Spinning Babies is the property of Gail Tully, CPM.

For more
information on these techniques and pictures visit
www.spinningbabies.com

Daily Activities
Now that you’ve read the Three Principles of Spinning Babies (visit www.spinningbabies.com), let’s learn
some activities to help you get there!
Want to promote an anterior position? Start with these. Want to avoid a posterior or breech position? Add
weekly activities to this daily routine.
These activities will not make a head down baby turn back to breech nor will they make an anterior baby
turn posterior. You can start them early in pregnancy.
Be moderate and mindful. These balancing activities are non-interventive. You will get the results you
want if you restore balance day by day rather than try to restore years of a tight hip in one month or on the
day of labor! See the spectrum of ease article for discussion on when to start. you might find limits in your
range of motion, a tight or twisted muscle or fascia, or misaligned pubic bone, etc. or any of these with a
larger posterior baby makes instant success unlikely.

Restoring Balance isn’t like instant coffee. You gotta let your length steep.

Why wait? Improving body balance improves physiologic function – even birth! Balance in tone and
alignment may increase your chance of an easier birth and better sleep while you are pregnant.
These exercises can be done by all healthy women. These are the activities than could be done daily.
Consult your provider before starting any exercise activities.

Activity 1: Walk Every Day

Why? Walking briskly with full motion lengthens the psoas muscles (a large pair of internal “wings” from
spine to thigh) and supports lower back strength while moving the pelvis somewhat. “Pso -as” I was
saying, long, supple psoas muscles give us better range of motion, emotional groundedness and flexibility,
better fetal descent, and better fetal positioning (with other balanced muscles and aligned spine and
pelvis). Walking is good exercise and protects your good health.
Who does this? Everyone.
How? Walk in a safe place, without ice, and at least 5 times a week, also without pushing a stroller or
stopping to window shop. Walk at a pace you can still hold a conversation.
How long? Don’t start so aggressively that you strain yourself. Gradually work up to 3 miles, 4-5
kilometers.
How frequent? Daily!
Don’t use this if….Your provider prohibits walking, such as when a woman is told to do bed rest or to
restrict movement for health reasons.
If you have pubic symphysis pain, wear a snug pregnancy belt, start slow. Or, wait to walk until you have
done the pelvic stabilizing exercises to restore your pelvis. Then start slow.

Activity 2: Forward-Leaning Inversion

Why? The forward-leaning inversion stretches and, potentially, untwists support ligaments to the lower
uterine segment and cervix, such as the uterosacral and cervical ligaments. A gently stretching muscle
relaxes. When you get upright again these ligaments relax. Repeating the stretch many times helps to
release a possible spasm or asymmetry and allow the baby’s head to fit more easily during labor.
Who does this? Use a spotter for the first few tries. Use a reliable surface, like a bed or couch or stairs.
Knees are close to the firm and secure edge. If you have an inversion board, you can use that instead.
Have a helper each time if you don’t have good balance or if you don’t feel secure doing it on your own. Do
this even if you are also doing “Downward Dog” in yoga. They are NOT the same!
How long? 30 seconds. That’s three breaths long.
How frequent? Daily!
Don’t do this if…you have heartburn, glaucoma, hypertension, or are at risk of a stroke. Also in cases
where amniotic fluid levels are unusually large and the doctors are worried and measuring weekly. If you
 Spinning Babies is the property of Gail Tully, CPM. For more
information on these techniques and pictures visit
www.spinningbabies.com

have a sinus infection, going upside down may throb (or may soothe). Make sure to watch the videos
before AND AFTER trying the inversions, as mistakes are common.
Note: When we first get upside-down our body signals us (in case we didn’t notice) by a throbbing head.
After 3-6 times your body will realize you mean to be upside-down and your head won’t pound. Just get
up early if this happens and try again, one time each day. Then it will go away.
Read more and see more at The forward-leaning inversion.
Thanks to Dr. Carol Phillips, DC, for teaching Dynamic Body Balancing and emphasizing the importance
of the Forward-Leaning Inversion.

Activity 3: Maternal Positioning

Jean Sutton, co-author of Understanding and Teaching Optimal Foetal Positioning, recommends we sit
with our:

 Knees lower than the level of our hips

 Belly lower than your hips
 Let your belly be a hammock for your baby.
 Let your lower back sway forward as you stand and walk
 Sit on a kitchen chair – backwards!
 When using an exercise ball make sure your hips are not lower than your knees!
 Keep a upright back by sitting on the front of your sitz bones not back on your sacrum.
Read more about Maternal Positioning in pregnancy.

Dynamic motion
Sit on a Swedish chair or exercise ball for a straight back. Let the abdomen become the hammock for the
baby.
At a computer frequently? Get up hourly. Keep elbows and knees at a 45 degree angle and wrists floating
above the keyboard.
Sitting on a firm ball will help your hips to stay fluid. Get up and move around frequently.

In the car
If you are sitting in a car, please do not sit up on a cushion. In the case of a sudden stop, sitting on a
cushion puts you and the baby in a dangerous position. Instead, sit on a small physiology ball, such as a
slo-mo ball, in which only ONE PUFF of air is in the ball and then the plug is replaced. Put it between
your tuberosities so that they touch the car seat, but the ball is between them. Now you have dynamic
motion for the car. You will have less pain.
When you get in and out of the car, keep your knees and ankles CLOSE together. Swivel your hips to get
your feet in and out of the car together. This will help prevent SI joint pain.

Activity 4: Stretch
Stretching out everyday is good for circulation, metabolism, and comfort. Each day, release tight bun
muscles from your feet up and your head down. As above so below; so relax your jaw, loosen your neck
and open your shoulders. Try these exercises!
TMJ (tight jaw) release
Clench your molars and locate the big muscles for chewing. Relax your jaw (don’t bite down). Press two
fingers into the big jaw muscles and hold (alternative, stretch the muscle downwards) for 2 minutes while
 Spinning Babies is the property of Gail Tully, CPM. For more
information on these techniques and pictures visit
www.spinningbabies.com

you sit up on the front of your tuberosities or stand. Breathe slowly and deeply. If you don’t like to watch
the clock, take 5 long, deep breaths. Do the jaw release 2-3 times a day for 5 deep breaths.
Neck rolls
Follow your jaw release with some nice, slow, gentle neck rolls. Lift the back of your head (your chin is
down lower than the back of your skull). Roll to the right and make circles. Roll to the left and make
circles. Do this 2-3 times a day after jaw release. In general, hold the back of your head higher than your
chin. Let your chin down. Lengthen your neck this way throughout the day.
Open your shoulders
Stand and sit with your shoulder blades apart and the top, back of your head lifted to lengthen your neck.
Your pelvis is not tucked. Your legs are not crossed. Daily, lift your arms and make circles. Stand with feet
apart and with your arms open wide, breathe in deep, exhale deeply, too. Inhale and lean over to your
side, exhale and come back up. Repeat on the other side. Do a set of 5 in each direction.
Daily, touch the back of your hands together in front of you with your arms extended. Gently swing your
arms behind you. Touch your hands together. If you can’t now, you will be able to soon if you keep trying
every day. Don’t strain your shoulders. Can you clasp your hands together behind your back? Can you
reach over your shoulder with one hand while reaching up from behind with your other and touch fingers?
Use a belt or a band to bridge the hands. Change hands to stretch the other shoulder.
Explore. Move your arms in many directions. Move your shoulders in many directions. Breathe while you
play.

