Did you give birth on a birthing stool ?

[upandaway]

and if so did you find it

a) much quicker?

b) made you tear badly?

Despite both the above, I thought it was a fab way to give birth myself and wondered what you all thought!

not me personally but good friend used it for both her home births and swore by it.

I used one with dd1 when I wasn't getting anywhere on the bed. Really sped things up, and I didn't tear any worse than with my other children.

This is interesting.
It was my third birth and I am convinced its the best kept secret on the ward!!
Emkana it IS much quicker its true!!

It's slightly reminiscent of sitting on the loo though isn't it? That might put people off.

LOL !
But I had my Mum and Dh in room this time and managed to maintain my Dignity by not having the legs akimbo look in front of me mother!!

I sat on the toilet with DS1 - they even bought the gas and air in for me!

They dragged me off in the end as I was about to give birth into the toilet but hadnt realised. Didnt even know I was pushing

Thats kinda like a birthing stool? Have never seen one.

exactly Tamba ! only there's a hole at the bottom where the midwife hopefully catches the baby.
Think you're right about the not knowing you're pushing - gravity takes over and thats why I think its so much easier.

Yes - loved it. I was fully dilated by the baby was still "very high". MW wouldn't let me push (despite the fact that my version of teh 'textbook' is 10cm=push ). I had been standing/all fours throughout labour so birthing stool was last resort to help descend. It was fab. I found it so comfy (at least for a short while). My contractions were agony sitting down, but really good on the stool. She descended really well & I managed to push her out in about 3 contractions, which I gather is really good. I put it down to the fact that birth is like pooing, and a birthing stool is like a toilet.

I did tear quite badly though. "deep second degree", and quite extensive. They said it was probably because she shot out - the MW was even trying to push her back in at one point to slow her down LOL. Would highly recommend to anyone that is having an active birth.

2plus, it just felt really natural to me too. Much better than lying on my back pushing horizontally dont you agree?
Just dont understand why they dont encourage it more?

i used a birth stool during my first birth and it worked very well. since we won't have another child, we are now selling the birth stool (i bought it to avoid paying £60 to The Good Birth Company for a 5-week hire) - cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190153527538

i used one with my first as after an hour and a half of pushing she hadnt budged. It worked and she was born very quickly. had a second degree tear.

Hello all... any idea where I could get a (preferably) plastic birthing stool? I've tried the Good Birth Company but they don't seem to have stools any more.
Thanks

i nused one with dd1, had been lying on bed pushing for hour and a half and not getting anywhere so mw got it out. she was born very quickly afterwards. 2nd degree tear but didnt pant when head was coming out so prob that. personally prefered giving birth kneeling at the end of the bed with dd2 felt less exposed and prefered not being able to see what mw was doing. she was behind me whilst on birthing stool was right there kneeling in front of me.

they sound fantastic - does anyone know if most hospitals have some available?