Birthing Beds

I'm interested in hearing what you like about your birthing beds and what you don't like. My unit is investigating changing models. We have some new beds with stirrups that stay attached to the bed and the staff HATES them. Can you help? Thanks!

As a NS I am not familar w/the diff models. But I have to say, as a mother giving birth: my single most favorite type of bed was the kind they used in the L & D in a German Hosp. It was a wide bed with stirrups that disappeared under the bed. Also the end dropped down at the time of delivery. BTW the stirrups were only pulled out (and were very much like the small kind used in the clinical setting) for sewing me up. This experience was the best experience for beds for me. I delivered quickly & easily (I have NO idea whose idea it was to use those silly stirrups during delivery anyways!). Good luck in your search! (Ck w/the local MW to ask too if u have a Birth Center nearby).

~MJ

Someone (I want to say it was Deb but I'm not certain) posted a picture on another thread of a labor bed that had attached leg supports; I really liked that model. Ours only have the built-in foot supports that come out a bit, they're fine for repairs but no good for pushing. We have leg supports that we can add on but n oone ever uses them except for morbidly obese patients, and I think I'd be vilified if I got them out for anyone else.

Of course now that I've hurt my shoulder and CAN'T help hold legs during pushing, they may just have to get used to it (assuming there's not an available/willing fmaily member)

The beds we use at our hospital sound a lot like wannabemw was talking about. The stirrups are under the bed and are swung out when needed for delivery. We also have foot pedals which the pt can also use as well as handles to get into a better position to push. I think that it's pretty universal that the beds break down for delivery (the bottom part of the bed is removed so the attending can get into position to catch).

The only thing I wish that ours had is squat bars. I don't know if the bed doesn't have the provisions for squat bars or it is and the hospital just doesn't provide squat bars. There's another hospital in this town that has squat bars, and it's the only one is this city that does. Wish we had them.

At this moment I don't know the brand we have. I don't know if it's "Borning" or not.

Here is the Affinity 3 bed we use where I work:

http://www.hill-rom.com/usa/offering/products/products_pop-ups/Affinityiii/literature_resources.html

We really do like it. It's easy to use. I just wish they were SOFTER!!!!

I'm interested in hearing what you like about your birthing beds and what you don't like. My unit is investigating changing models. We have some new beds with stirrups that stay attached to the bed and the staff HATES them. Can you help? Thanks!

Our beds are from Hill-Rom, I think and they are very old now. The stirrups stay under the footplates, tucked out of the way.

The squat bar that attaches to the footplate area is great for squating or using as a footrest with those who have had an epidural. We tie a sheet onto the bar and it gives the patient a "rope" to pull on when using the bar as a footrest.

It is rare that we even use our stirrups, anyway.

I've been away from the birthing area for a few years, but was beginning to wonder when we went back to using sturrips. We hadn't used them routinly for many years, using squat bar, the mom pulling on her knees, and/or leg support by family/nurse. I'm glad to see that the idea of birthing rooms---a more natural birthing experience----has not fallen by the wayside

BTW-I will be taking a refresher course, and returning yet again to the love of my life-OB

Here is the Affinity 3 bed we use where I work:

QUOTE]

We use the same ones as Deb's...The matresses do stink!!! I like the rest of it.

palesarah, did you hurt your shoulder while helping a patient push? I'm unable to do that actively anymore. Instead I enlist, or recruit, as the case may be, the SO and any friends who are around. I hurt my shoulder long ago and have been warned by my various docs to be very careful with it now. That's one of the biggest problems with epidurals and not using stirrups, especially if the block is strong enough to eliminate any leg control the patient has. And I certainly don't get paid enough to help an epiduralized patient squatl, unless there are family volunteers to support her dead weight on their neck and shoulders.

Our beds are similar to the hill-rom; maybe be older versions of those. They're okay; nothing to write home about, IMHO.

W have some of the Affintiy 3 beds but now Stryker has been doing bed demos for us because we are replacing a few older models. They seem alright.

Here is the Affinity 3 bed we use where I work:

http://www.hill-rom.com/usa/offering/products/products_pop-ups/Affinityiii/literature_resources.html

We really do like it. It's easy to use. I just wish they were SOFTER!!!!

We have these beds too and I have a hard time figuring out the stirrups. I don't like that they rotate in to the center of the bed in order to get them up. You've got to squish your pt's legs to get them around.