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Changing Birth on Earth: A midwife and nurse’s guide to using physiology to avoid another unnecessary cesarean
Looking for birth know-how in the cesarean era? Is your passion for birth at odds with the high intervention rate of your patients? The cesarean rate has been high for so long that new generations of nurses and midwives struggle to gain skills for spontaneous birth. Providers and parents alike are horrified by the rise in complications after routine birth. Skills for natural birth are lacking. In Changing Birth on The Midwife and Nurse's Guide to Using Physiology to Avoid Another Unnecessary Cesarean, author Gail Tully gives you a fresh look at the B.I.R.T.H. process. Here’s a simple and quick way for highly-trained professionals Avoid cesareans for posterior presentations and fetal malpositions Rediscover birth anatomy with techniques that assist labor progress Identify labor dystocia before baby’s heart rate shows distress Choose smarter birth positions to shorten pushing and reduce tearing Help your patients and colleagues and, together, stop the cesarean pandemic What Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering, Birthing from Within, and The Birth Partner are for parents, this book is for midwives and labor nurses. You’ll enjoy helping your patients and your colleagues’ patients with simple and effective techniques. They’ll think it’s magic, but you’ll know it’s physiology. Don’t let another birth end in unnecessary cesarean before you buy this book. ***This book also includes a link to attend our free online course for more understanding of the B. I. R. T. H. process.*** Details are included in the Thank You section.
- GenresParenting
424 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2020
163 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 7, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and I find it strange for people to rate this book 5 stars but not write even a short review? It makes me skeptical of those ratings. So, to lead by example, I am going to provide a review for those considering this book as part of their reading on birth.
In terms of issues not related to the content of the text, start here. If such things do not interest you skip down to where it says : ABOUT THIS BOOK
FIRST, this book is print on demand so it is more pricey that I would like for a paperback, even a solid one such as this.
SECOND, there are several areas where the wording or the editing make the reader have to go back and reread or simply guess what was intended as there is a lot to be improved in terms of grammar and mechanics, but for a book that was written and completed AND published since the beginning of COVID shut downs, a lot can be overlooked as simply being due to how fast the process took place.
THAT BEING SAID, it is clear that this book was a labor of love. From Tully's conversational approach, to the recognizing of the shift in self identification in terms of gender pronouns and the acknowledgement that despite having permission to share the ancient birth wisdom that she learned from the women of Mexico and Central America here in the States, that in today's hyper-sensitive social climate it can be viewed as cultural appropriation. Gail has truly tried to shed light and give credit where it is due in this book.
Now, about this book...
While parents to be, doulas and childbirth educators will learn a great deal from reading it, this book is not written for you. This book was written for labor and delivery nurses and midwives,. All content is directed at their scope of practice. I am a childbirth educator and doula, so while this book is not directed at my skill set it is a very thought provoking and uplifting read. Some effort is made to address the fact the many a doula will read this tome as a precursor or follow up to having taken a Spinning Babies workshop, thus minor references to how a doula might use this same information to inform how they support their clients and work with the care team. The moment that you read the what-if scenario in the introduction, you become drawn into the two competing schools of thought in maternity care in the US.
There is a lot to take in here. If you have never heard of Spinning Babies, this book with blow your mind. Either you will be completely awed and ready to try this out for yourself OR you will be so far out of your comfort zone that you may dismiss all of it as wishful thinking. But if you are aware, it will further solidify and clarify what you have already been digesting. What I have found most engaging is Gail's understanding that birth is not either/or. She recognizes that there is a place for the medical model of care and that "natural" birth may not always be the best option for every birthing person due to their own unique circumstances and likewise surgery may not always be an option for the same reasons. This book does not feel skewed in the sense that her way is the best way. Instead, this book reads like an invitation to challenge what you have been taught in school (or in your hospital's routines), try the techniques and protocols she is sharing and then decide for yourself. She is not trying to force the reader to see her side, rather she wants to show you how each step of her process aids the birth process and can help resolve common variations and progress complications without resorting force or surgery.
While the book's conversational tone can be somewhat rambling, it does so in an attempt to bring comfort to a reader whose previous way of thinking may be being challenged. It is not condescending or judgemental, but more an exercise in reflection of professional practices that may be doing more harm than good, because the goal of medicine is first to "fix the problem" or "avoid the emergency". With this debut novel, Tully advocates for a less-is-more approach to birth. She has coined the phrase "physiology before force" meaning first try to work WITH the birthing body before trying to do TO or FOR the birthing body with interventions, medications or procedures. There are some powerful moments, that I don't suspect she knew when she wrote them would resonate deeply with those who truly do this work because they care about birth, babies and birth givers.
