Hi Marilyn,
How about sitting on a low stool yourself? You would still be able to reach to catch the baby, and sitting will protect your back. Alternatively, why not sit on the floor in front of the woman? If you do find yourself kneeling, then it is important that you kneel on one knee only and leave the other foot on the floor. This is a very stable position, giving you great flexibility in movement, and it will protect your back from any strain. This is useful to remember when listening to the fetal heart, for example. Using a mirror will also enable you to see the perineum without having to get down at all - if you angle the mirror (prop it up on a pillow) you'll be able to see what is happening while you stand up. These are the sorts of ideas we practise in active birth workshops..... Cheers Andrea At 15:11 1/12/2001, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >Dear Jackie: I totally agree it is all about control; BUT after being at some >60 home births in the past year as a midwifery student, I have a very painful >knee after all the squatting, kneeling, etc..I have been doing. Not that I >want to change and have the mums assume the "beetle postion" at optimum >height for myself, but I would like some tips on preserving my own joints. It >is weird because I don't even notice my discomfort at the birth, it is in the >days afterwards that I do, until the next time when I get into any position I >have to, to be with the mum. Any advice is welcome. Marilyn >-- >This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. >Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. ----- Andrea Robertson Birth International * ACE Graphics * Associates in Childbirth Education e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: www.birthinternational.com -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
