What is Shake the Apple Tree?
Loosen the fruit by giving the branch a rhythmic jiggle! Jiggling activates the stretch sensors of the muscles. The muscles in the area of this jiggle release tension and get temporarily a tiny bit longer. Longer muscles create more room for baby to move.
Surprising to many, a jiggle of the buttocks relaxes the muscles quite well, more relaxation can occur after 3-4 minutes than the birthing person can do with mental effort.
For more ways to jiggle see our main page on The Jiggle. The Jiggle is the 1st Balance in Spinning Babies® Three BalancesSM.
How to Shake the Apple Tree
The labor position can be standing, hands-and-knees, Forward-leaning Inversion, or Open-knee Chest. Or, you can simply lean over a counter/dresser or another similar piece of furniture.
This can be done with your hands evenly on the buttocks and giving the buttocks a long, rhythmical and mild shake. Jiggle as long as 10-20 minutes if the birthing woman finds this pleasant. Check in with them to make sure your efforts are relaxing!
Warning: Never shake the abdomen or even the hips vigorously. There’s a baby there! Learn more here.
NIcole Morales shakes Gail’s apples in Forward-leaning Inversion to show birth professionals how to resolve a deep transverse arrest or a baby stuck in the pelvis at -2 station.
Partera Angelina Martinez was my influence. And although I learned it from her it was long enough ago where I’m sure I have changed her traditional methods along the way (which matters). As a student I assumed everyone knew how to use a Rebozo. I use it between contractions for at least 3 to 15 minutes. I’ll use the couch or bed as an incline as well. She was awesome. I’d love to sit with her and learn again knowing what I know now. I’ve never called it anything in particular.
Love you, Gail!
–Nicole Franklin Morales
CPM, Spinning Babies® Approved Trainer
