Our Rentals

Birth Pool Rentals

What Is Waterbirth & Why To Consider Having One?

Water can be used during labour and/or birth as a form of pain management. It is evidence based practice in hospitals, birth centers and home birth throughout the world. Spending most or all of labour in water eases discomfort and creates a gentler birth process. The benefits of warm water immersion in labor and birth have been studied in many countries for over three decades.

Placing a pool of water in a birth room changes the atmosphere immediately.
Voices get softer, the mother stays calmer and everyone becomes less stressed.

The effect of buoyancy that deep water immersion creates allows spontaneous movement of the mother. No one has to help the mother get into a new position. She moves as her body and the position of the baby dictate. Movement helps open the pelvis, allowing the baby to descend.

When a woman in labor relaxes in a warm deep bath, free from gravity’s pull on her body, with sensory stimulation reduced, her body is less likely to secrete stress-related hormones. This allows her body to produce the pain inhibitors-endorphins-that complement labor. Noradrenaline and catecholamines, the hormones that are released during stress, actually raise the blood pressure and can inhibit or slow labor. A labouring woman who is able to relax physically, is able to relax mentally as well. Many women, midwives, and doctors acknowledge the analgesic effect of water. Thousands of these mothers state they would never be able to consider labouring without water again.

waterbirth.org

Benefits Of Water For Labour

• Facilitates mobility and enables the mother to assume any position which is comfortable for labor and birth
• Reduces blood pressure & promotes relaxation
• Gives mother more feelings of control
• Provides significant pain relief & conserves her energy
• Reduces the need for drugs and interventions
• Reduces perineal trauma
• Is highly rated by mothers – typically stating they would consider giving birth in water again
• Encourages an easier birth for mother and a gentler welcome for baby.

TENS Machines Rentals

What is TENS?

TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and has successfully been used for many years by pregnant women and professional midwives worldwide to help manage labour and contractions.

How does it work?

When labour starts, apply the pads to the lower back and turn the machine on. You will feel a pleasant pulsing sensation. This will help to raise the level of your own pain relieving chemicals known as endorphins. There is a boost button for the extra surge of power needed to help manage the contraction.

TENS machine is most effective during the first stage of labour, and helps the mother to remain in control, stay alert, and considerably reduce drug intake. Most importantly, there are no known side effects for you or your baby.

TENS rental information & details

The TENS machines rented by okanagan doula are the elle tens. These are top of the line for use during labour and are specifically designed for obstetrics.

Okanagan doula has a number of tens units for rental, however due to the wide timespan of normal delivery, it is important to reserve one ahead of time. Your rental will come with everything you need and includes a brand new set of individual use pads.