One such phrase was along the lines of, "Many times a label of 'failure to progress' is more accurately described as a 'failure to support'." And that is the key to finding the wisdom in this book. Gail Tully is sharing how to return to seeing the birth process first from a place of care and support, then from a place of medicine. They are not mutually exclusive. Not one or the other. They are needed together in order to restore the idea that birth is a natural, physiological process, rather than an emergency waiting to happen.
My big take away from this book is that when we, the birth workers and space holders, align our in moment actions to the birth process of the individual in front of us, we get a chance to really tune in and provide the type of birth care all families deserve. Care the is respectful, resourceful and responsive to the needs of the mother-baby diad. This type of care reduces both physical and emotional birth trauma, reduces cesarean rates and reduces infant death rates.
Isn't that something all of us, whether natural minded or medical based, can get behind?
In terms of issues not related to the content of the text, start here. If such things do not interest you skip down to where it says : ABOUT THIS BOOK
FIRST, this book is print on demand so it is more pricey that I would like for a paperback, even a solid one such as this.
SECOND, there are several areas where the wording or the editing make the reader have to go back and reread or simply guess what was intended as there is a lot to be improved in terms of grammar and mechanics, but for a book that was written and completed AND published since the beginning of COVID shut downs, a lot can be overlooked as simply being due to how fast the process took place.
THAT BEING SAID, it is clear that this book was a labor of love. From Tully's conversational approach, to the recognizing of the shift in self identification in terms of gender pronouns and the acknowledgement that despite having permission to share the ancient birth wisdom that she learned from the women of Mexico and Central America here in the States, that in today's hyper-sensitive social climate it can be viewed as cultural appropriation. Gail has truly tried to shed light and give credit where it is due in this book.
Now, about this book...
While parents to be, doulas and childbirth educators will learn a great deal from reading it, this book is not written for you. This book was written for labor and delivery nurses and midwives,. All content is directed at their scope of practice. I am a childbirth educator and doula, so while this book is not directed at my skill set it is a very thought provoking and uplifting read. Some effort is made to address the fact the many a doula will read this tome as a precursor or follow up to having taken a Spinning Babies workshop, thus minor references to how a doula might use this same information to inform how they support their clients and work with the care team. The moment that you read the what-if scenario in the introduction, you become drawn into the two competing schools of thought in maternity care in the US.
There is a lot to take in here. If you have never heard of Spinning Babies, this book with blow your mind. Either you will be completely awed and ready to try this out for yourself OR you will be so far out of your comfort zone that you may dismiss all of it as wishful thinking. But if you are aware, it will further solidify and clarify what you have already been digesting. What I have found most engaging is Gail's understanding that birth is not either/or. She recognizes that there is a place for the medical model of care and that "natural" birth may not always be the best option for every birthing person due to their own unique circumstances and likewise surgery may not always be an option for the same reasons. This book does not feel skewed in the sense that her way is the best way. Instead, this book reads like an invitation to challenge what you have been taught in school (or in your hospital's routines), try the techniques and protocols she is sharing and then decide for yourself. She is not trying to force the reader to see her side, rather she wants to show you how each step of her process aids the birth process and can help resolve common variations and progress complications without resorting force or surgery.
While the book's conversational tone can be somewhat rambling, it does so in an attempt to bring comfort to a reader whose previous way of thinking may be being challenged. It is not condescending or judgemental, but more an exercise in reflection of professional practices that may be doing more harm than good, because the goal of medicine is first to "fix the problem" or "avoid the emergency". With this debut novel, Tully advocates for a less-is-more approach to birth. She has coined the phrase "physiology before force" meaning first try to work WITH the birthing body before trying to do TO or FOR the birthing body with interventions, medications or procedures. There are some powerful moments, that I don't suspect she knew when she wrote them would resonate deeply with those who truly do this work because they care about birth, babies and birth givers.
One such phrase was along the lines of, "Many times a label of 'failure to progress' is more accurately described as a 'failure to support'." And that is the key to finding the wisdom in this book. Gail Tully is sharing how to return to seeing the birth process first from a place of care and support, then from a place of medicine. They are not mutually exclusive. Not one or the other. They are needed together in order to restore the idea that birth is a natural, physiological process, rather than an emergency waiting to happen.
My big take away from this book is that when we, the birth workers and space holders, align our in moment actions to the birth process of the individual in front of us, we get a chance to really tune in and provide the type of birth care all families deserve. Care the is respectful, resourceful and responsive to the needs of the mother-baby diad. This type of care reduces both physical and emotional birth trauma, reduces cesarean rates and reduces infant death rates.
Isn't that something all of us, whether natural minded or medical based, can get behind?
