This is from the new August 2000 Reader's Digest, p. 58:

Mother's Helper

An inflatable belt that goes around the abdomen may help women in labor
deliver with greater ease.  The new Labor Assister is specially designed to
benefit the growing number of low-risk, first-time mothers who receive
epidural analgesia for pain relief.  These women often have prolonged labor
and the new belt, which inflates and deflates in sync with contractions,
could speed delivery.  A U.S. trial of the device, which began in November
1998, will be completed this fall.  Researchers hope to show that the belt
decreases the need for instrument (forceps or vacuum extractor) or surgical
(Caesarean) births by 25 percent.  -- Julianne Remington, INNX Health

Kathy Dettwyler

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