Spinning Babies® Training Makes a Real Difference

Last July, I began my nursing career at Mile Bluff in the Birthing Center. When I began my journey into nursing, I wasn't sure where I wanted to be. But after my clinical experience and assisting with my first labor and birth in college, I thought, “Wow, this is really cool.” As I gained more experience, I realized this was exactly where I belonged—delivering babies. There’s always something new to do and learn, and no two days are the same. Some shifts are quiet, while others are so busy that I barely have a chance to catch my breath. Before I know it, the day is over.

The thing I love most about working at Mile Bluff is caring for a great patient population, and it makes me especially happy to work here in my hometown alongside my mom, who works in Urgent Care. We often joke about our different roles. She'll say, "I could never do what you do," and I always respond, "I couldn't do what you do!"

One of the most valuable educational opportunities I've had as a new nurse was attending Spinning Babies® Training. A group of us attended the course, and it was a fun-filled day of learning, critical thinking, and hands-on experiences. Being able to put ourselves in our patients’ shoes made us all realize the reason behind doing this training. We learned all sorts of fascinating little tricks and techniques designed to help support labor and birth.

It’s very difficult to watch a mom go through significant pain and pressure when there is only so much we can do. Nurses can sometimes feel helpless in those moments. The training helped us better understand how a baby's position can influence labor and the simple positioning techniques we can use to improve their experience.

Spinning Babies was a great educational experience that really gave me a little different perspective that I didn’t know I needed, especially as a newer nurse. It helped me recognize situations where a baby may not be in an optimal position and when it may be beneficial to try a different approach. Since completing the training, I've used these techniques many times and have seen positive outcomes.

One experience in particular stands out.

I cared for a woman who was in labor with her first child. She hoped to have a natural water birth and was doing fantastic, but her labor wasn’t progressing as quickly as we had hoped. One of our providers suggested using techniques we learned through Spinning Babies® Training to help move things along.

We started with the three-step Miles Circuit. Each step is intended to be done for 30 minutes in each position. These positions include being on hands and knees, right side-lying with pillows, and stairs or side-stepping onto a stool. We had her working through steps one and two when, suddenly, she expressed feeling a lot of pressure, so I quickly checked her. She had progressed to complete within an hour, and we didn’t even make it to step three. We got her into the birthing tub, and she delivered beautifully shortly after.

I think about that delivery often. It was incredible to watch her labor progress and see her achieve the birth experience she hoped for. She was a trooper, and she made it look so easy. What potentially could have been many more hours of labor, I’d like to believe, was helped by the knowledge and techniques I gained through Spinning Babies Training.

Experiences like this remind me of why I chose this profession. I love what I do, and I feel proud to be part of a great team that’s always looking for ways to improve patient care. I know I still have many years to learn and grow as a nurse, and that’s one of my favorite parts of the profession.

Having the opportunity to continue learning while helping families through one of life's most important moments is incredibly rewarding. I'm grateful to work at Mile Bluff, where ongoing education helps us provide the best possible care for the families we serve.