“A few months ago, I was the birth doula for S. She was a 36-year-old low- risk pregnancy primigravida and a routine runner.  S. planned on birthing at the hospital with CNMs.  She had an excellent diet (vegetarian), and she exercised regularly during her pregnancy.   I introduced her to chiropractic care for pregnancy and Spinning Babies.  She practiced the “Three Sisters” with her husband’s support during her pregnancy. 

S. woke up with a slow amniotic fluid leak at 39w+5.  She checked in L&D later that day (GBS+) with no contractions.  She walked for hours, used the birthing ball and rested as needed. Pitocin started at 8 pm with no cervical exam performed.  She looked like he was in active labor around 11 pm. The baby seemed to be on her mother’s left side. S was having strong and regular contractions. She was shaking, working hard, and using her coping techniques beautifully.  It looked very promising! To everyone’s surprise, she was 1cm 80% and -2 station when she asked to be checked at 11 pm. 

Suddenly, I felt like her labor wanted to progress but that “something” was holding her back.  I had in mind that she was a runner and probably had a tight pelvic floor. S. and her husband embraced my suggestions of doing a side-lying release combined with a feet massage (she tolerated only one release on each side, but that was already amazing that she did it!) – Dip the Hip – A couple of deep stretches with the squat bar (flatting and stretching her back). Her labor picked up with a more manageable pattern and her baby dropped to 0 station within 90 mins (She was 6cm). S. safely met her baby at 7:10 am with no other medical interventions. The baby was born with a compound presentation.” – Odile Penet CD(DONA), LCCE