GB2127296A - Apparatus for use in child-birth - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for enabling a woman to give birth to a child in the squat position comprises a head rest 21, seat (19) and foot rests (18) all mounted on a support (15), which may be free standing or fixed to a wall. The seat (19) and foot rests (18) are vertically adjustable on the support (15) so that the woman can attain an elevated squat position for delivery. Above the seat (19) is a vertically adjustable body support of hoop or ring like form comprising a U-shaped padded support 20 provided with handle grips 24 at the extremities of its limbs to provide pushing support for the user within the confines of the U support 20 and a bar 25 joining the handle grips 24 arranged out of the plane of the support 20 to mount a forehead rest piece 26 for the woman in an attitude of birth delivery. The hoop or ring so formed gives security and confidence to the user when giving delivery in the squat position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for use by a woman in child-birth Field of the invention The present invention relates to apparatus for enabling a woman to deliver a child in a squat position.

Background of the invention The desire of expectant mothers to give birth to their children in other than the traditional horizontal position, at least in the more developed countries, is becoming more prevalent. Thus, the concept of natural child-birth is gaining acceptance wherein, for example, the expectant mother may adopt a squat position during delivery. Such types of delivery are finding increasing acceptance in the medical profession and may be performed with the mother actually supported during the delivery by human helpers or by using a mechanical support - with a mid-wife assisting with the delivery of the baby itself.

With most current obstetric chairs or simiiar apparatus in present use, cost and size are decisive factors and hospital administrators are reluctant to remove a bed in a delivery room in favour of a chair and accompanying appurtenances. This reluctance means that it is difficult for an expectant mother to gain her wish with respect to the manner to which her child is to be delivered.

Summary of the invention Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to provide child-birth apparatus of the type as above described which overcomes the problem of the prior art in respect of size and versatility and which provides the support necessary to the expectant mother during delivery.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for enabling a woman to deliver a child in a squat position comprising a frame, a support attached to the frame to enable the woman to assume the squat position, and means for surrounding thewoman's body and against which the woman can push for support during said delivery.

An advantage of this arrangement is the economy of parts, both in respect of size and number, so that the device can be readily erected in a delivery room, against the wall for example, without having to remove the delivery bed to accommodate it. In this connection also, it can be readily assembled for use in a home environment.

The means for surrounding the woman's body may be of a hoop or ring form allowing the woman to have complete freedom of movement to perform the multiplicities of pushing movements involved, such an attribute providing additional confidence and security to the user.

Preferably, the hoop or ring form pushing part is pivotably mounted for movement between an upward position away from the body and a lower fixed generally horizontal position where it passes around the body normally just underneath the arm-pits.

The hoop or ring may also be height adjustable to suit requirements either in respect of the height of the user or a desired position with respect to the woman's arms. It also may comprise two parts, namely a first U-shaped part held in a horizontal plane, the hoop or ring form being completed, from the extremities of its limbs, by an upwardly extending ring or hoop portion set out of the plane of the U and arranged to support the forehead of a user during delivery. In this construction, a pair of upstanding hand grips, to assist the user executing the required pushing action during delivery, are positioned in the extremities of the limbs of the U-shaped part.

The whole arrangement is such that it has a versatility not present in known devices, it is easier to use and readily transportable for use either in the confines of a hospital or the home environment as stated above.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description that follows of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Brief description of drawings An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of apparatus for enabling a woman to deliver a child in a squat position, secured to a wall; Figure 2 is a plan view of the seat of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of a mobile stand for the apparatus of Figure land Figure 4 is a perspective view of birthing apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention.

The birthing apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a seat 1, preferably of boomerang shape as shown in Figure 2, a back rest 2 and a padded upper ring or hoop 3 for surrounding the upper body of the user. Beneath the seat is a foot rest 4.

The seat 1, back rest 2 and hoop or ring 3 are mounted to a support 5 which, in the embodiment shown, is secured to a wall 6 by means of brackets 7.

The seat 1 is attached to the support 5 by means of a coupling 8 which allows the seat 1 to be adjusted vertically on the supports. The seat 1 is adjustably clamped to the coupling 8 so that its horizontal extent from the support 5 may be varied.

