The BirthRite Floor Studio is an arrangement of aesthetically pleasing, low-tech items of equipment for the use of labouring women and their caregivers. The items are designed and supplied by BirthRite. BirthRite also coordinates and oversees their manufacture in Australia.

All Floor Studio components carry a 5-year warranty for manufacturing faults.

The Birthing Seat, Backrest Support, Midwife Seat and Equipment Table are made from hospital-grade fibreglass overlaid with isophalic gelcoat. They have no entry points for bacteria, and cleaning consists of a simple “spray and wipe” with any approved hospital disinfectant. They may also be rinsed off under the shower. Tips for general care of fibreglass and dealing with scratches or chips are given in the Handbook shipped with the Floor Studio. Any small repairs required should be within the capability of any specialist fibreglasser, boat repairer or automotive panelbeater.

The Backrest Support has elbow and headrest inserts made from soft, self-skinning polyurethane. These remain permanently in situ and can also be “sprayed and wiped” clean.

All legs and handles are made from marine-grade stainless steel which is virtually indestructable and easily cleaned and disinfected. The Birthing Seat and the Midwife Seat will each handle a person’s weight of up to 200 kg. The Equipment Table is intended to accommodate items required for assisting with a normal birth: it is not designed for sitting.

The casing of the Tri-Positional Mirror is made from soft, self-skinning polyurethane. This material is extremely tough and can also be easily washed under running water, then sprayed with disinfectant and wiped dry; it does not require any maintenance. The reflective panel is made from thick glass with a polished rim and shatterproofing tape on the back. It can be popped out of the casing for cleaning and then popped back in, ready for use. In the rare event of breakage of the glass, BirthRite can supply a replacement panel at very low cost; alternatively, any glazier would be able to replace the glass.

The lightweight, firm, contoured Floor Mats and Kneeling Pads are 12 mm thick. They are constructed from impermeable PEVA 75 which is heat-sealed into a sanitized marine-grade vinyl. The materials are fire-retardant, and the combination is hard-wearing and slip-resistant. It does not require maintenance. EVA has excellent memory, so the Mat will not dent or lose its shape from items placed upon it. As the vinyl is pre-treated against bacterial growth, it requires only a wipe down with soap and water. Please note that repeated spraying with harsh hospital disinfectants would make the vinyl hard and possibly brittle over a period of a couple of years.

The Floor Studio has no moving parts. No regular servicing of any of its components is required. If any of the fibreglass constituents wears out over the course of many years, it can be separated (if applicable) from its stainless steel legs and discarded, to be replaced cost-effectively by a new fibreglass unit, onto which the retained stainless steel legs can be directly screwed back.

Detailed instructions, as well as a Quick Reference table, of cleaning recommendations for Floor Studio components are contained in the Handbook shipped with the Floor Studio.

The BirthRite Birthing Seat has been in use in numerous hospitals around the world since 1996. At no time have any unexpected problems been reported to BirthRite. Feedback from women and professionals has been excellent.

A one-hour teaching film, The BirthRite Experience, is supplied with the Floor Studio, describing its use in various obstetric scenarios. It also discusses common obstetric concerns. Correct lifting procedures are shown, as well as correct positioning of the caregiver when assisting the woman to give birth or to get up and down from the Birthing Seat. It is considered mandatory for professsionals wishing to use the Floor Studio with their labouring clients to view the teaching film prior to use in order to familiarise themselves with the recommended positioning of woman and midwife.