Doulas and Birth Tools, part 2

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!

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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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