JP7490209B2 - Birth preparation pad, birth preparation chair - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an easy-birth preparation pad that can be used while sitting in daily life to help a pregnant woman maintain a desirable posture and effortlessly train to assume a posture similar to the birth position for normal childbirth, and an easy-birth preparation chair equipped with the easy-birth preparation pad.

A pregnant woman's forward-leaning posture can lead to an apical or pendulous abdomen, and is a posture to be avoided during pregnancy. In particular, when sitting on a chair, it is advisable to avoid a backward tilt of the pelvis, which causes a forward-leaning posture, and to sit vertically with the pelvis upright. If the pelvis is tilted backwards, the fetus's head will hit the back of the pubic bone during childbirth, preventing the necessary rotation and making childbirth difficult. For an easy childbirth, the fetus in the uterus must be inserted vertically, head first, into the pregnant woman's pelvis, and pregnant women should be made to sit with their pelvis upright in their daily lives as well. However, because the seats of typical chairs are flat, or the hip bones tend to sink in due to the elasticity of the cushion, the pelvis tends to tilt backward unconsciously.

During childbirth, the softness of the birth canal and perineum of the pregnant woman is an important condition for an easy birth, but modern people are accustomed to sitting in chairs and tend to lack exercise, so the range of motion of hip abduction is often reduced, and the birth canal and perineum tend to become stiff. For this reason, training is required throughout pregnancy to increase the extensibility of the thigh muscles and the range of motion of the hip joint. Furthermore, in order to soften the perineum, perineal massage, which increases the flexibility of the pelvic floor muscles by repeatedly applying pressure and releasing the perineum, is known to be effective, especially in the final stages of pregnancy after the 36th week.

The pelvis has two types of joints: the sacroiliac joint (the joint between the sacrum and pelvis near the waist) and the sacrococcygeal joint (the joint between the tailbone at the buttocks). In order for the fetal head to enter the pelvis smoothly, it is better for the sacrum to tilt backwards, and when the fetal head leaves the pelvis, it is easier to give birth if the sacrum tilts forward. In addition, the position of the tailbone changes by about 3 cm forward and backward when the pelvic floor muscles are relaxed and tightened, and when the fetal head, which is about 10 cm in diameter, passes through, it is smoother if the sacrococcygeal joint is open. For this reason, the McRoberts position, in which both thighs are raised and drawn toward the abdomen and the femoral head (the round part at the base of the femur) presses against the acetabulum (the socket part of the pelvis) to open the sacroiliac joint, is considered to be the most suitable position during childbirth. For this reason, it is also effective for pregnant women approaching the time of childbirth to practice this position in their daily lives in order to ensure an easy birth.

Conventionally, a seat pad itself has been proposed that has a manipulative function of maintaining the correct position and angle of the pelvis and spine when sitting and correcting the sitting posture itself, such as the sitting posture correcting seat disclosed in Patent Document 1. This prior art is composed of an ischium-pubic seat part where the user's ischium-pubic area is located, a thigh seat part where the thighs are located, and a crotch seat part where the crotch is located, and is molded so that the ischium-pubic seat part is smoothly inclined forward from the ischium-pubic seat part to the tip of the thigh seat part, the inclination of the thigh seat part is greater than the inclination of the ischium-pubic seat part, the crotch seat part is molded so that it is smoothly higher from the ischium-pubic seat part, and the side shape of the crotch seat part is a shape that follows the inside of the thigh to the inside of the kneecap, so that the user can take a sitting posture by tightening the side of the crotch seat part with the thighs to the kneecap when sitting.
Patent Publication No. 5622857

However, the seat of the prior art fixes the angle of forward inclination and abduction of the thighs, and forces the kneecaps to be unconsciously tightened inward, forcing the posture to be corrected, and is not suitable for training to expand the extensibility of the thigh muscles or the range of motion of the hip joint. In addition, the tip of the crotch seat part is raised and protrudes forward from the tip of the thigh seat part, and in the case of pregnant women, this part comes into contact with the perineum. However, perineal massage, which aims to relax the pelvic floor muscles, can be painful and ineffective unless it is performed with the hip joints spread apart, so the prior art, which forces the kneecaps to be tightened inward and tense the pelvic floor muscles, does not allow perineal massage to be performed with a seat.

