Patent ID: 8684954

Claim:
A child birth labor management apparatus, comprising a birthing feedback device comprising: a tactile feedback portion shaped and structured to be substantially aligned with the patient's midline within a sagittal plane adjacent the perianal tissue of a mother in child birth labor and configured to apply an amount of pressure against the perianal tissue of the mother in child birth labor within the sagittal plane; at least one rigid compression element extending from the tactile feedback portion, comprising: a first rigid compression element surface disposed to face a first buttock in the gluteal cleft of the mother in child birth labor when the tactile feedback portion is disposed adjacent the perianal tissue, the first compression element surface being rigidly fixed at a first angle relative to the tactile feedback portion to extend away from the tactile feedback portion in the direction out of the gluteal cleft; a second rigid compression element surface disposed to face a second buttock in the gluteal cleft of the mother in child birth labor when the tactile feedback portion is disposed adjacent the perianal tissue, the second compression element surface being rigidly fixed at a second angle relative to the tactile feedback portion to extend away from the tactile feedback portion in the direction out of the gluteal cleft, the at least one rigid compression element being disposed to convey applied loading toward the tactile feedback portion to maintain the pressure surface in the position adjacent the perianal tissue; and a detection system associated with the birthing feedback device and configured to change in response to a change in pressure applied against the perianal tissue by the tactile feedback portion; and a display component coupled to the detection system and providing an indication to a healthcare provider indicative of the change in pressure applied against the perianal tissue by the tactile feedback portion.