According to my stats, I get many visitors each month searching for information on birthing bars. I assume they end up here because I mentioned using one in Bram's birth story. Since there are so many people interested in this, I thought I would share in a bit more detail.
A birthing bar (in my experience) is basically bar in the shape of an upside down 'U'. The ends attach to the sides of the bed and bottom of the U is suspended over the bed. When you are ready to deliver you grab hold of the bar and deliver the baby while in a squatting position.
My experience was not as enjoyable as it could have been due to the fact that my midwife continually had me hold onto the bar in an uncomfortable position. I was very comfortable holding the bar like the lady in the photo above. Squatting upright with the bar under my upper arms offered wonderful body support while relieving a lot of back pain and bearing down pressure. I HIGHLY recommend this position!
I however, was told to hold the bar with my hands, arms extended straight out with my body in a reclined position. For me this was extremely uncomfortable due to the fact that I was supporting my full pregnancy weight with exhausted arms. This did not work well for me.
But what worked for me may not work for you, and vice versa. The key is to make sure you have a doctor or midwife who will work with you to achieve as close to your desired delivery as possible. If we ever have any more children I would love to use a birthing bar again, my way. I think it is a wonderful birthing aid that, with gravity, helps to move the baby down and out more easily.
I've always wondered about those things. I'm sad to hear you had such a problem with your midwife. I enjoyed my second midwife a lot more than my first and I enjoyed the home birth a lot better than the birth center one. I think it all depends on what makes you comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI was in that position with my first but they used a birthing ball (yoga ball) for me to sit on and I didn't find it helpful even though many woman love it. Isn't it funny how everything is so different for each of us? : )
I've never used a birthing bar, but can totally see how one would be useful. I just couldn't get comfortable with my 1st, and endured back labor and sitting on the toilet through labor. It was the coolest place (temperature-wise) in the room and I could sit back just a bit. In fact, baby #1 was almost born there. My second brought me to my hands and knees and that was much better, but then she was delivered in a traditional position (on my part, not hers - she had her neck hyper-extended instead of her chin against her chest.) That explains why hands and knees was most comfortable for me. However, it was baby #3 that was really the best experience and I hope if I have more that they are a repeat. I used the back of the bed like a birthing bar. The bed was positioned in upright, as if I were sitting straight up, but I was turned around backwards. I was actually leaning over the top just a bit and sqwatting for her birth. The only downside was that I had to turn around to see her and hold her. As you know, a laboring and just birthed body feels like it weighs A TON! I think 3 people had to help turn me around. It was really the best a woman could ask for. However, if it had been a long labor or a lot of pushing, I wouldn't have been able to lean back against anything to catch my breath. Thus, a birthing bar may be my next choice.
ReplyDeleteOh, that would have been wonderful. I felt so passive...how can lying down work. It feels so natural to be upright....
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