THE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to: 1. Describe the benefits of dynamic birth positions and movement during labour and birth. 2. Demonstrate key positions, including all fours, kneeling, side-lying, and use of the birth stool. 3. Recognise how dynamic movement between positions, rest, and activity can support physiological labour and improve outcomes. 4. Reflect on how to integrate these approaches into routine intrapartum care in diverse settings. 5. Identify strategies to support women’s informed choice and autonomy during birth.

THE PROCESS/ACTIVITIES:
This interactive 90-minute workshop will use active learning techniques to strengthen participants’ skills and confidence in facilitating dynamic birth positions and movement. After a short evidence-based introduction, the session will focus on practical demonstrations and hands-on exercises in small groups. Participants will practise supporting a range of upright and side-lying positions, while also exploring how movement between activity and rest can respond to women’s changing needs during labour. Case scenarios from the Midwize intervention in Uganda will be used to illustrate how these practices can be implemented in real-life settings, including in space-constrained environments.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:
Participants will engage in small-group role play and skill stations to practise supporting various positions, including how to assist partners and companions. Facilitators will provide feedback and guide peer learning throughout. Additional reading 1.Lindgren, Helena, et al. "The understanding of dynamic birth positions for women in labor andchildbirth–A hybrid concept analysis." Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare 42 (2024): 101039. 2. Blomgren, Johanna, et al. "Midwife-led quality improvement: Increasing the use of evidence-based birth practices in Uganda." Midwifery 139 (2024): 104188.