About all workshops
What are the workshops like? Gail Tully, The Spinning Babies Lady, offers workshops for parents and birth workers online and in person
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- Spinning Babies
- Belly Mapping and painting
- Resolving Shoulder Dystocia
- Breech Update (for the public and/or providers)
Descriptions, CEU information and cancellation/refund policies below.
Descriptions
Spinning Babies Workshop
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Optimal Foetal Positioning (OFP) -how fetal position effects labor. - Compare OA & OP labors to signs of "Baby really won't fit"
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Spinning Babies for the doula scope of practice

- Spinning Babies techniques
- When interventions are necessary
- Useful electronic handouts (print and bring your handouts)
- ACNM and MEAC CEUs (DONA and Cappa accepts these, too), 7-hours
- Workshop hours: 8:30-5:00 pm
Spinning Babies goes Beyond Optimal Fetal Positioning with the 3 Principles of Balance, Gravity and Movement. We look at the effects of posterior position on pregnancy and labor, and practice activities for pregnancy comfort, optimal fetal positioning, cesarean avoidance and labor progress. A new view at easing birth.
The morning explores possible causes of fetal malpositioning, what to do in pregnancy to over come such causes. We often have a pregnant model to help us see the techniques in action.
The afternoon explores effects on labor and involves analyzing labor patterns and practicing several techniques for such patterns.
Pictures above, Dr. B's office by Atlanta's IntheMoment; Julie by Teresa Howard, Atlanta, GA; Claudia and Muneera by www.patiencesalgado.com birth and soul photography in Richmond, VA
These workshops may interest doulas, childbirth educators, prenatal yoga instructors and prenatal bodyworkers. Midwife level classes are further down the page.
Spinning Babies Workshop Labor Progress through Fetal Positioning (7 hrs, ACNM has awarded .7 CEUs)
Belly Mapping, Empowering a Mother to Identify Fetal Positioning (1 ½ hours) Belly Mapping (1 ½ -2 ½ hours) includes Belly Painting and community building. How to Belly Map for parents and providers. This is a fun session for all!
Breech Update (only the 3 hour morning session is open to pubic, the 2 hrs in the pm continues for baby catchers only) Breech Update as a morning session or a separate evening session open to everyone as it doesn’t involve hands-on practice. Through slides and video explore current practice changes, birth, and parent and provider interviews. An uplifting and powerful message on the upcoming revolution in breech birthing.
Belly Mapping



Belly Mapping An evening Belly Mapping and Painting presentation for parents. This fun and photogenic evening delights pregnant parents and gives them a unique tool for prenatal bonding and proactive childbirth preparation. The day-time Spinning Babies participants may stay to lead couples through the pregnancy Balancing activities learned that morning. Belly Mapping follows Spinning Babies in the same location on the night before or evening after (no packing up of props between workshops). Spinning Babies participants may attend Belly Mapping without cost.
Gail Tully, developed Spinning Babies and Belly Mapping to empower parents and professionals. The Spinning Babies workshop is for the provider.
90-minutes. This is a 30-minute presentation for parents (and their doulas) on how to find their own fetal position with the 3-steps of Belly Mapping. One hour of painting, with tips on fetal positioning for the needs of those present.
This is a fun add-on to the Spinning Babies Workshop, 6:30-8:30 on the same evening. The Spinning Babies participants, our new "Baby Spinners," will be there to help parents try out the pregnancy "balancing" activities and learn about the local birth scene.
Personal attention, Q and A, palpation and explanations. Possible chance for women to have their babies painted on their bellies as time allows (15 minutes per belly is typical). Belly Mapping is only offered in conjunction with other workshops when Gail is traveling, or can be found locally in Mpls/St. Paul at some of the Baby Fairs or at Blooma Yoga.
(An intro to Belly Mapping for providers is included in the Spinning Babies Workshop. Painting is not offered in the Spinning Babies Workshop. )
Check out the Belly Mapping Workbook.
Belly Painting
Belly painting isn't officially part of Belly Mapping, but mothers are requesting that it be!
Once a mother has finished Belly Mapping you can apply what you see on her Belly Map to paint the actual position of the baby on a pregnant woman's abdomen. Its a fun bonding experience for the mother - and the painter!
Gail also offers Midwifery level workshops:
- Resolving Shoulder Dystociaas a 3-hr, or 5-hour option.
- Breech Update for Midwives, 5 hour, with hands-on practice in the afternoon.
