PIMS Short Case Study - Biomechanics

Biomechanics for Birth

AIMS is proud to showcase the work of Molly O’Brien, who teaches Biomechanics for Birth, including techniques to diagnose and rectify labour dystocia which Molly first developed while working as an NHS midwife for 20 years. Molly believes that ideally these techniques should be available for all birthing women and people to utilise for themselves.

Preliminary audits of several NHS Trusts which have introduced a biomechanic approach show a reduction in instrumental births and severe perineal trauma and an increased number of positive birth experiences (Smith, 2023).

“a deeper understanding of anatomy and physiology has proved to be a far more accurate tool to understanding what is making birth more prolonged and painful..... Identifying and piecing together signs of a suboptimal position requires a change in perceptions of birth from “birth is normal in retrospect” to trust and belief in birth as a normal physiological function”.

Molly O’ Brien

References

  • O’Brien, M (2023) Biomechanics for Birth - A Labour of Love www.optimalbirth.co.uk/index.php/blogs/biomechanics-for-birth-a-labour-of-love, accessed online 14/10/23
  • Smith, A. (2023) Teaching midwives about physiology-based care: going beyond the core curriculum AIMS Journal, 35(1), 28-30, accessed online 16/10/23
  • AIMS Journal Vol 35 No 1 2023. Dare we say it? Physiological Birth

We hope that this page is of interest, especially to our colleagues in the maternity services improvement community.

The AIMS Campaigns Team relies on Volunteers to carry out its work. If you would like to collaborate with us, are looking for further information about our work, or would like to join our team, please email campaigns@aims.org.uk.

You are welcome to quote from or link to this article in your own work to improve maternity services but please credit AIMS as the source. If you are using a quote please include the following words: “Quote from the AIMS article {URL}. AIMS is a charity that works towards better births for all by campaigning and information sharing, protecting human rights in childbirth and helping maternity service users to know their rights, whatever birth they want, and wherever they want it. See www.aims.org.uk"

Please consider supporting us by becoming an AIMS member or making a donation. We are a small charity that accepts no commercial sponsorship, in order to preserve our reputation for providing impartial, evidence-based information.

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