Windmill
Stand with your feet apart. Broaden your shoulders. Raise the back of your head and let your buttocks
free. Bend forward and put your palms on a chair seat in front of you, a stool, a yoga block, or the floor.
Pick the height of one of these that best suits your back. You only go down as far as your back can stay
straight. Look at both hands in front of you on your chosen surface. Now inhale and lift your right hand
out to the side and up over your head. Follow your hand with your eyes by turning your head. Its ok if
your hips move, but when you return your hand to your surface during your exhale, your hips should end
up straight and even. Now switch to your left hand.
Raise your left hand by extending your arm out to your side and up over your head. Keep your hand in
your vision by turning your head. Don’t move your hand further than you can see. Exhale and bring your
hand back to the surface slowly. You will notice a slight tilt to your pelvis as you do this.
Your legs are straight. Begin with 5-6 on each side. Work up to 10 on each side. This is so nice for your
lower back and buttocks muscles that you may find a week without windmills means an achy back or
sciatica by the end of that week. So keep this on your daily to-do list!

Calf Stretch
Step the ball of your foot onto a rolled towel or half foam “tube”. Make sure your heel is grounded on the
floor. Stand straight but with a slight bend in the knee. Straighten and bend the knee slightly, not that
much, a little. Change to do the other foot. Then do both at once. 5-10 times each set. Daily! This gives
length to your hamstrings so your sacrum and buttocks muscles are more mobile when you need your
pelvis to open for your baby during descent in labor.
Thanks to Katy Bowman, Bioscientist, who taught me the importance of doing the calf stretch everyday, a
few times a day, to ease pushing a baby out and make squatting easier. Your hamstrings will love you and
you will love your hamstrings!

Lunges
Follow the Calf Stretch with Lunges. Forward lunges do their part to “free the sacrum” by lengthening
hamstrings and giving the tuberosities more give.

Squats
 Spinning Babies is the property of Gail Tully, CPM. For more
information on these techniques and pictures visit
www.spinningbabies.com

Squatting can help change the size of the pelvis Follow the Lunges with Squats. Or do squats separately as
you go from your living room into your kitchen, do 3 squats coming and going. Use the wall to support
your back if you are beginning. Feet are flat on the floor. Go down only as far as you can keep your heels
down. Toes point forward, not out. Katy Bowman will teach you more about Squat.
Use a sturdy set of door handles to an open door if you have a strong, heavy door available to hang from
the door handles. Its a great way to squat. Toes forward, heels down. Don’t worry about how far down you
can go, pay attention to your knees being right over your ankles so your calves are straight up like a tree
from foot to knee. Make sense? Try it. Swing your bottom way out behind you and let your buttocks free.
Don’t tuck.
Squat on the pot! Build a sturdy “U” shaped foot stool around the toilet or buy a Squatty Potty®. Or,
import the type of “toilet” used in Japan, old France, and other places where you put one foot on either
side of a (plumbed, porcelain) trough and go.
Be mindful of your abilities when you squat. Brace yourself on a trusted surface and don’t fall. Take
responsibility for your ability and be safe. Your colon and your perineum will appreciate it!

Activity 5: Psoas Release

Why? A tight psoas muscle pair keeps baby high. A long labor can relax the psoas, as may an epidural,
but why not improve your body’s balance by relaxing your psoas in pregnancy? A longer, more supple
psoas is one of several factors helping baby engage at 38 weeks gestation.
Who does this? The mother herself.
How? Lie on your back with your feet on a chair so that your calves are at a 90 degree angle to your
thighs. Thighs are straight up and down and calves are horizontal. After five minutes, roll to your side and
get up slowly.
One day you will notice that your lower back relaxes enough so that the space between your lower back
and the floor disappears. Don’t force your lower back to touch the floor, wait till it happens on its own.
Then repeat this technique occasionally. Before that, do it daily as much as you can, but for five minutes at
a time.
How long? 5 minutes.
How frequent? Daily!
Do this when….you have constipation. A lack of engagement of baby’s head after 38 weeks. You’ve had a
previous long labor. You’re a first-time mother. You have a history of sexual or emotional abuse. You do
desk work or lots of sitting.
Don’t do this if… any time on your back is not possible. Roll over to your side if you feel unwell while
doing this. Remember, you spend 5 minutes on your back for a prenatal exam. This 5 minutes will be ok!
Note: Can’t lay down? Your lunges, when done properly, will help your psoas, too. As will daily, brisk
walking, breathing deeply and letting your belly relax. Kneeling lunges, standing forward lunges, and
sitting with your knees lower than your hips help lengthen your psoas. Any activities that arch your body
backwards from your leg socket, so to speak, will help. Drink water to hydrate your psoas or the stretches
won’t find a muscle with mobility.
Thanks to Liz Koch who teaches us all about this in her book, The Psoas Book and at CoreAwareness.com.
For more than a release, Liz Koch suggests an actual psoas resolution.

