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    Childbirth is an amazing and multifaceted process that intertwines biology, emotions, and personal stories. Experienced midwife Molly O'Brien and Optimal Birth emphasize the importance of understanding biomechanics, because the competent application of knowledge about body movement helps to facilitate the birth process and give women more positive memories. These methods reduce the risk of complications and make childbirth a natural and joyful event. Interestingly, the approach to childbirth is in many ways similar to choosing hobbies and ways to enjoy your free time. For some, it is preparation for motherhood, for others, it is exploring areas not directly related to family. There are many areas of entertainment in the world, and one of them is gambling. Today, there are a huge number of reviews available to help you figure out which options are more exciting. For example, the pageotsnews.co.uk provides an overview of the best casino games and providers, allowing you to understand which sites are worth considering for a vivid experience. Whether caring for a newborn or choosing entertainment, one thing remains key: the desire for balance and the search for solutions that bring joy. Optimal Birth's support is based on a deep respect for natural processes, while the study of gaming platforms is based on the desire to experience new emotions. In both cases, conscious choice is important, allowing for a more harmonious and memorable experience.

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Why Optimal Birth?

image "Galactic Baby" copyright Cat Fancote - all rights reserved https://birthphotographyperth.com.au/"Galactic Baby" -award winning image from Cat Fancote - all rights reserved https://birthphotographyperth.com.au/

Over the past few years, there have been times when the debate about childbirth and especially choices about how and where to give birth, have become deeply polarised. As always, the media have been quick to reduce the debate to extremes, pitting dire warnings of “great danger if a baby is born at home” or against midwivesd "obsessed with natural birth at any price".

While these extreme views may exist among birth practitioners they are uncommon. Any birth practitioner not blindly wedded to the guidelines will acknowledge there is much about the status quo in many obstetric units that work actively against "a good birth". It’s also recognised that challenging institutional drivers of practices can be very difficult, even those with little or no evidence to support them. Medical intervention has a place and can save lives but it is quite clear that many interventions are used inappropriately, are often ineffective and are, at times, harmful. This is particularly relevant to the current solutions offered when a labour dystocia is identified. Despite being one of the leading reasons for a multitude of interventions and the main indication for caesarean birth, there is not only no consensus on the interpretation of labour dystocia, basically it means difficult or obstructed labour, but there is no consensus on optimal solutions. 

As a midwife my role is to help women have the best birth possible and to ensure they leave our care intact, whole and unharmed, ready for the next part of their journey into motherhood. The question that drove my practice in the birth room was how can I support and optimise the birth process. To do that I needed to develop a deeper understanding of birth physiology.  Physiologically informed practice is my passion, and the reason I came to find out about about biomechanics, the study of human movement. The baby's path through the pelvis is amazing and it is insufficiently studied in obstetric and midwifery training. We learn from a pathological framework and don't have enough information to understand the reasons behind mechanical dystocia. In turn, this impedes our ability to recognise the signs before a dystotcia becomes a crisis and impedes our ability to offer physiologically informed solutions. 

After years of self directed study, courses and training, putting it into practice and seeing results I started teaching. By asking the right questions I can now recognise signs of a mechanical  dystocia over the phone. We all have this knowledge and ability, the solutions are not diificult and they are not harmful. I'm eager to share because it makes a difference! 

It was already clear before the pandemic that interest in biomechanics was increasing and my life was going to be filled with teaching, I was and still am delighted!  I was spending half my life on planes and trains travelling to hospitals as far apart as Chile and Oban and it looked like I was in for a busy year.

Covid brought everything to a crushing halt - but only for a little while. It forced the development of an online presence - and broke resistance to distant learning. It's changed "everything". I'm talking to and teaching birthworkers around the world, have a 4000 strong social facebook group that's a lively and supportive forum for physiological birth, working with midwifery lecturers to help bring biomechanics into midwifery degree courses. I said I wanted optimal birth to change the conversation about childbirth - it's a thrilling ride and the enthusiasm and positivity I'm getting with every course I teach is more than empowering. Can't wait to see what happens next!

Birth Balls are a brilliant way of keeping hips and pelvis flexible and supple thorough pregancy and can really be a help through labour. They can be a "better for birth" substitute for the office chair or the couch and a perfect way of exercising in a small space. Tips on how to use them safey, getting the right size, and simple exercises

birth ball size chartBirth balls are a great way to keep the pelvis moving. It's best used from early pregnancy onwards but it's never too late to start. Using the right size birth ball  is important. It also needs to be adequately inflated with knees a few centimetres below or at the very least parallel to the hips. When using it keep feet flat on the floorfor stability and hold on to something until confident with the ball. It's important to buy a good quality, anti burst ball and invest in a good quality pump to make sure the ball is properly inflated and it's important to choose the right sized ball

 A  birthing ball is a great way of helping balance and pelvic mobility. If you sit at a desk working from home or in an office, remember to get up and walk around for a few minutes every 30 minutes. Set an alarm to make sure you do this - it is essential. Even better replace the office chair or sofa with a birth ball.  It’s almost impossible to slouch when sitting on it! Changing positions and moving is the key so try not to focus too much on using one technique. It can be used to sit on, and while in a sitting position rotate hips in a figure of eight or circles. Alternately lean on it, draping  arms and chest over the ball. Use gentle rocking motions - these are comforting and help release pressure and discomfort in hips and back keeping the joint supple and mobile. 

using a birthing ballDuring labour, it's a great benefit in reducing pain and can help bring the baby’s head down onto the cervix. If your baby’s head is high in the pelvis rotating your pelvis 10-20 times to the left then to the right a few times a day is definitely worth trying. Sitting, swaying or rocking back and forth on a ball can make more room in the pelvis. Follow your instincts and use whatever position feels most beneficial or most comfortable. You can use it in the bed or out of the bed. If you’re in the hospital, sit on the ball by the side of the bed and raise the bed to a position where you can comfortably lean on it. Your birth partner can kneel behind you and give a soothing back massage. If you have back pain you can use the ball to apply pressure on your back by placing it on the wall and leaning back into it.

Ball size guide: If you're up to 1.73m (5ft 8in) in height, it's best to get a 65cm ball. If you're taller than 1.73m (5ft 8in) then it's best to get a 75cm ball.

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Mums, midwives and all - Visit us on facebook and join in a lively page full of info about birth and babys for mums and birth professionals.

It's also the gateway to the professions group "Biomechanics for Birth" - one of the go-to places for physios, body worker midwives, doulas and ostetricians from around the world to share news, questions and information about an important but often neglected area of birth.

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