Fetal Navigation Techniques for Reduced Birth Trauma and Improved Birth Outcomes. "I turned my OP baby and regulated my own contractions in an hour, directly avoiding induction and possibly a cascade of interventions"

This was my second labour, which from this point on flowed smoothly and quickly to a physiological birth. My first labour also needed help. My baby was still not engaged and contractions weren't progressing. I then did... [ view full abstract ]

This was my second labour, which from this point on flowed smoothly and quickly to a physiological birth. My first labour also needed help. My baby was still not engaged and contractions weren't progressing. I then did something that immediately sent my stagnant labour into active flow.  

How did I change the course of two labours? I used Fetal Navigation Techniques (FNT).  

FNTs are a range of non-invasive techniques targeting ligaments/muscles to balance the uterus, helping baby align the smallest part of its head with the pelvis and giving baby space, facilitating better rotation and descent/navigation through the pelvis.

These techniques can be used to turn breech/transverse/oblique babies and, crucially, can be used during labour (as well as pregnancy) to improve outcomes for cephalic presentation (OP/OA). They are more widely known as Spinning Babies.

There is difficulty proving the techniques are directly responsible for a straightforward labour, or a change in labour, on an 'individual' basis.  Still, clinical evidence is needed to prove what the anecdotal evidence tells us: FNTs reduce the incidence of planned cesarean section, unplanned cesarean section, induction, and instrumental delivery; and reduce the duration of labour, subsequently reducing the use of analgesics/epidurals. These key indicators for research could be analysed across a whole Midwife Led Unit or Maternity Department where midwives are trained in the techniques and use them routinely: comparing 'overall' rates before implementation against the rates after implementation, over several months.

Randomised Clinical Trials are the route to midwives using FNTs as standard in routine care - making the difference between a cascade of interventions and a shorter, uncomplicated vaginal birth with faster postnatal recovery. In addition to significantly reducing risks to women, babies and future pregnancies, and reducing stress on midwives, this would dramatically reduce direct financial costs, maternal and neonatal aftercare costs (including maternal mental health) and subsequent pregnancy costs to our severely underfunded NHS.  The potential is to reduce the current 25-30% CS rate to 10-15% as recommended by the WHO.