner, my experience with these techniques continues to inform my work, offering valuable support to pregnant women seeking comfort and ease during pregnancy and labor.
Empowering Women Through Knowledge
Rather than pathologising birth, these approaches trust the body’s wisdom. They help women develop confidence in their ability to birth while providing practical ways to create space and ease in their bodies.
By using biomechanics-based approaches, we shift the focus away from intervention and back to body awareness, trust, and autonomy in birth.
Final Thoughts
If you’re interested in learning more about how movement, balance, and biomechanics can support your birth, I offer workshops, hands-on body balancing sessions, and birth preparation guidance. Let’s work together to create the conditions for a smoother, more empowered birth experience.
Disclaimer: Spinning Babies® is a registered trademark of Gail Tully. This blog is not affiliated with or endorsed by Spinning Babies®.