Activity 6: Hip Openers

Open up those hips daily!
Technique: Hands through the hole
Why? This technique balances the pelvis and “opens” the hips, allowing easier descent of the baby in
labor.
Who does this? Women themselves. You can learn this “pose” at yoga and from a physical therapist.
How? Lay on your back. Bend both knees with your feet flat on the floor. Breathe a few times. Lift one leg
(for example, your right knee), and put that ankle above the bent knee of the other leg. Put one hand
through the hole your right leg makes and grab the thigh or shin of the other leg (left). Lift the left leg to
grab it. Hold the pose for a bit, and stretch your lifted knee, in this case, the right knee, away from your
 Spinning Babies is the property of Gail Tully, CPM. For more
information on these techniques and pictures visit
www.spinningbabies.com

head. You will feel a stretch. Don’t hurt yourself. Take a few breaths. Put both feet down again and breathe
a breath. Then do the opposite leg in the same way, opening the left knee, this time, away from your head.
How long? This may take two minutes to start with, and longer as you get more comfortable with it. Give
yourself 5 minutes to do both legs by the third week into it.
How frequent? Daily when you can, but three times a week for your body to respond.
Don’t do this when….lying on your back is impossible.
Thanks to Colette Crawford from whom I first learned this from her yoga video for women’s health.
Technique: 3 Hip Openers
Why? Hip flexibility and pelvic balance
Who does this? The woman herself. She learns this at yoga class.
How? There are three steps. Using a rebozo scarf, the woman wraps the scarf around the ball of her foot.
She could use a pilates band, a belt, or even a sock.
First, both hands hold the belt. The right leg is straight, but not locked. That takes awareness. Lift the
thigh muscle towards the hips to make the leg “active”. Relax a bit while keeping your leg active. Notice
your breathing. Let it be free. Then lift your leg towards your head. Don’t hurt yourself. Give yourself a few
weeks to get more flexible.
Second, transfer the “belt” to your right hand. Let that leg open and rest on the wall. Again, the leg is
straight but not locked. Breathe freely. Relax your leg into this while keeping your thigh muscle lifted
towards your hips.
Third, cross your right leg over your body and rest it on a wall (or chair). Let your leg rest, supported like
that.
Switch legs and begin again.
How long? A minute or two for each step, or shorter, and then repeat both sides again.
How frequent? 3 times a week or more.
Don’t use this if…. Again, only if someone can’t be on their back.
Thanks to Clare Welter, CNM, who taught me this and to use props at her Sunday prenatal yoga class now
at St. Paul Yoga Center on Selby and Dunbar. Using the props helps immensely!

