A Seating Device for Providing Support During Childbirth

Abstract

A seating device for supporting a person during childbirth comprising first and second seat sides 12 & 14 each with a height adjustable leg 22 & 24 connecting a base portion and a seat portion and a c

Description

18 06 25 The present invention relates to a seating device and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to a seating device 5 for supporting a person during childbirth and labour when in hospital. The delivery of a baby is categorised into three stages. The first stage is the period up until the point of the baby beginning of deliver. The second stage is the period between 10 the person beginning to push and the baby being delivered, and the third stage is the delivery of the placenta. During each of these stages there are methods and devices that can help alleviate a woman's discomfort, pain and transitions from one stage to the other. One such device is the birthing chair. 15 Birthing chairs are well-known and can help with supporting a woman in an upright position during labour and childbirth which can be more comfortable without interfering with the labour. These devices, in their simplest form, are a backless seat with a semi-circular shape cut out from the front. This cut away 20 portion from the front enables a space for which a midwife can deliver the baby through. These devices can be beneficial for women during the first stage of childbirth as it can help increase the internal diameters of the pelvis and enable a quicker descent of the baby deeper into the pelvis. However, 25 during the second and third stages of labour the current models can create difficulties and can become uncomfortable for the mother and the attending midwives. Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome or alleviate the above described disadvantages of the 30 prior art. According to an aspect of the present invention there is a seating device for supporting a person during childbirth, the seat comprising: a first seat side comprising a first base portion, at least one first height adjustable leg and a first seat portion; a second seat side comprising a second base portion, at least one second height adjustable leg and a second seat portion in 5 use separate of said first seat portion and having a space therebetween; and a connector for joining said first and second seat sides at said first and second base portions, wherein said first and second seat sides are joined solely by said connector. 10 Having a first and second side seat portion and a gap 25 therebetween allows for the mother to sit in a supported squat position. During the first stage of labour the mother can have the seat legs adjusted to is highest position. This allows the mothers knees to be lower than the pelvis to help the foetal head to enter and begin descending into the pelvis. During the second stage of labour the mother is able to adjust the height of the legs so that her knees are in a position higher than the pelvis. This enables the foetal head to descend deeper into the pelvis and to help push the foetal head and then the baby out. During the three stages of labour or whilst transitioning from one stage to the next, the mother is able to move the legs of the seating device into a range of heights that they feel most comfortable. Having the height adjustment also allows the mother to stay on the same seating device during their entire childbirth. For example, they would not have to move from a chair of a certain height to another of a different height. Having a gap between the two seat sides also enables a more comfortable position compared to sitting on a birthing ball. When the foetal head is very low having the gap allows for the 30 pelvic muscles to relax through the gap as opposed to being held up by a support. Furthermore, having a gap at the front and back between the seat sides allows the midwife to approach the mother with visibility from both the front and back. This enables the midwife to have freer movements and manipulation of the baby and the mother during the birth. In another preferred embodiment said first and second base portions are curved. 5 Having a curved base portion allows for the seating device to rock back and forth. This rocking motion can be utilised when the mother is sat on the seating device by tilting her pelvis back and forth. This can help the mother during the first stage of labour by distracting her through the 10 contractions in the first stage of labour. This rocking motion can also help facilitate and improve the passage of the baby's head through the pelvis. Furthermore, by enabling the mother to move her hips through various motions, the mother can relieve and alleviate any increasing pressure felt between their thighs 1^15 and buttocks, and the seat. This can decrease the chances of C\J the mother having tears or perineal oedema. CO In a preferred embodiment said height adjustable legs are electronically controlled. 00 Having an electronic controller enables the mother to 20 change the height of the seat instantly during the stages of labour . Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- 25 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the seating device of the present invention; Figure 2 is another perspective view of the device of figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic of the device of figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the device of figure 1; 30 Figures 5 and 6 are exploded views of the device of figure 1; 18 06 25 Figure 7 is a close up view of a portion of the device of figure 1; Figures 8 and 9 are side views of the device of figure 1; and Figures 9 and 10 are images of the seating device of figure 1 5 in use. Referring initially to figures 1 to 6, there is provided a seating device in the form of a birthing stool 10 for supporting a person through the stages of childbirth. The birthing stool 10 includes first and second seat sides, 12 and 14 with a 10 connector 16 joining the seat sides together. The seat sides 12 and 14 form the legs and support for the person to sit on. Both the first and the second seat sides 12 and 14, include a first and second seat portion 18 and 20. These seat portions 18 and 20 are connected to first and second height adjustable 15 legs, 22 and 24. The legs are further connected to a first and second base portion 24 and 26 located adjacent the ground. The first and second seat portions are cushioned, including a foam centre 30 with a rigid plate 32 adjacent the top of the legs 22 and 24, and further surrounded by a waterproof cover 34. The 20 seat portions 18 and 20 are positioned opposite each other with both having a slightly curved shape and including a concave side 36 and convex side 38. The concave sides 36 of the seat portions 18 and 20 face each other, whilst the convex sides 38 face outwards, away from each other. The seat portions 18 and 20 25 also have a front and a back portion, 40 and 42. The front portions 40 are the regions closest to where the persons knees would be located when sitting and the back portions 42 are where the persons buttocks would lie. The seat portions 18 and 20 are angled such that the front portions 42 are slightly closer 30 together in distance compared to the back portions 42. The front and back portions 40 and 42 of the seat portions are also rounded in shape to avoid any sharp edges. This shape is used to comfortably fit the shape of a person's thighs and buttocks. Typical dimensions for the seat portions 18 and 20 are 88 mm in thickness with a total length of around 430 mm. The distances between the seat portions 18 and 20, adjacent the back portions 42 are around 250mm and the distances adjacent the front portions 5 are around 200 mm. Underneath the seat portions are the first and second legs, 12 and 14. These legs 12 and 14 are each attached to the centre of the plates 32 by a series of screws and support fittings. The first and second legs both include a first and second leg 10 portion 44 and 46. The first leg portions 44 are located and adjacent the seat portions 18 and 20, whilst the second leg portions 46 are located adjacent the connector 16. Both leg portions 44 and 46 have a cross-section having a stadium geometry, that is constructed of the long sides of a 15 rectangle with semicircles replacing the short sides. The first leg portion 44 is dimensionally larger than the second leg portion 46 to enable the full insertion of the second leg portion into the first leg portion. Located within each of the second 00 leg portions 46 is a linear actuator 48 and extendable rod 50. ■^—20 The actuator 48 is located at the bottom of the second leg portion 46 whilst the rod 50 is connected to the top of the first leg portion 44. These connections allow movement of the second leg portion 46 into and out of the first leg portion 44 facilitating the lengthening or shortening of the first and 25 second legs 22 and 24. Typical minimum and maximum heights of the birthing stool 10 are in the region of 380 mm to 530 mm, from the floor to the top of the seating portions 18 and 20. The birthing stool 10 in its fully extended position and maximum height is shown in figures 1, 8 and 10. The birthing stool 10 30 in its reduced position and minimum height is shown in figures 2, 9 and 11. Adjacent the ground, linking together the first and second seat sides 12 and 14 is the connector 16. The base portions 26 and 28, include first and second floor engaging portions 56 and 58 that curve upwards such that the base portions can rock back and forth when placed on a flat surface. The apex of the curve is located at the mid-point of the floor engaging portions 5 56 and 58 such that the person can rock forwards and backwards the same distance. The base portions 26 and 28 are circular in their cross-section and have hollow centres, reducing the overall weight of the birthing stool 10. Each of the first and second legs 22 and 24, are also connected to the middle of base 10 portions 26 and 28, with their mid-points located adjacent the apex curves of the floor engaging portions 56 and 58. This position of the legs 22 and 24 on the base portions 26 and 28 allows for a gap between the front and back portions 40 of the seat portions 18 and 20. This gap continues from the seat 15 portions 18 and 20, down to the ground in between the first and LO second floor engaging portions 56 and 58 and thereby allowing a midwife access to the mother from the front or from behind. Furthermore, this position of the legs 22 and 24 allows for stable rocking motion whilst a mother is sat on the birthing OO20 stool 10. 1— Located in between the first and second base portions 26 and 28 is the connecting portion 54. Also circular in cross section the connecting portion 54 is formed from a straight section with two curved ends to connect to the base portions 26 25 and 28. When the birthing chair 10 is not in use the connecting portion 54 does not make contact with the ground. However, when a mother is sat on the birthing stool 10 the connecting portion 54 engages the ground during a backwards rocking motion of the chair 10, stabilising the chair and therefore the mother. 