whats a birthing stool? is it a cross between a milking stool and a potty?! seriously....

[evilstepmom]

have heard about these... really dont know what they are but apparently some swear by them...?surely description cant be right....?!!

Picture \link{http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.makersgallery.com/friedlander/pix/bf39.jpg&imgrefurl=www.makersgallery.com/friedlander/midwifery.html&h=373&w=572&sz=15&tbnid=WLcZWdO-MGShNM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=131&hl=en&start=2&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522birthing%2Bstool%2522%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff\here}. It's like a loo seat on legs, usually with a bowl underneath for catching the gunk.

They used to be used in the olden days to help with labour because you sit lots it makes it quicker and i believe one of the queens used them before doctors stoppped using them.

Used one for 2 of my labours - found it fab. Not the most confortable to sit on for any length of time (get a nice red mark on your bottom!) but it really opens up your pelvis. Would advise you sit on it when you really feel the need to push. When i used it DH sat behind me so I could lean back on him. Was great for home birth as it caught all the mess in the tray!!! :)

Did you hire it? If so where from

My midwife offered me the use of one when I had ds1, but I was in a bit of a state and told her not to be so stupid as my baby would land in a bucket looking back it seems like a great idea. Check if your maternity unit has one as mine did.

friend of mine used it for her two home births and swore by it - said it was fab!!

it's a normal but v. low, small stool (such as you can get in B & Q)- but about 5 x the price!

Will a normal chair not do the same, the ones on the link seem different to the ones i had seen in older pictures.