In the first place, the prior art is intended to achieve the relationship between the temporomandibular joint, spine and pelvis in the "correct seiza posture" in which the ischial bones are kept high and the thighs are tilted forward from the hips to the knees, and is not suitable for or anticipated to be used in posture training that involves relaxing the pelvic floor muscles while fixing the ischial tuberosities of the pelvis, and further opening the hip joints and abducting both thighs, or for performing perineal massage in that state. In addition, while many other cushions and chairs have been proposed for the purpose of maintaining a seated posture, there is no prior art intended to train pregnant women's posture to promote easy childbirth, and there is no prior art suitable for training in the McRoberts position mentioned above.

The present invention aims to promote easy childbirth by providing an easy childbirth preparation pad that helps pregnant women get used to maintaining a sitting position with their pelvis upright in their daily lives, and allows them to train to increase the range of motion of their hip joints and perform perineal massage in that position, and also provides an easy childbirth preparation chair that is equipped with such an easy childbirth preparation pad and also allows training in the McRoberts position.

In order to solve the above problem, the easy birth preparation pad described in claim 1 of the present application is an easy birth preparation pad that encourages a user to sit with the pelvis upright when sitting, and has a recess on the central surface that can embrace both ischial bases, a buttocks support body on the rear surface that can support the buttocks from behind by abutting an inclined surface provided at least on the front side against the back side of the buttocks, and a vertically elongated perineal massage body that abuts the perineum of the user when sitting is provided on the center line of the recess so that its position can be adjusted in the front-rear direction, and the buttocks support body and the perineal massage body are provided with a hardness adjustment mechanism that can adjust the hardness. With this configuration, the ischial base of the pregnant woman's pelvis is fixed and stabilized by the recess, and the buttocks are supported from behind by the buttocks support body, thereby maintaining a vertically upright pelvis and enabling the upper body, which tends to lean backward due to a protruding abdomen, to be kept upright without relying on a backrest. In addition, by placing the perineal massage body in a position that properly contacts the perineum and repeatedly swinging the hips from side to side to tighten and loosen the perineum, a perineal massage can be performed while sitting down, using the load of one's own body weight.

In addition, by configuring the buttocks support body and/or the perineal massage body to have a hardness adjustment mechanism that can adjust the hardness, the buttocks support body can properly support the buttocks of pregnant women with different physiques, particularly different buttock sizes, and the intensity of the perineal massage can also be adjusted. The hardness adjustment mechanism can have any structure, but for example, the buttocks support body or the perineal massage body can be a bag-shaped body into which a filling can be inserted, and the hardness can be adjusted by changing the hardness or density of the filling itself.

The invention described in claim 2 is the easy birth preparation pad described in claim 1, in which the buttocks support and perineal massage body are further configured to have a shape-changing mechanism that allows them to change their shape. With this configuration, the cross-sectional area of the perineal massage body can be adjusted as desired, improving compatibility with the body shape of the pregnant woman and allowing fine adjustment of the massage intensity. The structure of the shape-changing mechanism is also arbitrary, but the inside of the bag-shaped buttocks support and perineal massage body can be divided into compartments and the overall shape can be adjusted by changing the amount of stuffing inserted into each compartment.

Next, the invention described in claim 3 is the easy birth preparation pad described in claim 2 , and employs McKibben artificial muscle as the hardness adjustment mechanism and the shape change mechanism. McKibben artificial muscle is a cylindrical sleeve made of synthetic resin fibers woven into a spiral mesh that is placed around the outer circumference of an elastic tube made of natural rubber, urethane rubber, or the like, and both ends are fixed and sealed with a pair of terminal parts equipped with a mechanism for suction and discharge of fluids such as air or liquid. The elastic tube is expanded by applying air pressure from the outside to contract its entire length. The mesh angle of the sleeve changes like an accordion, so that the radius becomes larger when pushed in the axial direction and the radius becomes smaller when pulled. When air pressure is applied to the built-in elastic tube and it tries to expand in the axial and radial directions, the sleeve takes out the radial expansion and changes the mesh angle, thereby generating an axial contraction force in the elastic tube. By appropriately arranging McKibben artificial muscle inside, the hardness and shape of the buttocks support and perineum massage body can be continuously adjusted as desired even during use.

