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Bouncing your way to labour and birth using biomechanics and fetal optimal positioning

02 May 2024
Research
02 May 2024
Volume 32 · Issue 5

Abstract

Background/Aims

‘Labour hopscotch’ is a visual tool that encourages activity during pregnancy and childbirth. It has been used in one advanced midwife practitioner service since 2017 and more widely across in Ireland since 2020. The biomechanics for birth toolkit was added to advanced midwife practitioner care in 2022. This study's aim was to ascertain if the biomechanics for birth toolkit impacted gestation of spontaneous onset of labour rates and birth outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective study of onset of labour and birth outcomes was conducted for women before (n=155) and after (n=154) the biomechanics for birth toolkit was incorporated into care.

Results

Before the toolkit was included, there was a 57.2% spontaneous onset of labour rate, with 33.2% birthing before 41 weeks. After the kit's inclusion, there was a 72.2% spontaneous onset of labour, with 91.8% birthing before 41 weeks. Induction rates dropped from 42.8% to 27.8%, with emergency caesarean section rates following induction dropping from 33.1% to 23.8%.

Conclusions

Using the biomechanics for birth toolkit alongside the labour hopscotch tool could increase spontaneous onset of labour rates, optimise physiological birth, reduce inductions and emergency caesarean section following induction.

Historically in Ireland, pregnancy was viewed as a normal physiological event with female relatives, friends and the local midwife being present and assisting during the labour and birth (O'Connell and O'Connell, 2020). By the early 1900s, women began to opt for a hospital birth, believing that modern medicine would improve safety and wellbeing (O'Connell et al, 2022). Over time, this move has resulted in a loss of unique midwifery skills and a rise in the medicalisation of pregnancy and birth (O'Connell et al, 2022). This has led to childbirth being viewed as an illness, resulting in the use of routine, inappropriate interventions and practices that affect normal physiological labour (Côrtes et al, 2018). To reclaim childbirth as a normal physiological event, the World Health Organization want midwives to take ownership of and be the lead healthcare professionals in supporting normal pregnancy and birth (Côrtes et al, 2018).

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Biomechanics for labour and birth
Fetal optimal positioning
Labour hopscotch
Physiological labour and birth
Pregnancy exercise