8/8/2018 0 Comments

The Doula of Birth Tools

By Camille Nyman, Doula and Childbirth Educator from Maryland

If doulas were a tool you could purchase on the internet, you'd be hard pressed to find anything that fit the bill better than a CUB!

For the uninitiated, a CUB (short for Comfortable Upright Birth) is a U-shaped, inflatable device intended for birthing people to use in a variety of ways. It's completely portable, wipeable, and versatile. Much like some of what doulas aim to do in the delivery room, the CUB encourages women to utilize a host of positions and pain relief techniques. It invites users to find the place and position that they are most comfortable birthing in, then meets them where they're at.

I first encountered the CUB when I was training as a certified childbirth educator. The concept amazed me- it was squishy like a birth ball, but more stable. It was portable and adjustable for varying heights. It functioned as something to sit on and something to lean over. It left room for a support person to come behind a laboring woman without being awkward. I was amazed! I immediately began searching for where this fascinating tool might already be in use in my local community. It was then that I discovered that almost no one in the USA was using the CUB yet. Disappointed, I returned to my 'usual' bag of tricks when attending births and didn't think much more about it.

A few years went by, and I ended up attending a rather long and difficult birth. Many tools and positions were attempted, and the CUB repeatedly kept coming to mind. I just kept thinking to myself how incredibly useful it would be in that situation.

One of the most frequent complaints I hear from my clients as they labor and/or push is that they feel unstable. The desire to find their 'anchor' in labor is visceral and surprising to them. Birth balls are fantastic, but don't fit the bill; for someone struggling to find their center of gravity, they can be unnerving. They also don't readily adjust for women of marked height differences. Who wants to purchase multiple balls for each room in a hospital? (Read: no one.) Birth balls can roll away. Peanut balls are amazing when you need to lean over something firm and comfy- but not so great for sitting on. Birth stools are excellent for getting you into a better position to squat supported during pushing but often my clients complain they hurt if you sit on them for more than a few minutes. The CUB answers every single one of these issues.

The CUB can be deflated and tucked in your trunk or birth bag, ready to go when you need it for your birth. It can be inflated to a size that feels right to you. It can be sat on, leaned over, shared with a partner. It's a jack of all trades in labor. If someone expresses a need for movement and flexibility but is anxious about not feeling 'stable' when doing so, the CUB is the solution.

The CUB is a tool that meets you where you're at; what's more quintessential 'doula' than that?

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Meet Our Authors

Sarah Geo Walton

Sarah is the owner of Bright Heart Birth Services and co-owner of the family boutique and support center The Nurturing Nest in Reno, Nevada. She is both a Birth and Postpartum Doula (DONA), a Certified GentleBirth Childbirth Educator, a trained Placenta Encapsulation Specialist and a Certified Birth Assistant.
Sarah grew up in an empowered do-it-yourself environment. Supporting others has always been, and continues to be, a large part of who she is. She shines best in moments of vulnerability and connection and has been known to do knee slides on the dance floor.

Emily Jacobson, Green Bay Doulas Wisconsin

Raised in Green Bay, Emily has been a labor and postpartum doula since 2011. In 2012, she added placenta encapsulation services to her list of expertise, in 2016 certified Newborn Care Specialist and 2017 Certified childbirth educator. Emily’s strength lies in supporting families through the childbearing years, in whatever manner they envision it unfolding. Prior to doula work, Emily worked as a nanny, respite provider and ABA behavioral therapist for 8+ years. She has extensive experience with special needs and children with spectrum disorders.

Shalini Wiseman, Chartered Physiotherapist in Women's Health & Continence

Shalini is the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist at the Cork Womens Clinic and works as a Senior Physiotherapist in Women’s Health and Continence at the Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH).
She has vast experience in treating a broad range of Women’s Health related conditions such as incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor dysfunctions, dyspareunia, and ante-natal and post-natal pelvic girdle dysfunction.

Alayna Spratley, Certified Childbirth Educator and Doula

Alayna is a certified childbirth educator through Lamaze and Birth Boot Camp and is also an Indie Birth community instructor. She helps families, community stakeholders, and professionals engage in meaningful conversations regarding birth equity, healthy and safe birth practices, and the benefits of shared decision-making! Alayna supports using a collaborative grassroots education and action model to ensure all people have a voice in improving birth outcomes for individuals, babies, and families. She steadfastly believes that peace on Earth begins with birth.

MeriBeth Glenn, Midwife in Pennsylvania

MeriBeth is from Pennsylvania. She has been involved in birth for nearly 20 years. Her jouney began as a doula, CBE and breastfeeding peer counselor. For the past 15 years MeriBeth has been a traditional midwife offering out-of-hospital birth. She has also had the honor of being a midwife teacher and mentor to several doulas and aspiring midwives. On a personal level, MeriBeth is a homeschooling mom to many blessings. Her personal birthing experiences gives her an important and valuable insight into birth and helping to support the natural process. It is her desire to see upright labor and birth postures become a normal and highly encouraged option for women in all birthing environments.

Sarah Newton, Doula in Virginia

Sarah is a certified Birth Doula and twice trained Postpartum Doula through DONA. Her practicing as a licensed massage therapist adds a lot to her doula experience which is now counting for more than 7 years. Sarah is passionate about guiding women and their families through pregnancy, childbirth, and the post-partum while attending all types of births as a doula.

Camille Nyman, Doula and Childbirth Educator in Maryland

Camille is a Certified Doula, Chidbirth Educator and Doula Agency Owner from northern Baltimore County, Maryland. She sits on board of two non-profit organizations working to improve birth. With a holistic perspective and emphasis on natural comfort measures, Camille is a passionate educator.

Gemma Wilson, Lamaze Childbirth Educator

Gemma is a Lamaze Childbirth Educator and Doula in Australia, owner of Birthability Birth Education. After the birth of her two children she saw and felt how amazing and empowering birth truly was so Gemma became a Doula as she wanted to help women to find their power. She is very passionate about providing support for women and their partners right at the time it is needed the most.

Michelle Hardy, Doula and ICEA Trainer in Wisconsin

Michelle has been working in the birth world for more than 15 years. She is a Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator and Breastfeeding Counselor. Michelle runs a non-profit organisation called Mothering The Mother as well as her private business Milwaukee Doulas. In addition to that she is a trainer with the ICEA.

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