30 Situated in the middle of the connecting portion above the ground is an electrical connection point in the form of a grommet 60. The grommet 60 is used to attach and seal a cable 62, in the form of a heavy duty coiled flex cable. Having such a cable 62 allows for the birthing chair 10 to be moved to any part of the room and provides extra safety elements to do so. The cable is also used for linking the actuators 48 of the first and second legs 22 and 24 to a control box 64. The control box 64 controls 5 the motion of the actuators 48 and has a 3 way control system (not shown) to do so. This control system allows the actuators 48 to go up, down or stop. The control box 64 also has two further connections, one connection to a wired remote 66 and another to a plug. The remote 66 allows the birthing mother to 10 control the height of the birthing stool 10, via the actuators 48 during her stages of labour. Referring now to figure 7 the shape of the first and second seat portions as seen from above are annular in appearance with a gap between the front and back portions 40 and 42. However, 1^15 this structure could also be U-shaped or full annular shaped. C\J The method for using the birthing stool 10 will now be described. Referring now to figures 9 to 11, a mother sits onto the 00 birthing stool 10 so that the back of her knees are positioned 1— 20 near to the front portions 40 of the seat portions 18 and 20. The mothers thighs and a part of her buttocks rest on top of the seat portions 18 and 20 and her feet are flat on the ground. During this first stage of labour, the birthing stool 10 is adjusted such that the first and second legs 22 and 24 are at 25 their maximum adjusted height or at a height where the mother's pelvis is above her knees. The mother is given the remote 66 and told to adjust the height whenever she feels necessary. As the baby's head descends into the pelvis and contractions become stronger the mother is free to rock back and forth along the 30 first and second floor engaging portions 56 and 58 of the first and second base portions 26 and 28. Once the second stage of labour has begun the mother can reduce the height of the birthing stool 10 by pressing the corresponding button on the remote 64. 10 The remote 66 then sends a signal to the control box 64 signals the actuators 48 to reduce the length of the rods 50. The movement of the actuators in the pair of legs 22 and 24 are synchronised to ensure that the seat portions 18 and 20 are raised and lower together. As the rods 50 are connected to the top of the first leg portions 44 the rods pull the first leg portions down. While the first leg portions 44 continue to move down they encloses around the second leg portions 46 until they reach the base portions 26 and 28 or when the mother presses stop. In this position the mother's pelvis has transitioned from being above the knees (see figure 10) to being below the knees (see figure 11), forming a squatting position. In this position the mother can continue to rock back and forth by tilting her pelvis to help with the baby's descent deep into the pelvis for birth. During this time the midwife is free to analyse and mother from either the front or the back. Once the baby begins delivery the gaps in the front and the back of the stool allows for the delivery from the front or behind. The mother is also free to stay in the birthing chair 10 during the third stage of labour if she wants and can continue to adjust the height of the first and second legs 22 and 24 or continue the rocking motion to ease discomfort, pain or pressure . It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that 25 the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the protection which is defined by the appended claims. For example, in the invention presented above the connecting portion 30 is located at the bottom of the second leg portion. However, the connecting portion could be located between the bottom of the second leg portion and the top of the first leg portion. The connecting portion is also described as being at the back of the birthing stool, yet it could also be located at the front. It also should be noted that the terms stool, seat and chair are used synonymously throughout this application. A further example of an embodiment that is a variation on 5 that set out above is the inclusion of only a single leg extending from the middle of the connecting portion. In another alternative, this leg could connect to one side of the first and second seat portions. Another example is the use of actuators to control the 10 height of the seat, any suitable mechanical or electrical device could be used to adjust the height of the seat. For example, a pin-clip mechanism (where pins from one leg portion extend into holes in the other leg portion) can be used. However, such a mechanism requires the mother to not be seated when the 1^15 adjustment is being made which is much less convenient than C\J using actuators or the like.

Claims

1. A seating device for supporting a person during childbirth, the seat comprising:5 a first seat side comprising a first base portion, at least one first height adjustable leg and a first seat portion;a second seat side comprising a second base portion, at least one second height adjustable leg and a second seat portion in use separate of said first seat portion and having a space 10 therebetween; anda connector for joining said first and second seat sides at said first and second base portions, wherein said first and second seat sides are joined solely by said connector.

2. A seating device according to claim 1 wherein said first115 and second base portions are curved.। 3. A seating device according to any preceding claim wherein> said height adjustable legs are electronically controlled.

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