Monthly Update: When baby moves from left to right, free course, and more!

Pictured: Gail Tully belly painting her goddaughter. “Painting the baby in the belly impresses even the warrior with the wonder of pregnancy.”
March 2021 letter to our community from our founder:
Dear Community,
Spinning Babies® brings nuances to light in how we think about birth preparation. We offer enough simplicity for parents to engage in a process with their own bodies. The comfort gained so quickly adds confidence to their ability to give birth. Spinning Babies® also significantly shifts how a provider thinks about birth. Many experienced midwives and nurses say, “I see birth with new eyes!” and similar exclamations of an unfolding paradigm.
We are not machines to be oiled. We are living beings, with emotion, history, and adaptive aspects to our anatomy! Living in gravity grounds us but it is the fire within, our living determination, that moves us into action. Movement keeps us in ideal function. Good eating, plenty of pure water, vitamins, and minerals including salt-to-taste, protein, and dark greens are vital. But movement is often misunderstood. Suppleness will provide advantages that strength doesn’t allow for. Exploring the physiology of birth is being in movement with birth.
We seek to awaken each birthing parent to the power within – their own physiology and the state in which they begin their experience.
I hope to be in movement with you, my community!
With visions of the new paradigm,
Gail Tully
Founder of Spinning Babies®
In this month’s update:
- What to do when baby moves from left to right
- How to get a free online course taught by Gail Tully
- Learn how to teach Spinning Babies® to parents
- We’re launching a new conference site
- See all upcoming Spinning Babies® Workshops
Birth Tip: When Baby Moves from Left to Right
Why did the baby move out of a good position? The uterus is not a water balloon but we tend to think it is shaped like one. So if the baby is in position when the head is leaning 3/4th of the way toward the bottom why wouldn’t the baby remain in that position when descending to the cervix?
Let’s recall the uterine ligaments. The broad, cardinal (transverse) and uterosacral ligaments attach to the lower uterus along the area of the cervix, give or take some millimeters. The pelvic floor is also coming up to snuggle the lowest parts of the uterus. Once baby’s head comes down towards the inlet, the head will interact, if you will, with these anatomy structures.
Twists and tensions in the tissues below the level of the inlet will reduce the space available near the inlet. When many structures are tight, once one is resolved another one will become the tightest of the bunch. The baby will then interact with that ligament, area of fascia, or muscle.
Baby might even move out of a flexed position on the left. In these drawings, we see the baby on the left in the first picture but as baby descends towards an unreleased tension near the cervix or pelvic floor, the baby turns posterior.
Old patterns of torsion can remain where there are so many structures while the parts of the broad and round ligaments above the brim were released with daily stretches and the basic body balancing described in our foundational level of learning offered on our site and workshop.
When a baby leaves a position that is considered good or optimal, they will slip right back to it once the remaining anatomy is released to balance. Not too tight, not too loose, and not too twisty. Check out our Three Principles of Spinning Babies℠ page.
How to Help Baby Move From the Right
Help a baby move freely from the right side by freeing up the posterior muscles at the pelvic crest. Dip the hip is a gentle version of Deb Lawrence’s figure-8 hip movement. This is a manual technique for non-dancers. It starts a bit clunky until the hips warm up. Freedom in the movement means the exercise met the need it seeks to meet: suppleness in the posterior back muscles connecting to the iliac crest. Repeat several times a week in late pregnancy or try this in labor.
For dancers, the figure-8 with a hip hike releases the posterior muscles at the pelvic crest. Start slow and deliberate until the movement is smooth.
Changing Birth on Earth Course
Did you know you get a FREE video course for reading Gail Tully’s book Changing Birth on Earth: A midwife and nurse’s guide to using physiology to avoid another unnecessary cesarean?
Changing Birth on Earth Course is your free guide to renewing your passion in birth care. The course consists of a 60-minute video, transcript, and workbook. You will explore your role in your own birth setting, hear from professionals like you who changed the birth culture in their setting, and interact with the online world of Spinning Babies®.
Purchase a copy of Changing Birth on Earth today to receive access to your free video course! Link to course included in the book.
Teach Spinning Babies® to Parents
Make an impact by working with parents with the Spinning Babies® approach in pregnancy. Become a Spinning Babies® Certified Parent Educator (SpBCPE) to teach our structured Spinning Babies® Parent Class in group and one-on-one education. SpB®CPEs are listed on SpinningBabies.com, and use Spinning Babies® curriculum to teach pregnant parents. They can promote themselves and their services using the Spinning Babies name, logo, and designation on their website.
Learn more about our Spinning Babies® Certified Parent Educator Training and how you can enhance your established childbirth education offerings with a Spinning Babies® Parent Class (to teach in person or online).
New Confluence Website
We can’t wait for the Spinning Babies® 2021 World Confluence this year in October. Stay tuned for updates! We are launching a new conference site SpinningBabiesConference.com where registration will open in April. Be sure to bookmark it and set a reminder to grab your ticket!
