Up and Down Birth Stages Diagrams PDF Download

These A4 digital download watercolour posters represent (some of!) what is happening in the womb during surges (contractions) and would be a great tool for remembering the hard work your body is doing in labour - and how the sensations in your womb are safe and productive. A great support alongside hypnobirthing and educating yourself on physiological birth, or for doulas to include in client materials. The files are A4 sized but people have been pleased with the results enlarging to A3 too (please see pictures for examples from customers 🙏)

"We think in pictures and we should be painting accurate pictures. The cervix nor the vagina bloom. The cervix is not a zip lock bag. The purpose of labor is NOT the creation of an opening or a hole... The purpose of labor contractions and retractions is to BUILD the fundus, which will, when it is ready, EJECT the baby, like a piston. Without a nice thick fundus there is no power to get baby out....the cervix does not dilate out....it dilates UP as a result of the effort to pull muscles up into the uterus to push muscles up to the fundus." - Carla Hartley, midwifery educator

Having an accurate picture could make such a difference for women who are imagining what is happening in their bodies during labour.

Although I practised visualisations during my first pregnancy (balloons rising in the air, blowing bubbles etc), I don't remember actually finding them meaningful during birth.

I feel that it will be more meaningful and relatable to focus on visualising what's actually happening in the body, and what the sensations of the surges are FOR, to help remember they are safe and (desirable!).

During the UP stage, the longitudinal muscles squeeze at the top of the womb, pulling the muscles up and pushing down on the baby. The muscles start to bunch up at the top of the womb, and they then help to push down during the DOWN stage - so really up and down are all about moving the baby down - it's just that the muscles are moving up to open the cervix and get ready to push, to begin with. I see it a bit like squeezing a tube at the top pushes the contents out of the bottom ☺️

If there are any other birth illustrations that you or your doula clients would find helpful please let me know 😊

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Copyright and Limited Use Commercial License

These handmade images, text and files are copyright of Hannah Thomas of Womb to World Art and sole copyright is retained by them.

The limited use commercial license that comes with this download means that birth workers, doulas, hypnobirthing teachers, prenatal yoga teachers, antenatal educators and midwives can print to share and use with pregnant women, birth partners and clients. By buying this download you are agreeing to the following terms:

The license means you - as an individual - can:

- Print the downloads on paper or card at the size specified
- Give the printouts as handouts to your clients, or use as teaching tools or posters for your own business
- You may use use a professional print service or print at home
- Add the images to a Powerpoint presentation to use with clients in person or remotely, as long as the presentation file itself isn't shared digitally
- Share the content using photos or videos of your printed materials on social media

The license DOES NOT allow you to:

- Print the images for any other reason than above or on any other material e.g. on a notebook or mug to give away
- Use the images as part of a product you will sell
- Share the digital files with anyone by email or another method
- Add the digital files to your website or use on social media
- Edit the images or remove my brand name
- Share with other professionals in your organisation.

Thank you for respecting the time that has gone into creating this artwork. If you have any questions about the license agreement, please contact me.

Disclaimer:

Please note these images are stylised visual representations, and the information is accurate to the best of my knowledge, but I am not a medical professional and therefore there may be words or parts of the drawings that aren't 100% atomically and medically accurate. These are not intended to replace any medical caregiver advice.

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