Activity 7: Pelvic Tilts

Pelvic tilt Postion A
Why? Loosens the hips and sacrum. Relaxes the lower back and soothes an achy back at the end of a long
day. Do pelvic tilts at the end of each day for comfort and to enhance flexibility.
Who does this? The mother. No professional help is necessary, but a yoga teacher or physical therapist
can give advice about technique.
How? A folded yoga pad or quilted blanket, rug or folded towel protects knees and wrists. Leaning over a
birth ball or couch seat can be done if your wrists are too tender. Or go down on your elbows for “cat cow”
and undulate that spine! Don’t sway your back -its “cat-table top” – your back goes from straight to then
arches up (cat)
Start with your hands under your shoulders, knees under your hips. Knees are a little apart, not touching.
Focus on your lower back. Lift your lower back. Flatten your back again. This is like “Cat Cow” yoga pose.
How long? Do 20-40 pelvic tilts for comfort, usually about 2-3 minutes.
How frequent? Daily for comfort, or as needed. In labor, for 20 minutes.
Do this when…the lower back is tired or achy; or the hips are stiff. After balancing techniques to help
baby swing to the anterior, or during labor through several contractions for the same aim.
Don’t do this if… Wrists or knees are too weak or damaged. Use a cushion for your knees and lean over
a birth ball or soft chair so you aren’t resting on your wrists, if that’s better.
Note: It’s good to rest on your belly in child’s pose, on hands and knees, but don’t expect that pelvic tilts
will be the one technique to turn a baby. Solutions rarely work in isolation. Pelvic tilting works better with
contractions to turn baby. Do in pregnancy to keep your sacrum flexible and your spine comfortable!
Thanks to Penny Simkin, PT, who taught all of us doulas the importance of the Pelvic Tilt. And to my
sister, Kathy, who taught me this when I was 17 years old while she was helping me prepare for a natural
birth.
 Spinning Babies is the property of Gail Tully, CPM. For more
information on these techniques and pictures visit
www.spinningbabies.com

By the way, and this is a major point. Pelvic Tilts are not “Spinning Babies.” What I mean is, women will
say, Well, I did pelvic rocking and my breech baby didn’t flip. Or, “See, Kariminia’s study “Randomised
Controlled Trial of Effect of Hands and Knees Posturing on Incidence of Occiput Posterior Position at
Birth.” showed not difference in rates of fetal position after pelvic rocking. Duh. That’s why Spinning
Babies has 3 Principles, and we recommend “Balance” before “Gravity and Movement.” This technique
would be a gravity friendly technique using movement. Is it to change baby’s position? No, Pelvic tilts
(pelvic rocking) are to keep the spine loose(r) and help prevent the muscles and membraneous
attachements from back to pelvis from stiffening, or resisting free range of motion.

Activity 8: Rest Smart

Gravity-friendly maternal posture is the 2nd Principle of Spinning Babies. Here are some Rest Smart
suggestions for pregnancy. These postures can also be used in labor. Think of your belly as a hammock
and let the baby lie with his or her back settling into the hammock. Don’t “tuck your tail.” Pass the
flashlight test.
“Rest Smart” in positions that let your baby’s back settle in your “hammock.” While resting or while on
bed rest, make a little pillow nest to lay nearly on your tummy. Pillows hold your weight off the baby. Use
your breastfeeding pillow, curve your body pillow, or semi-inflate a swim doughnut to dip your belly in the
“nest.” It’s so comfy.
Sometimes you may want to just lay on either side. One hip is directly over the other, like a right angle.
Don’t lean back, at least not for long. Leaning back without support can give you a muscle cramp. Change
sides frequently for comfort and to help the uterus be a little more symmetrical.
Which side should I sleep on?
Going to sleep and/or waking on your left side seems to protect the well being of baby. You have little
control of which side you wake up on. You can learn to go to sleep on your left side. Then you will have
met the “and/or” going to sleep or waking on your left that was found to protect against unexplained still
birth (in a New Zealand study).
If your care provider asks you to avoid a position, ask them why. It may be that monitoring of the baby’s
heartbeat or your blood pressure shows that a particular position is not good for you at that
time. Changing positions may be good for the baby in general. Getting up to go to the bathroom one or
more times a night seems to be protective of baby’s well being, as noticed by the same New Zealand
researcher’s mentioned above.

Activity 9: Relax
Continue to relax the abdominal muscles and ligaments and move the pelvic joints. Relaxation doesn’t
only mean taking a deep breath. Breathing evenly and deeply is important. For good fetal positioning and
labor progress, the ligaments, joints and fascia (the membrane surrounding our muscles, organs and
bones) need to be relaxed and symmetrical.
What else you might like to do (if not daily, then regularly 3-6 times a week):

 Prenatal yoga
 Belly dancing
 Swimming
 Good upright postures (Rest Smart)
 Hoola-hooping big circles on an exercise ball
 Emotional resolutions: journaling, counseling, prayer, forgiveness…