What is a Birth Comb & who is Midwife Lily?

This blog post was written for us by Midwife Lily, founder of Yuula

What is a birth comb?
The Yuula Birth Comb is a must-have tool that works to distract the brain away from the sensations of birth as they build. The Birth Comb is made from strong peach wood, and designed for use during labour and birth. It is a popular new technique using a combination of acupressure and the gate control theory, whilst also stimulating your bodies own natural pain relief- endorphins. 

What is the gate control theory?
The gate control theory says that your brain can’t concentrate on more than one uncomfortable sensation at a time. What a game changer for birth! So whilst we have had amazing feedback for how the Birth Comb has helped unmedicated birth. We have also heard how it's been utilised for those having a caesarean birth. The Yuula Birth Comb is able to provide the distraction needed during cannula and spinal insertion, as well as the birth itself. Similarly it is a brilliantly flexible tool for induction of labour, pick it up and put it down with tightenings as well as any uncomfortable procedures like vaginal examinations.

The power of acupressure
When using the birth comb we are focusing our energy on a powerful acupressure point in the palm of your hand, a minor chakra called the Lao Gong (Pericardium 8) or ‘Palace of Labour’. 

The Lao Gong is situated where the tip of your middle finger and ring finger land in the palm of your hand when you make a fist. Simply clutch the comb in your hand tightly to activate pressure points by pushing the teeth of the comb into the Lao Gong point. You’ll feel in control, powerful and empowered. 

The comb is great for reducing anxiety and tension, whilst increasing the feel of control and empowerment. Just what every birthing person needs. You can then continue to utilise this technique during any anxious moments or painful procedures beyond your birth too.

Endorphins- your bodys own pain relief 
Did you know that during an unmedicated physiological birth the body creates its own natural pain relief. Birth is a cocktail of hormones and one of those released is Beta-endorphins. Endorphins are naturally occurring opiates- similar to morphine. The birth comb and the sensation it creates works to stimulate more of these morphine like endorphins!

Who is Midwife Lily?
Lily is a Mum and a Midwife on a mission to support women on their journey to the birth experience that they dream about. Done right, birth is the single most transformative experience of our lives. Lily believes that helping women feel empowered and centred, at the forefront of all decision making, can begin their journey into parenthood with more confidence and excitement, than they ever thought possible. 

As a Midwife and Mum of 3, Lily has spent the last decade gathering lived experience, and evidence based knowledge to know how to support the journey of pregnancy, birth and beyond.

In supporting those around her to have empowered, individualised and informed experiences, she had unknowingly created a birth toolkit that works. And with that, Yuula was born!