Using the deBy Birth Support can aid your clients in the following ways:

Increases the mobility and size of the pelvis:

  • Pelvic Outlet:
    • When the woman’s trunk bends, the sacrum turns on its axis and the pelvis is opened from behind, increasing the pelvic outlet up to 1-1/2 centimeters.
    • Abduction and flexion of the legs result in traction which increases the distance between the two Ischial tuberosities and Ischial spines, again increasing the pelvic outlet.
  • Coccygeal bone:
    • When the upper part of the sacrum, connected to L5, is moved forward, the lower part stretches itself backwards. This way the coccygeal bone can be stretched or flattened.
  • Pubic arch:
    • Abduction and flexion of the legs cause traction on the symphysis pubis (relaxed by the hormones of pregnancy) so that the pubic arch becomes wider.
  • Pelvic brim:
    • Because of the flexibility of the pelvis when laboring women assume the vertical, forward, unobstructed position, the pelvic brim can adjust better to the baby’s head. This brings about an early turning of the head and promotes the baby’s rotation in the birth canal.

Favorable effect on contractions — no wasted energy!

  • During a contraction, the uterus extends itself, lifts itself, and comes forward. It becomes a continuation of the axes of the pelvis so that the baby’s head can effectively push onto the cervix.
  • In the vertical-forward position, unlike the supine or semi-sitting position, gravity does not counteract the uterus moving forward during a contraction: it helps! In this way, gravity indirectly strengthens the contractions and therefore promotes the dilation of the cervix.

Relieves compression of the pelvis and great vessels.

  • Everyone knows the adverse effects on mother and child when horizontal positions allow the womb to rest on the inferior vena cava: poor oxygenation of both mother and child. The vertical-forward position, as allowed by the deBy Birth Support, makes this effect a thing of the past, while it promotes the expansion of the pelvis described above.
  • Samples of umbilical blood for pH, pCO2, and pO2 are more favorable for babies after vertical labor and birth.

Enhances pushing naturally.

  • In horizontal positions, the final part of the birth canal bends upwards, and women are expected to push their babies out against gravity and against the “mountain” of the pelvic floor and perineum. Downwards, with gravity, is the line of least resistance.
  • In the vertical-forward position allowed by the Support, women push naturally, and promote the baby’s descent with less time and effort on the laboring woman’s part.
  • With the laboring woman fully and safely supported, practitioners can stop giving intricate instructions on “how to push” and attend to putting hot compresses on her perineum, praising her efforts, noting her psychological concerns, and preparing for the birth.

Less need for perineal massage and episiotomy.

  • Because the baby’s head is continuously placing gentle pressure on the perineum throughout the second stage, the perineum stretches over time naturally, and the only preparation needed is hot compresses to help soften the perineum before and during crowning. No perineal massage is necessary when the baby’s head is allowed to emerge slowly with the gentle force of gravity. The practitioner need only support the baby’s head as it emerges and makes its external rotation just prior to the birth of the shoulders.
  • As a matter of fact, touching the taut perineum as the head crowns is not recommended, as in this position, touching can actually cause spasm of the tissues and a tear. Only hot compresses and the pressure of the baby’s head are needed.

IMPORTANT: Once the baby’s head and body are being born, bring the baby up for mom to hold. By bringing the baby up you follow the pelvic curve of Carus. By doing this maneuver, instead of letting the baby being born straight down towards the floor, you’ll prevent tearing of the perineum greatly.

  • The need for episiotomy is limited to emergency situations only (good visualization for this procedure is provided by the open design of the Support) and the incidence of perineal tearing is greatly reduced when using the Support. Small labial tears do occur more frequently since the baby’s head is pushed more towards the labia. Such tears, however, are most often superficial, rarely need repair, and heal practically painlessly and without scarring.

Promotes rapid and efficient delivery of the placenta.

  • When the mother holds her baby immediately in the upright position, she can nurse easily and bond with her baby in a way that still allows gravity to do the work. The natural flow of oxytocin is stimulated and good contractions occur quickly, encouraging placental separation to occur spontaneously.
  • The separation bleed, along with any remaining amniotic fluid, is evacuated from the uterus more quickly than with a horizontal birth, and so there is usually more fluid with the placenta. However, the uterus contracts vigorously and ultimately bleeding is usually normal with vertical birth.
  • As soon as the placenta is delivered, the woman and her baby can move to a couch or bed to nurse. Blood loss can easily be measured because it has been caught in a bowl placed under the support.