My favorite things: Swim rings
For 2020, I am writing a series of all of my favorite things! This will include my favorites for supporting people in childbirth, doula life and recovery, small business owner hacks, books and resources, and more. With just a few exceptions, you will NOT find links to purchase these products in this blog series. I trust that you can search for these and like items if you would like to purchase them on your own.
I do not want this series to give anyone FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) though! You do not need all of these things to be a great doula, or have a satisfying birth! However, as with everything humans do, tools can be helpful and help you to work smarter, not harder, especially when you find yourself doing the same things over and over in professional birth work, or you find something particularly helpful for increasing your own comfort in pregnancy, birth, and general life.
Today is all about swim rings!
These childhood water toys are really special to me, because they were one of my favorite tools for my first two births! I have carried two in my doula bag ever since the first birth I attended, and I probably will always have one with me when I work.
Active labor with my second baby.
I use this for my birth clients who utilize hydrotherapy in a tub. While relaxing in a pool of warm water, it’s still important to utilize different positions to encourage cervical dilation and progress. I offer swim rings to relax completely in sidelying positions in the tub. I have had clients lean over the swim ring in the kneeling position, either resting their head on the swim ring, or even putting the ring around their baby bump. Swim rings can also be used like a bath pillow in the semi-reclined position. If you wanted to elevate your leg in a sidelying position, you could use one swim ring around your upper body to float your head, and a second around your leg.
Why is this one of my favorite items for birth? It is inexpensive, certainly less costly than a bath pillow, although it is often only available seasonally. It is easy to clean, I can sanitize it thoroughly after a client has used it for their birth. It is versatile, able to be used in a variety of positions for comfort, both in and out of the tub.
I hope this was helpful for Parents and for Birth Professionals alike, and that you enjoyed learning about why swim rings are one of my favorite things to use in my doula work!