Cheap Visual Aides for CE

AmandaB · 08-24-2006, 03:17 PM

Afternoon Ladies,

I just wanted to know if anyone had any cheap ideas for visual aides. As you know most Doulas are broke and some are notriously cheap (me included

). I have a couple of ideas, the dilation chart, the balloon to show effacement and dilation, the dryer hose for the cervix.

* In case some of you don't know about the cool trick with the balloon, I will share it. Take a balloon (mine is dark pink), insert a ping pong ball. Blow up the balloon to a desent size, hold the tail (cervix) until the ping pong ball blocks the air. When you squeeze the sides, nothing happens, ie: Brackston Hicks. Squeeze down from the top, the ping pong ball travels down the tail, causing it to efface (shorten), dilate and eventually expulsion. It is a very cool visual and cheap. Disclaimer: Be careful not to take an eye out when the ping pong ball comes out,

.

Any other ideas would be helpful, or at least a site where I can find them.

MindOverLaborDoulas · 08-24-2006, 03:24 PM

That's a cool trick w/ the ball & balloon!

What is the dryer hose trick?

I'm sure if you look in the tricks of the trade section there might be some in there.. I haven't looked for tools yet!

AmandaB · 08-24-2006, 04:02 PM

The dryer hose: Get the solid elbow piece and it can be used as a cheap pelvis. I said cervix, but I was mistaken.

Kalamazoo Doula · 08-24-2006, 04:03 PM

I just love this idea! Thanks for sharing!

ctowndoula · 08-24-2006, 04:05 PM

There is a great book with lots of teaching tools you can make:Innovative Teaching Strategies Handbook For Birth Professional by Sandy and Connie.
YOu can find it all over the web. $15.95 at childbirthgraphics.com but I am sure Connie sell it on her site birthsource.com too.

Hope that helps to start.

MothertheMother · 08-24-2006, 04:12 PM

www.passionforbirth.com Teri has The Idea Box that has tons of things like this in it. The box is about $20 but it is full of great ideas with all of the info you need to create things like this. There is a second one, a continuation that is a bit cheaper...

AussieDoula · 08-24-2006, 05:05 PM

Real quick, before my computer freezes up again and I have to reboot in the middle of a post (GRRRR!):

Someone here once posted this link, but I couldn't find the thread.
*gasp* SHOCKING!

LOL!

DIY Birth Kit.

I have a couple more, but will now have to find the links again... Bleh!

JerseyJess · 08-24-2006, 06:01 PM

I take a little medicine cup (sold with children's tylenol/motrin etc..) and squirt some clear hair gel in it and then a few drops of red food coloring-this makes a great faux "mucus plug with bloody show present"

To demonstrate forewaters/hindwater, leak and gush of waters...take a ziplock bag, fill it 1/2 way with water and put in a ball. Seal and hold at angle over a bowl. The corner infront of the ball (which represents baby's head) is the forewaters and the water behind is the hindwaters. First take a needle/safety pin and prick the hindwaters and show how it results in a slow trickle...then take a scissor and snip the pocket-filled corner and show how release of the forewaters causes a "gush". The ball will move down and show how baby's head can plug the leak but how if you move the bag (the uterus) baby's head may allow more fluid to leak out.

From the Idea Box, I have couples suck on lifesavers-after a few minutes I ask them to stick out their tongues and show how thin and open the lifesavers are and how that's what your cervix does-and during labor to picture it simply melting away...

I also use an inflated balloon but I stick it under an oversized shirt (which I'm wearing) and demonstrate how the uterus moves during a contraction/surge. ANd what it looks like (on the outside) when a baby engages/drops.

tlcdoula · 08-24-2006, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseyJess

I take a little medicine cup (sold with children's tylenol/motrin etc..) and squirt some clear hair gel in it and then a few drops of red food coloring-this makes a great faux "mucus plug with bloody show present"

.

I like that idea. I will have to try it. Thank you for sharing it.

Stacie · 08-25-2006, 01:54 AM

I posted the DIY, lol. I haven't felt that ambitious, but maybe someday!

You know how they sell these knit uteri? Like this?

Well, that sells at Birthsource for over $30.00. I went to my local thriftstore, on a half off day, and found a sweater that looks like that on the sleeves. You could bring your model baby with you, but I guessed. It needs to be thin on the sleeve so it stretches thinner as the baby "crowns." I spent about $1.50, and I got two (two sleeves!). I cut the sleeves off at a distance large enough for the baby to fit into to make a cozy uterus. I then used ribbon to seal off the end. Voila! My clients love it -- it is a really good visual for them.

AussieDoula · 08-25-2006, 02:58 AM

Thanks for jogging my memory Stacie!

Along the lines of a knitted uterus, you could knit/crochet or sew a breast to use for demonstration. There are a couple of sources for patterns online; knitted breast, and "Tit Bits" (lol).
You can also crochet a boobie pillow.

I love the idea of recycling an old sweater, but if you want to knit your own uterus, there's a pattern here and a picture of the finished product below.

Annie · 08-25-2006, 03:03 AM

Aussie

AmandaB · 08-25-2006, 09:57 AM

Thanks Aussie.

You truly are the fountain of knowledge! These ideas will help, I just wish I could knit. I wonderder if I could ask my grandma??? "Hey grams, you could knit me a uterus and a pair of boobies??? HAhahahaha.

Jessica (Jersey), thank you for yor ideas. I like the bloody show demo and waters breaking. What kind of ball would you use?

AussieDoula · 08-25-2006, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amandoula1980

These ideas will help, I just wish I could knit.

If you can't knit, Stacie's suggestion really is as easy as it sounds (I've made diaper covers and longies from old sweater sleeves)! So go grab an old sweater and some scissors girl!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amandoula1980

I wonderder if I could ask my grandma??? "Hey grams, you could knit me a uterus and a pair of boobies??? HAhahahaha.

Trust me, a uterus and some boobies are pretty tame compared to some of the things I have seen knitted out there!

Stacie · 08-25-2006, 01:16 PM

A woman is actually knitting me a uterus right now. I won't use it for educational purposes, though. I am going to give it to my best friend who lost her uterus this summer -- that's the kind of friends we are, lol.

More info: http://www.lionbrand.com/stories/theUterusProject.html