Second stage labor assist apparatus and method

Abstract

A novel method of second stage labor assistance at least includes: providing a flexible cord member at least having at a first end, a first securing article, and at least having at a second end, a second securing article; coupling the first securing article to at least one upper extremity of an expectant mother; coupling the second securing article to at least one upper extremity of a person assisting (“assistant”) the expectant mother with child birth, the assistant at least serving as an anchor; and the expectant mother pulling on the flexible cord member away from the assistant to supplement the contractions of the expectant mother's abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, and at least partially inducing the movement of a baby down the birthing canal.

1 . A method of second stage labor assistance comprising: 
 a) providing a flexible cord member comprising at a first end, a first securing article, and comprising at a second end, a second securing article;    b) coupling said first securing article to at least one upper extremity of an expectant mother;    c) coupling said second securing article to at least one upper extremity of a person assisting (“assistant”) said expectant mother with child birth, said assistant at least serving as an anchor; and    d) said expectant mother pulling on said flexible cord member away from said assistant to supplement the contractions of said expectant mother's abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, and at least partially inducing the movement of a baby down the birthing canal.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 said assistant pulling in opposition to the pulling of said expectant mother.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first securing article further comprises: 
 a first bar member; and    a first loop member coupled to said first bar member and to said first end.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said first bar member further comprises padding.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said second securing article further comprises: 
 a second bar member; and    a second loop member coupled to said second bar member and to said second end.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said second bar member further comprises padding.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the element b) further comprises: coupling said first securing article to two hands of an expectant mother.  
   
   
       8 . A method of second stage labor assistance comprising: 
 a) providing a flexible cord member comprising at a first end, a first securing article, and comprising at a second end, a second securing article;    b) coupling said first securing article to a first lower extremity of an expectant mother;    c) coupling said second securing article to a second lower extremity of said expectant mother;    d) coupling at least one upper extremity of said expectant mother to the center region of said flexible cord member; and    e) said expectant mother moving said first and second lower extremities in opposition to said at least one upper extremity to supplement the contractions of said expectant mother's abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, and at least partially inducing the movement of a baby down the birthing canal.    
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for second stage labor assistance comprising: 
 a flexible cord member;    a first securing article coupled to a first end of said flexible cord member and adapted to be coupled to at least one upper extremity of an expectant mother; and    a second securing article coupled to a second end of said flexible cord member and adapted to be coupled to at least one upper extremity of a person assisting (“assistant”) said expectant mother with child birth, said assistant at least serving as an anchor;    wherein said flexible cord member is further adapted to be pulled by said expectant mother away from said assistant to supplement the contractions of said expectant mother's abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, and at least partially induce the movement of a baby down the birthing canal.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said first securing article further comprises: 
 a first bar member; and    a first loop member coupled to said first bar member and to said first end.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said first bar member further comprises padding.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said second securing article further comprises: 
 a second bar member; and    a second loop member coupled to said second bar member and to said second end.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said second bar member further comprises padding.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a size adjustment mechanism adapted for receiving said flexible cord member through at least one sleeve;    wherein said securing article comprises a loop of said flexible cord member at its end coupled through said size adjustment mechanism; and    wherein said size adjustment mechanism is adapted to allow adjustment of the size of said loop and lock said flexible cord member at its convergence point, thereby determining the effective length of said apparatus.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a size adjustment mechanism adapted for receiving said flexible cord member through at least one sleeve;    wherein said securing article comprises a loop of said flexible cord member at its end coupled through said size adjustment mechanism; and    wherein said size adjustment mechanism is affixed to an end of said flexible cord member, and is adapted to allow adjustment of the size of said loop and lock said flexible cord member at its convergence point, thereby determining the effective length of said apparatus.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a size adjustment mechanism adapted for receiving said flexible cord member through at least one sleeve;    wherein said securing article comprises a loop of said flexible cord member at its end coupled through said size adjustment mechanism; and    wherein said size adjustment mechanism is affixed to a position along said flexible cord member, and is adapted to allow adjustment of the size of said loop by moving the end of said flexible cord member closer to or farther away from said size adjustment mechanism, and is further adapted to lock said flexible cord member at its convergence point, thereby determining the effective length of said apparatus.