The invention described in claim 4 is the easy birth preparation pad described in any one of claims 1 to 3, and is configured so that the perineal massage body is equipped with a heating mechanism. The warmth provided by the heating mechanism promotes blood circulation in the perineum and pelvic floor muscles, making them more likely to relax, resulting in a more effective massage effect.

The invention described in claim 5 is the easy birth preparation pad described in any one of claims 1 to 4, and is configured to have an abduction support cushion detachably attached to the front surface, which can be held in a state in which both hip joints are abducted at a predetermined angle by being sandwiched between both thighs when seated. The abduction angle of both thighs by the abduction support cushion is preferably about 95 to 105°, and the external rotation angle of both feet at that time is preferably about 10 to 20° relative to the front. With such an abduction support cushion, the pregnant woman can always maintain the thighs open at a predetermined angle without being aware of it, and training can be performed to expand the extensibility of the thigh muscles and the range of motion of the hip joints. If the abduction support cushion is configured to have padding inserted inside the bag-shaped body, the force of leg opening can be gradually increased by gradually increasing the amount of padding, and even a pregnant woman with a stiff body can increase the training intensity without difficulty.

Finally, the invention described in claim 6 is a chair for preparing for easy birth, characterized in that the seating surface is provided with the easy birth preparation pad described in any one of claims 1 to 5, and has a mechanism for adjusting the height of the seating surface. The structure of the chair itself is arbitrary, but the seating surface can be equipped with an easy birth preparation pad, the seating surface is lower than a normal chair, and the height of the seating surface is adjusted according to the physique of the pregnant woman so that the height of both thighs rises to the position relative to the abdomen in the McRoberts position when lying on her back with both feet on the floor, but assuming an average physique, the height of the seating surface is preferably about 17 to 20 cm from the floor. With a seating surface of this level, the pregnant woman will be in a position similar to that of hugging her knees, but even in this case, the base of the ischial bones is held by the recess, and the buttocks are supported from behind by the buttock support, so that the sitting posture with the pelvis upright and the upper body not tilted forward is maintained. The birth preparation pad alone may not be able to effectively maintain posture if the seat of the chair on which it is placed is too high, but by using this birth preparation chair when delivery is approaching, it becomes possible to practice a posture similar to the McRoberts position without straining yourself in your daily life.

The easy birth preparation pad and easy birth preparation chair of the present invention have the following effects, and by using them in daily life, pregnant women can improve their physical condition in preparation for an easy birth.
(1) By placing it on the seat of a chair or other device and using it in your daily life, you can develop the habit of always sitting with your pelvis stably and vertically upright, thereby preparing for childbirth.
(2) By using the perineal massage device, the pelvic floor muscles are constantly stimulated while the pregnant woman is seated. Furthermore, the pregnant woman can easily perform a perineal massage by repeatedly swaying her hips from side to side to tighten and loosen the perineum, thereby increasing the flexibility of the pelvic floor muscles and the perineum.
(3) By using the abduction support cushion, pregnant women can maintain their thighs at a specified angle at all times without being aware of it, enabling them to train to increase the flexibility of the thigh muscles and the range of motion of the hip joint.
(4) When delivery approaches, by using a birth preparation chair instead of a regular chair, it is possible to practice a posture similar to the McRobert's position during delivery in everyday life.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view of a birth preparation pad 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and when in use, the user sits with the lower side facing forward and the upper side facing backward. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view, and Fig. 3 is a front view.

