9/28/2018 0 Comments

Feminist Birth Positions

By Alayna Spratley, Certified Childbirth Educator and Doula from Cleveland, Ohio

I believe that labor and birth is a transformational feminist experience. This milestone event should be empowering and the birthing individual should feel supported, validated, and respected by her expert care team. Unfortunately, my feminist birthing sentiment isn’t the cultural norm in the United States. In fact, according to Evidence Based Birth’s State of Maternity Care (2018), the sad reality is that 57% of birthing individuals are confined to the bed once admitted to the hospital and 68% of people remain in a back-lying position to give birth. Neither one of these routine practices are supported by evidence and both can feel disempowering and be potentially harmful to both mother and baby.

But you don’t have to give birth in a recumbent position out of routine practice or for the convenience of your care provider! Both the World Health Organization and the best evidence we currently have recommends that individuals birth in an upright position or in a way that is most comfortable for them. I like to refer to upright birth as feminist birth because it is the birthing individual’s choice as to which position is optimal.
Here are some valuable statistics and more information about the benefits of feminist birth positions:

Feminist Birth Positions To Consider:
Get off your back and birth in a position that is most comfortable for you!

Squatting: Birth in a squatting position can increase pelvic space by about 30%. It may be helpful to have your partner, a birth stool, or the CUB provide support and stability.
Standing: Pushing in a standing position, with or without the support of your birth partner or doula, is helpful because gravity serves as a natural assistant to help baby be born.
Hands and Knees: Both your arms and legs support your body weight in this position. It also enables your belly to hang away from your body, potentially reducing pressure or pain on your lower back and providing more oxygen-rich blood to baby.

Feminist Birth Positions Resources:
Learn more about research that supports upright birth and resources to help you achieve a feminist birth!

Evidence Based Birth has a ‘Signature Article’ all about the history of birth positions and research supporting upright birthing positions.
Comfortable Upright Birth (CUB) is an inflatable labor and birth support support that you can use in a variety of ways during labor and birth. You can find helpful resources, information, and research that supports upright birth positions with the use of the CUB on their website.

You can also read this blog here

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9/21/2018 0 Comments

Doulas and Birth Tools, part 2

By Sarah Newton, Certified Doula from Richmond, Virginia

The CUB Comfortable Upright Birth is an amazing tool for birth professionals, and is now being offered within the United States. As a Doula for over 7 years, I am always looking for good tools for my birthing bag. Ones that are really effective and are small enough to carry with me into a birth. The CUB definitely fits into this category.
It has the capacity to replace 3-4 other tools, which makes it an excellent tool for birth doulas to take with them. I am looking forward to using this, and testing its ability to help my clients.
I have read up on some of the statistics for birthing upright. It’s pretty awesome that birthing in an upright position can encourage these kind of birth statistics. Including the following:

Allows for 28-30% more space in the pelvis
Contractions can be more effective in an upright position
23% less likely to require medical intervention
Baby is 54% less likely to become distressed
29% reduction in c-section rates
Shorter lengths of labor
21% reduction in episiotomy rates
Less need for an epidural

The CUB can give you more stability with it being stationary, so I can imagine that the mother would feel safer on it. The safer a woman feels when in labor, the easier it is for the body to relax. And a relaxed body allows those contractions to work more efficiently at opening the cervix and bringing that baby down.
Whatever I need to do as a doula to help create a good environment to labor in, good coping skills, position changes, and support, I do it. For me, I definitely have to think about what I teach, what skills I bring, and the tools as well. A fully stocked doula bag is worth its weight in gold. Sometimes you never use anything in your doula bag, other times you use EVERY single item from it. That being said, make sure you have good things in your bag!

Variety

The CUB allows you to use a variety of positions to labor in all while being supported, allowing you to sit on it alone, or even with the presence of a partner. It has the ability to help a laboring woman with an epidural get into a good position as well, to utilize gravity the best. You can squat with it as well, but still have something to lean on. On all fours is an excellent position, as well as on one knee. It also can mimic sitting on a toilet, which is a common place for homebirthing mothers to labor.

It has the added benefit of being used during pregnancy for comfort, and helping with position of baby. This is above and beyond its benefits during labor. The use of one item having so many benefits all wrapped up together is phenomenal. I am beyond excited to utilize the CUB when it arrives and I can put it into practice with my doula clients. There are no negatives to the use of such a tool!

You can also read this blog here

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9/17/2018 1 Comment

Birth Class Show-and-Tell: The CUB

By Alayna Spratley, Certified Childbirth Educator and Doula from Cleveland, Ohio

As a certified Lamaze Childbirth Educator, Birth Boot Camp Instructor, and local community educator with Indie Birth, I serve Cleveland, Ohio families by providing independent childbirth education courses and early parenting workshops in my community. One of my favorite classes to teach is the Comfort Measures for Labor Workshop. This class is designed for expectant parents and we explore a myriad of evidence-based natural pain relief strategies, tips, tools, and techniques to help the birthing person stay calm, comfortable, and confident during labor and delivery. I often refer to this workshop my “Birth Show-and-Tell” class, because I bring a few birth tools with me and discuss their various uses and benefits. Couples enjoy learning how to use tangible tools that can support them throughout labor.

