Birthing stools are a very important tool in helping with the delivery of a new baby. According to an article in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, when squatting such as with a birthing stool, both transverse and antero-posterior diameters of the outlet are bigger. The squatting position has shown a minor angular change, but demands an outward movement of the lower part of the pelvic bones which leads to a separation of the two sides.
“Women throughout the ages preferred to be delivered with their trunks vertical and most delivery positions illustrated in historical texts indicate that an upright posture with abducted thighs has been the rule. There is evidence that such a position considerably increases the outlet measurement of the pelvis. Primitive delivery positions often accentuate the mechanical forces usually acting on the pelvis.”
Dorothy McKune describes on her midwifery blog how birthing stools are highly effective in the second stage of labor to aid in delivering the baby. McKune says that the benefits include a shortened second stage of labor (the pushing phase), reduced need of forceps, and a reduced need for an episiotomy.
“We all love birthing stools because we found them highly effective; they are a great place to rest while still using gravity to aid in labour. There was a time when birth was treated as a natural process rather than a medical condition. Before 1800, women gave birth seated in birth chairs or on stools and were helped along by midwives. Then societal changes in attitudes toward women and the practice of medicine made birthing a province of the male-dominated medical profession.”
Watch independent Midwife Virginia Howes discuss the use of a birth stool/ birthing chair for labor, and then keep reading to learn more about the birthing stool we have chosen from the many on the market.
Everything Birth is very proud of the gorgeous and useful birthing stools we have chosen to offer our birthing community. The birthing stools we offer are crafted with care along with a beautiful henna wood design. They also feature cut-outs so that the delivering mother has something to grasp onto. They are completely handmade by a father and daughter woodworking team under the guidance of a local midwife. They are available in three sizes. Though you may find other stools made from PVC or inflatables, the birthing stools we have chosen are made from poplar wood and are extremely strong and stable, while also being lightweight enough to easily carry. The entire stool is covered in protective coating to maintain sanitary conditions in order to be used again and again.