The birth preparation pad 1 has a horizontally long recess 11 located slightly forward of the center of the roughly rectangular pad body 10. A buttocks support 12 is located at the rear end, and a vertically long perineum massage body 13 is located on the center line of the recess 11, both of which are detachable with hook-and-loop fasteners or the like.

The material of the pad body 10 is arbitrary, but it should have at least a hardness that allows the recess 11 to support the buttocks without being easily crushed and deformed by the weight of a seated pregnant woman. For example, semi-hard or hard urethane foam with resilience and elasticity is preferable. In addition, the recess 11 has a depth of at least about 2 cm, and the outer edge is rounded to correspond to the shape of a human buttocks.

The hip support 12 is a horizontally long, roughly triangular prism-shaped member with inclined surfaces on the front and rear. In this embodiment, three large McKibben artificial muscles 14a are fixed in a bale-like arrangement inside a roughly triangular prism-shaped bag, and the hardness of the hip support 12 can be adjusted by expanding and contracting these.

The perineal massage body 13 has one small McKibben artificial muscle 14b fixed inside a roughly kamaboko-shaped bag, and the hardness of the perineal massage body 13 can be adjusted by expanding and contracting this. In addition, the perineal massage body 13 is not only detachable, but its position in the front-rear direction can be adjusted along a hook-and-loop fastener (not shown) provided on the center line of the recess 11.

With the above configuration, when the pregnant woman sits on the easy-birth preparation pad 1, the base of the ischial bone of the pelvis fits into the recess 11, and the lower part of the buttocks is supported by abutting against the forward inclined surface of the buttocks support 12, so that the pelvis is maintained in a vertical position. In addition, at that time, the perineal massage body 13 is shaped to follow the midline below the pregnant woman's pelvis, but its position can be adjusted in the front-back direction according to the pregnant woman's body type so that it is appropriately abutted against the perineum.

Both McKibben artificial muscles 14a and 14b are connected to an external pump (not shown) via a tube from one side of the terminal section, and can be expanded and contracted individually by applying air pressure from the external pump. By appropriately expanding and contracting the artificial muscle 14a, the hardness of the buttocks support 12 can be adjusted according to the pregnant woman's body type, particularly the size of the buttocks, so that the buttocks support 12 can be deformed by the weight of the pregnant woman while maintaining the upper body of the pregnant woman, which tends to lean backward due to the protruding abdomen, upright without relying on the backrest. In addition, by appropriately expanding and contracting the artificial muscle 14b, the hardness of the perineal massage body 13 can be adjusted, and the stimulation to the perineal area can be adjusted. In addition, a heating sheet (not shown) is provided on the upper surface of the bag-shaped body of the perineal massage body 13, which can warm the perineal area and the pelvic floor muscles. The heating sheet may be an electric type, or a sheet-shaped warmer may be inserted. The temperature of the perineal massage body is preferably 37 to 39°C.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the abduction support cushion 2 applicable to the easy birth preparation pad 1, and when in use it is attached to the easy birth preparation pad 1 with the lower side facing forward and the upper side facing backward. Figure 5 is a right side view, Figure 6 is a rear view (pregnant woman side), and Figure 7 is a front view (opposite side). Figure 8 is a plan view of the easy birth preparation pad 1 with the abduction support cushion 2 attached, Figure 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view, and Figure 10 is a side view showing the pregnant woman seated. Figure 10 is a side view showing the easy birth preparation chair 3 equipped with the easy birth preparation pad 1 and the abduction support cushion 2 in use. The chair body C of the easy birth preparation chair 3 is equipped with a seat height adjustment mechanism, although not shown in the figure.

The abduction support cushion 2 has attachment flaps 21 on both sides of a thick, roughly hexagonal cushion body 20. The cushion body 20 has a shape in which two of the three symmetrical hypotenuses of the rear three sides are open at an angle α, and the shape of the three front sides is arbitrary. The angle α can be set appropriately depending on the hardness of the hip joints and thigh muscles of the pregnant woman using it, but is preferably about 95 to 105°. Semi-rigid or rigid urethane foam is also suitable as the material for the cushion body 20. The flaps 21 are attachment parts to the easy birth preparation pad 1, and can be attached detachably by providing hook-and-loop fasteners (not shown) on the corresponding surfaces of both sides.

