Anyone with experience using a birthing stool? - Page 2

[sunflowergrrl]

I always knew I wanted to try the birthing stool since it opens up your pelvis by 30%, and my legs are usually too tired to squat on their own. When I first tried it with DD's HB, I felt too "upright" and got off immediately. I tried other positions and pushed for 2 HOURS but DD wouldn't come down. Finally I had an "a-ha" moment and wanted the birth stool again, but I had DH sit down on the floor in front of me, facing away from me, and I leaned/hugged onto his back. It was MUCH more comfortable than the first time I tried. Baby descended much quicker (20 min) than in all the other positions I tired pushing in for 2 HOURS! (DD was a 9 pounder with a big head that didn't mold for some reason)

When DD started crowning, I slowed down my pushing, and no tears :-)

I am a big fan of the birthing stool - it was the wooden one. Oh, and by the way, I am 5'2" too :-)

[marrymeflyfree]

Originally Posted by jljeppson

Both times, though, it ripped the momma out the ying-yang.

During my older daughter's birth, when I was really feeling her descend dramatically, the midwife suggested that I get off the stool before the actual birth. She said she'd have no control over my perineum...I heeded her advice, and ended up with no tears at all despite the fists that came out with her head! Given the power with which I felt her coming down on the stool, I imagine I might have torn mightily had I birthed her there.

[possum]

Are you planning on an assisted birth? If so, will your MWs provide a birth stool?
I used a bent aluminum one that my midwives provided. One of them dropped it off at my house when she came by to check on me. I thought it was the most horrific looking thing until she suggested it hours later after I'd been pushing for about 1/2 an hour. I had a long labor and was quite tired by the time it came to push. My mom and husband helped me squat through some of the pushing, but it was actually very nice to relax onto that stool and let it support me in a very OPEN position for the last few minutes of pushing. I had a very small tear but doubt it had much to do with the birth stool. The MWs actually did perineal massage with arnica oil while I was on the birth stool, and my son came rather gently and slowly.
Melinda

[Mama2Kayla]

Originally Posted by jtrt

My midwife brought one to our second homebirth and I HATED it. Made contractions excruciating and the rectal pressure unbearable. Just my experience....FWIW, I am a walker and a stander in labor. Can't lay down, sit or squat. I can't think of a single nice thing to say about that stool.....

Amy

My feelings for the stool are very similar to yours . I sat on it for like 5 minutes and it made everything way too intense. My favorite position was rocking on all fours draped over my birthing ball. I was terrified of having a posterior babe so I spent a lot of time in that position the last few weeks of my pregnancy

[Peppamint]

Originally Posted by jljeppson

While apprenticing, I saw a birthing stool used twice. Don't know why it was used for the first, but the second time it was for an extended pushing phase (high baby) and worked like a charm. Both times, though, it ripped the momma out the ying-yang. This thing was metal pipes with some styrofoam covering and is not the kind I will EVER use again. Supposedly the wooden ones are really nice; I'm going to see if I can get my sister to make one for me.

One midwife told me the DeBy, esp if the mom is positioned on it in a certain way, is like the midwife's vacuum extractor.

I very rarely see perineal lacerations with the birth stool (or at all for that matter), that includes births with three different midwives, birth stools made by three different people and the babies I've caught as an apprentice.

[gabeyho]

What a great conversation! I birthed DD2 at home on the toilet, as wthat was the most comfortable/natural position to me at the time, and it's pretty much the same thing as a birth stool. My mw didn't have a birth stool, but ever since then I have always wanted one. The feeling of sitting on one is pretty much how the delivery beds at the hospital are designed when they are broken down, although I much preferred the toilet seat! I think a nice comfy wooden one would be awesome, but the cost is really not worth it, and if I have to I will use the toilet again this time....although I have to agree with pp's that my dd2 was the one that had me sore and with minor tears, compared to my last two births which were upright/squatting and more controlled.

[mokey4]

I pushed my daughter out on a birthing stool, and it appeared to me like in a dream. I had no idea that my MW brought it along (I meant to birth in the pool), but when it came time to push the baby out that's what helped. I think the stool helped... I pushed her out in one big push after a couple of puny ones that did nothing. I never had the urge to push, and her fetal heart tones were decelerating and had actually disappeared, so it was something of an emergency. But it all ended well, she was fine, she was just hanging out in the birth canal giving us a scare . It would have been harder without the stool.

[amandaleigh37]

I never thought about using a stool, I always imagined giving birth on all fours. Well I was pushing that way for a while, and my midwife mentioned she had a birth stool in her car - so I said I'd try it. It was GREAT! Pushing was easier, more efficient, and after I moved to the stool he was out in a matter of minutes. I loved it

[wannathird]

I did

Hello i used one. http://www.preciousarrows.com/

i believe they have them cheaper.

this is my birth video you can see me using one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKfYg77XxAs