Workshops
Australia
Darwin, AUS – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Fiona – Jul 14-15, 2022
Brisbane, AUS – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Jenny – Jul 25-26, 2022
Rockhampton, AUS – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Jenny – July 28-29, 2022
Townsville, AUS – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Jenny – Jul 31-Aug 1, 2022
Mildura, AUS – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Fiona – Aug 5, 2022
Austria
There are no upcoming events at this time.
Brazil
There are no upcoming events at this time.
Canada
Golden, CAN – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Sep 8, 2022
Castlegar, CAN – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Sep 12, 2022
Calgary, CAN – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Oct 31, 2022
Calgary, CAN – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Nov 1, 2022
Edmonton, CAN – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Nov 3, 2022
Denmark
There are no upcoming events at this time.
New Zealand
Auckland, NZ – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Claire – 6 July, 2022
Tauranga, NZ – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Claire – 7 July, 2022
Kaitaia, NZ – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Claire – Jul 15, 2022
Christchurch, NZ – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Claire – 1 Aug, 2022
Wellington, NZ – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Claire – 8 Aug, 2022
Hamilton, NZ – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Claire – Sep 5, 2022
Hamilton, NZ – Spinning Babies® RSD Workshop w/ Claire – 16 Sep, 2022
United States
Lubbock, TX – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Jul 6, 2022
Springfield, OR – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Kelly – Jul 7, 2022
Memphis, TN – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Jul 16, 2022
Palo Alto, CA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tema – Jul 16, 2022
Port Townsend, WA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Kelly – Jul 19, 2022
Eureka, CA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Kelly – Aug 2, 2022
Sioux Falls, SD – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Aug 3, 2022
Eureka, CA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Kelly – Aug 3, 2022
Sioux Falls, SD – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Aug 4, 2022
Middleburg Heights, OH – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Aug 4, 2022
Ogden, UT – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Kelly – Aug 5, 2022
Birmingham, AL – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Rhea – Aug 6, 2022
Ogden, UT – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Kelly – Aug 6, 2022
Bismarck, ND – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Aug 8, 2022
Salt Lake City, UT – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Kelly – Aug 8, 2022
Bismarck, ND – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Aug 9, 2022
Longview, TX – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Aug 12, 2022
Union, NJ – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Rhea – Aug 25, 2022
Greenville, NC – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Rhea – Aug 26, 2022
Springdale, AR – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Aug 27, 2022
Killeen, TX – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Sep 8, 2022
Sandy, UT – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Sep 16, 2022
Sandy, UT – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Sep 17, 2022
Iowa City, IA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Sep 20, 2022
Roseville, CA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Sep 23-24, 2022
Granbury, TX – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Sep 24, 2022
Roseville, CA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Sep 26-27, 2022
Troy, MI – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Sep 26, 2022
Troy, MI – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Sep 27, 2022
Monterey, CA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tema – Sep 27, 2022
Lodi, CA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Sep 28, 2022
Portland, OR – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Kelly – Sep 28, 2022
Monterey, CA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tema – Sep 28, 2022
Lodi, CA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Sep 29, 2022
Portland, OR – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Kelly- Sep 29, 2022
Springfield, OR – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Kelly – Sep 30, 2022
Hollister, CA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Oct 2, 2022
Hamden, CT – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Rhea – Oct 2, 2022
Hollister, CA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Oct 3, 2022
Lincoln, NE – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Oct 3, 2022
Omaha, NE – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Oct 4, 2022
St. Augustine, FL – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Oct 8, 2022
St. Augustine, FL – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Oct 9, 2022
St. Louis, MO – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Oct 13, 2022
St. Louis, MO – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Oct 14, 2022
Menasha, WI – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Oct 21, 2022
Menasha, WI – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Oct 22, 2022
Little Rock, AR – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Oct 29, 2022
Danville, IN – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Nov 2, 2022
Brewer, ME – Spinning Babies® L&B Workshop w/ Lorenza – Nov 2, 2022
Danville, IN – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Nov 3, 2022
Brewer, ME – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Lorenza – Nov 4-5, 2022
Orlando, FL – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Nov 13, 2022
St. Louis, MO – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Nov 17, 2022
St. Louis, MO – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Nov 18, 2022
Boston, MA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Lorenza – Nov 18-19, 2022
Chico, CA – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Nikki – Nov 29, 2022
Stillwater, OK – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Dec 2, 2022
Stillwater, OK – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Dec 3, 2022
Peoria, IL – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Dec 12, 2022
Joplin, MO – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Dec 15, 2022
Gilbert, AZ – Spinning Babies® Integration Workshop w/ Tammy – Jan 14, 2023
Tucson, AZ – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Jan 20, 2023
Las Vegas, NV – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Jan 28, 2023
Fort Wayne, IN – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Feb 4, 2023
Mattoon, IL – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Apr 28, 2023
Mattoon, IL – Spinning Babies® Workshop w/ Tammy – Sep 21, 2023
See all upcoming events on our calendar here.