The back rest 2 is similarly attached to the support 5 by means of a coupling 9, which enables the back rest 2 to be adjusted vertically on the support 5, the coupling 9 being provided with a swivelablejoint 10 to permit the back rest 2 to be adjusted to the requirements of the user.

The hoop or ring 3 is attached by means of a coupling 11, also for height adjustability, to the support 5, and pivotally attached at 12 to the coupling 11 to permit the hoop or ring 3 to be moved from the fixed horizontal position shown in the sketch, to an upper vertical position againstthewall shown in dotted outline, the pivotable movement occurring in the plane of the drawing.

The foot rest 6 may be independently secured to the wall 6 for foldable movement as shown in the drawing, orto the support 5 itself.

Instead of being an in-situ fixing, the apparatus may be mobile and provided with a mobile stand 5 as shown in Figure 3, to which can be attached, in rigid fashion, the support 5.

Anotherform of the invention is shown in Figure 4.

This comprises a frame 13 of box section steel, having support legs 14 and an upright 15.

The upright 15 of the frame 13, is inserted in a stub upright 16 on the support legs 14, of larger section, and held therein by locking fasteners 17.

Successively attached to the upright 15, in the upward direction, are a pair of foot rests 18, a pair of spreadeagled seat portions 19, a U-shaped padded support 20 and a head rest 21.

The foot rests 18, seat 19 and support 20 are attached to the upright 15, each being provided with box section support pieces slidable on the upwright 15, and held in any desired vertical position by locking fasteners such as 22 for the foot rest 18, and 23 for the seat 19.

In addition, although this is not apparent in the drawing, the U-shaped support 20 is pivotably mounted to the upright 15 for movement from the normal horizontal operating position, to the vertical.

Moreover the two seat portions of the seat 19 are arranged to be adjustable with respect to one another by means not shown, but in a manner which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The extremities of the limbs of the U-shaped support 20 are provided with upstanding handle grips 24 formed on a generally U-shaped rigid bar 25 extending upwardly out of the plane of the support 20, and connecting the extremities of the limbs of the U-shaped support 20. The support 20 and bar 25 are together of hoop or ring form for surrounding a user of the apparatus, with the portion 20 at the chest level area.

The central portion of the bar 25 is bent over with respect to the verticality or substantial verticality of the handle grips 24, away from the head rest 21, so as to provide a suitable position for a rest piece 26 for the forehead of the user of the birthing chair.

In use, the foot rests 18 and 19 are vertically adjusted on the upright 15 with respect to one another so that a woman in childbirth can assume the squat position, and be elevated sufficiently to enable ready access by the midwife or similar medical personnei.

In this squat position the support 20, with the bar 25, may then be adjusted to positions to suit the requirements of the user with the support 20 normally at chest level so that the hands are able to comfortabiy hold the handle grips 24 for pushing support, and the rest piece 21 and/or head rest 21, positioned to support the forehead and back of the head respectively during this action, as required.

The apparatus of Figure 4 is free standing. However, it may be fitted to a wall in any convenient manner if required.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the apparatus could be provided with a step-up platform which would allow the midwife to deliver at waist level when sitting on a stool in front of a patient.

Claims (6)

1. Apparatus for enabling a woman to deliver a child in a squat position comprising a frame, support means attached to the frame to enable the woman to assume the squat position, and means for surrounding the woman's body and against which the woman can push for support during said delivery.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said surrounding means comprises a U-shaped support, the limbs of which extend forwardly from the frame and are provided with handle grips for a user, at their extremities, and a generally U-shaped bar between the handle grips arranged out of the plane of the U-shaped support to provide a forehead rest for the user in an attitude of birth delivery.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and 2 wherein said support means comprises a seat, and a pair of foot rests, said seat and foot rests being vertically adjustable on the frame.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said U-shaped support is both pivotally and vertically adjustable on the frame.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claims 3 or 4 wherein the seat comprises two separate seat portions positioned in V-shaped array to provide an access for child delivery, said portions being adjustable with respect to one another in the horizontal plane to enable the distance between their free ends to be varied.

6. Apparatus for enabling a woman to deliver a child in the squat position substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.