One of my favorite “Show-and-Tell” tools is the CUB. The CUB, an acronym for Comfortable Upright Birth, is an award-winning inflatable support cushion that can be used throughout labor to facilitate an easier, shorter, and a more enjoyable birth experience. You are probably thinking, “Seriously!?! How exactly can a giant, blow-up pillow make birth less painful and shorter?” The answer isn’t magic but science. The CUB’s innovative design and intended use are based on the best evidence-based birth practices including staying upright and mobile during labor. The CUB is a hybrid birth stool and birth ball all-in-one. Its simple, yet practical design combines both traditional birthing knowledge with modern technology, research, and convenience.

Here are just a few of the reasons I love the CUB, demonstrate its uses in my childbirth education classes, and highly recommend it to birthing families:

Use and benefits of the CUB are evidence-based, meaning it is backed by research.
CUB provides a sense of autonomy and control to the birth person and their partner.
It is lightweight, simple to set-up, portable, and easy to clean.
CUB can be used both at home and in a hospital setting.
It is an ideal tool for people who desire an unmedicated birth.
CUB can be used by individuals who receive an epidural, and its use can help keep birth “normal” by reducing the use of other interventions.
You can labor and birth your baby on the CUB.
The CUB’s wide base provides both fantastic stability and comfort.
Partners feel really confident about supporting their significant other through birth with the assistance of the CUB.

THE BIRTHING PERSON IS SUPPORTED BY HER CUB, MIDWIFE, AND PARTNER IN THE HOSPITAL, WHILE CTG MONITORING IS PERFORMED.

If you are interested in learning more about this awesome birth tool, its benefits, or purchasing your very own CUB, please visit CUB’s website and if you would like to learn about the CUB in-person, consider attending one of our upcoming Comprehensive Childbirth Education courses or Labor Comfort Measures workshop.

This blog can also be read at https://naturalbirth.us/birth/birth-class-show-and-tell-cub/

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9/3/2018 0 Comments

Doulas and Birth Tools

By Sarah Newton, Certified Doula from Richmond, Virginia

As a doula of 7 years, I am always looking for new “tools” to have with me in my doula bag. Specifically, ones that will benefit my clients and help them have a better, smoother birthing experience.

Tools I have utilized are:

Birthing Ball: These are beneficial, but do not have as much versatile uses. Some negatives are that they are often unstable, it’s not a once size fits all, and it can’t really be used when a client has opted for medication for pain relief.
Peanut Balls: Excellent for opening the pelvis when a client is laying down, as well as leaning over in knee/chest position. Negatives are that you can’t sit on them, or utilize when pushing.
Birthing Stools: Great for laboring in an upright position, but I have yet to find one that was comfortable for sitting on for more than a few minutes.
CUB: you can use in place of a ball, peanut or birthing, and a stool. It opens the pelvis, helps position of mother and baby, brings pain relief, and is more comfortable then any of the above three.
I stumbled upon a Facebook post about the CUB in the last month or so, and was very intrigued by it. Since almost always have used some kind of device that would help progress labor, lessen pain, etc. at births there was some definite interest in how the CUB could be of use. I immediately started doing some research on it so I could learn as much as possible about its benefits and uses.

Discovery
Here is what I discovered: the CUB, or comfortable upright birth, is an inflatable birthing tool. Shaped similar to a birthing stool, but infinitely more comfortable and allows you to labor in a variety of positions. It also has the benefits of being portable, easily cleaned, and much more stable during those long labors.

I am also loving that this could be utilized as much with a client who had an epidural as one who was having a natural delivery. Having one birthing tool that can do both is great for me since my birthing bag can only hold so many goodies. I am a supporter of anything that is low intervention and allows my client to deliver in the best, and safest way possible. I also want tools that can help clients feel more comfortable, more stable, and with less pain.

The CUB really does fit the bill, and then some. It’s the equivalent of a birthing ball, peanut ball, and birthing stool all rolled up into one.
And comes in a few lovely shades of color!

Honestly, I really liked the idea of being one of the first people in my area to utilize this amazing tool. And hopefully be able to bring it into any and all locations I am working with clients at. If you only have room for one tool, this would be it.

You can read up on all it’s benefits here:
http://www.the-cub-usa.com

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CUB Blogs

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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Feminist Birth Positions

Doulas and Birth Tools, part 2

Birth Class Show-and-Tell: The CUB

Doulas and Birth Tools

CUB Blogs

Meet Our Authors

Sarah Geo Walton

Emily Jacobson, Green Bay Doulas Wisconsin

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

Alayna Spratley, Certified Childbirth Educator and Doula

MeriBeth Glenn, Midwife in Pennsylvania

Sarah Newton, Doula in Virginia

Camille Nyman, Doula and Childbirth Educator in Maryland

Gemma Wilson, Lamaze Childbirth Educator

Michelle Hardy, Doula and ICEA Trainer in Wisconsin

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