When used by a pregnant woman, the need for perineal massage is not high until about the 36th week of pregnancy, so the perineal massage body 13 can be removed and only the easy birth preparation pad 1 can be used, but in this embodiment, the perineal massage body 13 can be expanded and contracted by the artificial muscle 14b, so it can be left attached and flattened by deflating it. After the 36th week of pregnancy and approaching the time of delivery, the pregnant woman adjusts the hardness of the perineal massage body 13 while sitting, and massages the perineum by moving the pelvis left and right for about 5 minutes a day or about 100 times. Also, around this time, the abduction support cushion 2 is attached to the easy birth preparation pad 1, and every time she sits down on a daily basis, she opens her thighs and abducts them, and rotates her ankles outward so that the soles of her feet are on the floor. At this time, she should also be mindful of her posture so that her pelvis does not tilt backward, and if it tends to tilt backward, the hardness of the buttocks support 12 is increased to support the buttocks.

Furthermore, as the time of delivery approaches, it is advisable to use a stable platform (approximately 20 cm high, lower than a normal chair) as a substitute for a chair, place the birth preparation pad 1 on it, or use the birth preparation chair 3, and practice a posture similar to the McRoberts position by sitting on it for about 5 to 10 minutes at least 10 times a day.

The specific configurations of the birth preparation pad and birth preparation chair according to the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and improvements or modifications are possible within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, which are within the technical scope of the present invention.

The present invention is intended for use by pregnant women at home on a daily basis as a form of training to improve their physical condition for an easy birth, but it is also desirable for it to be used as chairs in waiting rooms at obstetrics and gynecology clinics, etc. It is desirable for obstetricians and midwives to provide guidance on the proper way to use it and how to perform perineal massage, etc.

Plan view of an easy birth preparation pad according to an embodiment Cross-sectional view of an easy-birth preparation pad according to an embodiment. Front view of an easy birth preparation pad according to an embodiment Top view of abduction support cushion Right side view of abduction support cushion Back view of abduction support cushion Front view of abduction support cushion A plan view showing the birth preparation pad with the abduction support cushion attached Cross-sectional view showing the birth preparation pad with the abduction support cushion attached A side view showing the birth preparation chair in use

1 Easy birth preparation pad 10 Pad body 11 Recess 12 Buttocks support 13 Perineum massage body 14a Artificial muscle (buttocks support body)
14b Artificial muscle (perineum massage body)
2 Abduction support cushion 20 Cushion body 21 Flap 3 Easy birth preparation chair C Chair body

Claims (6)

A birth preparation pad that encourages a user to sit in a seated position with the pelvis upright,
The central surface has a recess capable of holding both ischial bases.
a buttocks support member provided on at least the front surface of the rear surface, the buttocks being supported from behind by abutting the inclined surface provided on the front surface against the rear side of the buttocks;
A vertically long perineal massage body that comes into contact with the perineal region of the user when the user is seated is provided on the center line of the recess so that its position can be adjusted in the front-rear direction,
The childbirth preparation pad is characterized in that the buttock support and the perineum massage body are provided with a hardness adjustment mechanism that can adjust the hardness. The childbirth preparation pad according to claim 1, wherein the buttocks support and the perineum massage body further include a shape-changing mechanism capable of changing the shape. 3. The birth preparation pad according to claim 2 , wherein the hardness adjustment mechanism and the shape changing mechanism are McKibben artificial muscles. 4. The easy-birth preparation pad according to claim 1, wherein the perineal massage body further comprises a heating mechanism. 5. The birth preparation pad as described in claim 1, further comprising a removably provided abduction support cushion on the front surface, which can be clamped between both thighs when seated to hold both hip joints in abducted position at a predetermined angle. 6. An easy-birth preparation chair comprising a seating surface provided with the easy-birth preparation pad according to claim 1 and a height adjustment mechanism for the seating surface.