Birth Class Show-and-Tell: The CUB

9/17/2018 0 Comments

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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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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