#goatout
Photo gallery
There are birthing couches in many Czech and Slovak hospitals. Have a look at some photos from our implementation workshops.
„The benefits of vertical positions include not only the help of gravity, but also shorter labour, more efficient uterine contractions, fewer operative labours, and fewer abnormal foetal cardiac findings.“
- David Desseauve at al. -
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 2017
„Walking and upright positions in the first stage of labour reduce the duration of labour, the risk of caesarean section, the need for an epidural, and do not appear to be associated with increased interventions or negative effects on maternal and infant well-being.“
- Annemarie Lawrence et al. -
Systematic review of 25 randomised and quasi-randomised trials from the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials including data of more than 5000 women, 2013
„The routine use of the supine position during the second stage of labour should be considered to be an intervention in the natural course of labour and this intervention should be justified.“
- A. de Jonge et al. -
meta-analysis, 2004
„Our experience after 8 months of using 2 birthing couches on which more than 350 births have taken place is unequivocally positive.“
I was surprised at how easy it was to replace the medical birthing beds with birthing couches and how well it was received by staff and parents.
Advantages include its variability, better support in many positions, more active involvement of the mother and the partner, and the possibility of resting together after birth. Third couch is on its way. Satisfaction prevails. You can read the exact statistics from UH Ostrava here.
- OndRej Simetka -
ObGyn consultant, Head of ObGyn Dept, University Hospital Ostrava, CZ
Active labour means that the woman is free to move as she wishes and can follow the needs of her own body.
I studied with Janet Balaskas, the author of 'active birth', which changed birthing positions in the UK and around the world. The key point is for the woman to get up from lying on her back. What matters is a woman's freedom to choose her position in labour. I see great potential in how a birthing couch can help achieve this, which is why Propolis33 has been involved from the start in the campaign to bring birthing couches into Czech and Slovak maternity wards.
- Lilia Khousnoutdinova -
Founder of Propolis33 endowment fund
Propolis33 endowment fund:
Peer review:
- Magdalena EzrovAPresident of the Union of Midwives UNIPA Member of the Midwifery Commission
Consultant:
- Ondrej simetkaHead of ObGyn Dept, University Hospital Ostrava, CZ
Endorsed by:
