For decades, Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Health nurses have guided families as they welcome new babies. Now, two of those nurses—Jeanna Duncan, MSN, RNC-OB, SpBCBP, and Cassie Aust, RN, CLC, SpBCBP—bring an added level of expertise to labor and delivery as Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s first Certified Birth Professionals.
Together, Duncan and Aust represent more than 40 years of combined experience in Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Health and Labor and Delivery department. Duncan joined Sheridan Memorial Hospital in 2001 after working in hospitals in Riverton and Lander. Aust began as a certified nursing assistant in the Women’s Health department in 2009 and has spent the last 16 years caring for laboring mothers while growing into her nursing career.
Their decision to become Certified Birth Professionals stemmed from a shared desire to strengthen their skills and better support both their patients and fellow team members.
“Women are so powerful, and sometimes we forget what our bodies are capable of,” Aust said. “When we work with the pregnant body and certain positions, balance, and relaxation, it helps support the labor process. I’m passionate about helping women feel strong and empowered during birth.”
Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s manager of Women’s Health and Pediatrics, Kim George, BSN, RN, RNC-OB, praised Duncan and Aust’s motivation to pursue certification, noting that it reflects a broader commitment to excellence within the department.
“I am so proud of Jeanna and Cassie for pursuing certification as birth professionals,” George said. “Their dedication to continuing education strengthens our labor and delivery services and reinforces our hospital’s commitment to excellence. Ongoing professional development allows our nursing team to grow as leaders, mentors and advocates for our patients, ensuring we deliver safe, compassionate and high-quality care.”
The certification, earned through Spinning Babies’ intensive program, is designed to facilitate empowered birth experiences by focusing on physiologic birth and teaching evidence-based techniques that support balance, positioning and movement during labor. Rather than viewing labor challenges as problems to be fixed, the Spinning Babies approach helps create space and alignment in the body to support the natural process of birth.
“It’s not that the baby is in the wrong position,” Aust explained. “It’s about helping them find their way into the world by working with the mother’s body.”
The certification process included extensive online coursework, followed by a four-day, hands-on training in Portland, Oregon, alongside midwives, doulas and nurses from across the country.
“It was fun to see everyone’s knowledge and experience all in one room,” Duncan recalled. “Everyone brought different experiences, and we learned so much from each other.”
Since earning their certification, both nurses have already utilized their new skills at the bedside and shared techniques with coworkers.
“It’s fun because everyone’s excited about it,” Aust said. “We troubleshoot together. We try different things.”
Sometimes, those small adjustments make a big difference.
“It’s really simple stuff,” Duncan added. “But it can prevent hours of labor interventions.”
Aust shared an example of a recent patient whose labor had stalled, leaving the patient feeling increasingly anxious. To help, Aust guided the patient through a side-lying release—a Spinning Babies technique designed to address pelvic imbalance and create space for the baby to move into a more optimal position, which can contribute to more efficient labor progression.
Aust also used a technique known as “The Jiggle,” in which a caregiver gently applies small, rhythmic movements to the patient’s lower back, hips or pelvis. This technique is used to help improve balance and relaxation in the pregnant body.
Duncan and Aust are the first Certified Birth Professionals at Sheridan Memorial Hospital.
“It’s something we’re really proud of,” Aust said. “There’s a movement toward helping women have the birth experience they’re hoping for in a way that feels natural and supported.”
Beyond physical techniques, the certification places strong emphasis on informed consent and patient autonomy.
“This didn’t just teach positioning,” Duncan said. “It reinforced that this is the mother’s body and her birth experience. We’re here to support her—not make decisions for her.”
For Aust, an empowered birth experience means ensuring mothers understand their options and feel confident in their choices.
“The training encouraged us to take the time to get informed consent and empower mothers to know that they can do this,” she said. “We’re here to guide and support them so the experience is one they ultimately feel good about.”
Duncan added that families can explore resources—such as spinningbabies.com—ahead of time, come prepared with questions and engage more deeply in their care.
For expectant families, this certification means their care team at Sheridan Memorial Hospital is committed to learning, growth and individualized, compassionate support.
“We’re excited about this,” Aust said. “We’re passionate about this work, and we will continue keep learning and be there for our patients.”