January 28, 2024
I would give it a 4.5 if I could. Great content! My only complaint is the way the book is organized. I think a lot of the information would be more helpful in a chart rather than a list. I’ve definitely expanded my knowledge of physiological labor support since reading it. I’ve used a lot of the methods in it and have truly seen results! My favorite was a natural patient who had a 12 hour stall at 7cm. 😥 Her contractions were strong, coming every 2-3 minutes with pitocin on board. But no progress. She was so exhausted, but determined to have a natural delivery. She met her baby 4 hours after I started spinning babies techniques with her 👏 I was so happy for her. Others were expressing their doubt and banking on a cesarean. I’m excited to become more and more confident with Spinning Babies and empower mothers by changing birth on earth ❤️
April 7, 2022
Was given this book to read for the profession but when it started out with "woke" agenda ideology couldn't get past that part to read the rest. Women have worked so hard to be recognized and now they want to take that away with birthing person and chest feeding. Nope not doing it! Women give birth and breast feed....
September 23, 2025
If you can get past the verbiage, narcissism, and spinning babies sales pitch - there is valuable physiologic birth knowledge within this book. There is always more to learn, this book is not all encompassing knowledge of physiologic birth. One of the more nuanced bodywork adjustments mentioned in the book didn’t explain the technique or show photos, but instead told the reader to reference a physiology textbook. With different editing, this would have been a more approachable and beneficial book.
September 20, 2021
Gail is amazing. I love the way her mind works when it comes to anatomy and moving a baby through the pelvis. This book is hard to follow however. It changes direction in the middle of a section. Sometimes I had to re-read paragraphs or pages cause I just couldn’t figure out what she is trying to get across. It’s not set out like a “how to guide” it’s almost like theory or spirit. I love that she is sharing her wisdom, I just would have enjoyed it more if it was more of a guide.
June 12, 2022
الكتاب مشجع جدا ويطرح فكرة ان جسد الاثنى خلق جاهز للولادة الطبيعيه
احببت جدا اصرارها على اهمية التواصل العاطفي بين الممرضه والام
وايضا اهمية الساعه الاولى بعد الولاده وال skin to skin
ولكن اعتقد انه فعلا كتاب للعاملين بالمجال الصحي فبعض المصطلحات كانت صعب علي فهمها
ولكن مع ذلك هنالك ارشادات اظن انني ساجربها خلال الولاده
احببت جدا اصرارها على اهمية التواصل العاطفي بين الممرضه والام
وايضا اهمية الساعه الاولى بعد الولاده وال skin to skin
ولكن اعتقد انه فعلا كتاب للعاملين بالمجال الصحي فبعض المصطلحات كانت صعب علي فهمها
ولكن مع ذلك هنالك ارشادات اظن انني ساجربها خلال الولاده
May 19, 2021
I liked this book because I’ve done the spinning babies training about six years ago. I don’t know how someone who never did the training would find it. Love Gail Tully’s tone and viewpoint. It’s refreshing to read something written by someone who is so aware of the body.
November 2, 2021
might buy the physical copy as well
This excites me as a labor and delivery nurse. I’m going to dig through the website to get visuals of the things discussed and hope to attend a workshop within the next year.
This excites me as a labor and delivery nurse. I’m going to dig through the website to get visuals of the things discussed and hope to attend a workshop within the next year.
January 23, 2023
A great book for birth workers (RNs, MDs, doulas etc…) to learn more about anatomy, tissues, tensegrity and how to address labor stalls. Will definitely be referencing this with my patients during labor.
July 23, 2024
Amazing!!! This book is so helpful and has already helped me get patients the vaginal birth they hoped for when a c-section started to become a real possibility!
May 15, 2025
J'ai lu le livre surtout dans l'optique que je suis infirmière en obstétrique pour me donner des outils. Présentement je suis enceinte et ça peut quand même m'être utile pour mon accouchement. Pour le grand public, probablement que c'est assez lourd et complexe pour avoir des solutions mais pour les infirmières, médecins, même doula ça peut être vraiment bénéfique de comprendre tous les concepts de la physiologie de la naissance ainsi que les multiples solutions à faire dans certaines situations. Gail a très bien su l'écrire. certains passages sont assez complexes, alors il faut être bien réveillé hihi. mais je pense que son message passe très bien à travers son livre : réduire le taux de césarienne, raccourcir le temps de travail. Et tout ça va permettre d'augmenter le taux de satisfaction des mères je pense.
November 10, 2025
I was expecting more of a guide… if this then do this, if station is this do this. Not so much. A bunch of stories I had to dig through to gain a small bit of information to include in my daily practice. I have found other ‘guides’ to help me guide mothers and babies to a safe vaginal birth I work with regularly.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews