Biomechanics of childbirth

Dear Editor,

With great interest, I read the paper published in your journal on 3 May, entitled ‘Bouncing your way to labour and birth using biomechanics and foetal optimal positioning’, authored by Roisin Lennon (2024).

While I appreciate the alternative approach and the effort to link biomechanics with fetal positioning to facilitate labour, I have concerns regarding the use and interpretation of the term ‘biomechanics’ in the context of the article. Also, there are misleading parts and a potential level of bias.

Biomechanics, as a discipline, involves the scientific study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms. It encompasses not only the techniques to measure forces that act upon and within biological systems, such as the human body, but also the analysis of the mechanics of living organisms and the application of engineering principles to and from biological systems. This can include studying how muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments work together to produce movement, and how external forces, such as gravity or the environment, impact biological functions (Knudson and Knudson, 2007; Robertson et al, 2013; Innocenti, 2018). If I were to give a simple definition of what the biomechanics of childbirth is, I would say that the biomechanics of childbirth refers to the study of the mechanical processes and physical forces involved during labour and birth. It encompasses how the birthing person's body and the fetus interact and adapt to facilitate childbirth.