- Electronic handouts are common. If you receive them in your email, please print them for your use. If electronic handouts are provided, then they will not be available to you at the workshop. This arrangement helps Gail keep the costs down and reduces travel stress. The handouts will be available to students online soon.
Either workshop may follow a Spinning Babies Workshop in a 3-hour version. Or, if you want both, follow Spinning Babies with RSD and Breech Update as a full second day for baby catchers (birth care providers).
Resolving Shoulder Dystocia (3 hours, 3 MEAC CEUs, OR 5 hours, 5 CEUs) lecture, video clips, and practice with a doll and manikin, or doll and pelvic box. From Gaskin to FlipFLOP, McRoberts and PAC Pull, find how to pick the right technique for each type of shoulder dystocia. Dress comfortably because we practice on the floor.Sorry, no doulas or parents at RSD. The 5 hour includes hands on practice.
Resolving Shoulder Dystocia
5 hours, 5 MEAC CEUs For midwives and L & D nurses. Doctors welcome! Removing the fear from Shoulder Dystocia with physiological solutions suited to the female upper body strength. Traditional and current methods of resolution. FlipFLOP and PAC Pull, McRoberts and Suprapubic. Learn why the arm wraps around a baby's back and how to get the posterior arm out without breaking bones. Reduce brachial plexus and other injuries. You will learn and you will succeed! My practice models are old, but are enhanced with a foam pelvic insert that adds a touch of reality. Five types of shoulder dystocia and you will learn to recognize them and resolve each type as well as see real birth footage.
When Gail travels to offer a Spinning Babies Workshop to doulas and childbirth educators (we're all childbirth educators on some level), then she likes to gather with the local midwives and present this workshop. This is appropriate for out-of-hospital or in-hospital birthing. RSD is not appropriate for parents, doulas or other non-providers because learning this and then not being able to use these more gentle, though at times more effective methods, at a shoulder dystocia is reported by doulas to be emotionally traumatic. See aspiring apprentice Sara's request on http://spinningbabies.com/spinning-babies-and/resolving-shoulder-dystocia
Check out the Resolving Shoulder Dystocia Video
"Shoulder dystocia isn't so intimidating anymore!" - says Salli G. midwife, and online RSD student
Breech Update for Midwives
The basics of physiological breech birthing. Signs of a safe breech vs. signs of dystocia, when is it too late for transport, upright breech benefits, resolving breech shoulder dystocia and head entrapment. Does “hands-off-the-breech” really mean us? When presented as a full day class, the morning may combine with the public breech class. The afternoon for providers includes practice (low tech!) and in depth discussion of complications. Gail has learned from many breech experts all over the world in classes in 3 continents. She has handled the emergencies she presents in her class. 5 hrs, ACNM has awarded .5 CEUs.
A 3-hr RSD or breech update can be booked for 6:30 pm of the same date of Spinning Babies. Whereas, 5-hr RSD or Breech Update can be booked for the following day (not previous) and in the same location of the Spinning Babies Workshop. Hosting can be by the same or another sponsor. BEST option? Spinning Babies first, and RSD and Breech next!
Canceling a workshop when you are at a birth
Babies?
Commonly asked questions about the Spinning Babies Workshops
Q: How do I get a workshop in my area? A: Please read my page on sponsoring a workshop.
Q: Where is the next Spinning Babies Workhop? A: Please look at my events calendar.
Q: What does the workshop cost? A: Prices vary with location, venue, and sponsoring agency. Please look at the events calendar and/or the registration link for the cost.
Q: I received electronic handouts in my email. Will there be printed handouts for me to pick up at the workshop? A: No, if you received electronic handouts in the email, the workshop sponsor will NOT also provide printed handouts. Please print a set of handouts to bring with you.
Q: Is there certification involved? A: You will get a certification of attendance, its not like being a certified Spinning Babies presenter or certified "Baby Spinner" however... That level of knowledge is much too involved to learn in one workshop, or even a week. Your certification of attendance is proof of the contact hours for the workshop. If you are certified by NARM, or your certifiying organization will accept the ACNM and MEAC CEUs, such as DONA or CAPPA, then you may apply these contact hours to your recertification. Those of you yet to certify as a CPM midwife or doula can only use the certification of attendance as part of your curriculum Vitae (CV).
Q: Is the workshop the same as the website? A: No. But you will recognize the terms and techniques.
Q: May I bring my baby/child? A: Babies under 3 mo.s are fine to attend.
