The present invention relates to improvements in birthing and, more particularly, to a harness and harnessing methods to facilitate birthing.

Regional analgesia or anaesthesia, including in particular epidural and/or spinal analgesia/anaesthesia, is commonly used for relieving pain during childbirth. Although very effective for relieving pain, administration of the analgesia/anaesthesia, via what is generally termed an "epidural block" or "spinal block", gives rise to undesirable side effects, including in particular muscle weakness which may be sufficient that the mother must remain lying on her side or in a semi-sitting position for the labour and delivery.

Blocks, particularly epidural blocks, have been associated with a significant increase in the number of instrumental and medical deliveries, which include episiotomies, forceps deliveries, vacuum extractions and caesarean sections. When a woman sits on her bottom in labour, her coccyx (tail bone) curls forward, reducing the space in her uterus by up to 30%. If the baby presents posteriorly, its back pushes against the nerves in the mother's spine, causing significant pain - often being a principal reason for the epidural in the first place. As the baby enters the birth canal, it needs to turn to progress forward. Because the mother must labour in a lying or semi-sitting position, due to muscle weakness from the epidural block, forward progression of the baby is obstructed by the protruding coccyx. If the woman could be moved into an upright position in which she leans forward, the coccyx would move into general alignment with her spine, and thus out of the way, allowing the baby to turn and move down into the birth canal. The baby's head, assisted by gravity and contractions, would then push firmly against the mother's cervix, causing release of the hormone oxytocin, which, among other things, regulates and orchestrates contractions. Contractions would then be strong and regular, so that augmentation (induction) may be unnecessary. An upright position in which the woman kneels, with her knees apart and thighs generally upright, and leans forward against a support (such as a bean bag) is a natural labouring and birthing position; most women who are able to move around during labour will automatically, instinctively, adopt this position. However, if the woman has been given an epidural block, resulting muscle weakness would make it unsafe, if not impossible, for her to do so - hence the need for instrumental and medical deliveries as referred to above. Obesity, which has become more common in pregnant women, presents particular risks for a caesarean delivery, often to the extent that vaginal birth which is instrument-assisted and/or which may even require breaking the baby's bones, necessitated by the woman's assuming a lying or semi -sitting position following administration of pain relief, is deemed preferable over a caesarean delivery if the mother is obese. Complications in an obese mother can be exacerbated by her having limited mobility because of her excessive weight.

Where the mother has previously had a caesarean delivery, the need for her to assume a lying or semi-sitting position to deliver vaginally following administration of regional analgesia/anaesthesia, via a so-called "vaginal birth after caesarean" (VBAC), can increase the risk of rupture of the scar from the caesarean, and may thus necessitate a caesarean delivery.

It would be highly desirable to be able to administer effective pain relief for childbirth whilst still allowing for a reduced-risk natural birth which requires little or no intervention.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a harness for supporting a female person ("mother"), with her knees spaced apart, in a forwardly leaning position while she is in labour and as she gives birth, the harness being cormectable to a support to depend therefrom, and comprising an upper section configured to hold an upper part of the mother's torso and a lower section engageable with the mother's legs to limit the spacing between her knees.

Preferably, the harness comprises a connector provided at a rearward position on the upper section for attachment to the support. The support may comprise, for example, a cable hung from overhead in a delivery room. In accordance with the preferred embodiments of the invention, as the mother kneels and leans into a forward part of the upper section, her knees act as pivot points, and the weight in the part of her body which is disposed forwardly of her knees creates a moment which, but for the connection to the support, would cause her to topple/collapse forwardly about those pivot points. The line of action of the centre of gravity of that part of her body can be between her knees and the connection to the support.

Owing to engagement between the harness and the upper section of the torso, it is possible for there to be little or no pressure exerted by the harness against the mother's belly area.

The reaction force of the supporting surface, typically that of a bed, on which the mother kneels has the effect of urging her knees apart and thus splaying her thighs, which the mother, with an epidural administered to her, would be generally unable to counter unassisted. The harness, once the separation between her knees reaches a predetermined limit, precludes separation beyond that limit, whereby the mother's splayed thighs and the harness bracing the mother's legs define a stable supportive base.

Preferably, the upper and lower sections are interconnected. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, loads taken through the lower section can be transferred, through the interconnection between the sections, to the upper section. Preferably, the interconnection extends longitudinally over opposite lateral sides of the mother, clear of the belly and groin areas. Transfer of loads through the interconnection may thus be such that little or no pressure is exerted on those areas by the harness. Preferably, the interconnection comprises straps. Alternatively, it could comprise cords, or sufficiently strong fabric strips or panelling.

Preferably, the lower section includes a pair of leg units each of which is configured to receive and hold a respective leg. Preferably, each leg unit is arranged to extend longitudinally over a lateral side of the respective thigh to be coupled with the upper section. Accordingly, it is possible for there to be little or no interference to the birth posed by the interconnection between the leg units and the remainder of the harness.

Preferably, the leg units are detachably coupled to the upper section.

Preferably, each leg unit is configured for firm circumferential engagement with a respective thigh. To this end, each leg unit preferably comprises thigh strapping which is releasably receivable around the respective thigh. In one embodiment of the invention, the strapping comprises a single strap member receivable around a lower-to-mid region of the thigh. In another embodiment of the invention, the strapping comprises a pair of strap members, a one receivable around a lower-to-mid region of the thigh and the other receivable thereabove, preferably around a mid-to-upper level of the thigh.

Preferably, each leg unit is circumferentially adjustable to be firmly engageable with thighs of differing girth and/or such that the level at which it circumferentially engages the thigh is variable.

Preferably, each leg unit is receivable around the knee/upper shin area of the respective leg, so as to extend between that area and a support surface on which the mother kneels, whereby the leg unit defines a cradle which provides support through the respective leg upward of the knee/upper shin area. To this end, each leg unit preferably comprises knee/upper shin strapping receivable around the knee/upper shin area.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the knee/upper shin strapping is interconnected with the thigh strapping in each leg unit.

Preferably, each leg unit comprises a first strap member arranged to extend along a lateral side of the respective thigh and a second strap member which is interconnected with the first strap member and extends around the thigh. Preferably, the first strap member further , extends to be receivable around the knee/shin area and is interconnected at a lower end thereof with the second strap member. Preferably, the first strap member is fixedly interconnected with the second strap member at the lower end. Preferably, the first strap member is floatably coupled to the second strap member at a laterally outer position.

Preferably, the lower section includes a tensionable brace arranged to extend between the legs to limit the spacing between the knees. The tendency of the thighs to splay outwardly on the supporting surface may bring the brace into tension such that it arrests further spreading apart of the knees.

Preferably, the brace is detachable.

In an embodiment of the invention, the brace may be separate from the remainder of the harness.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the brace is coupled to the leg units. Preferably, the brace is detachably coupled to at least one, and more preferably both, of the leg units. It may thus be possible for the brace to be disengaged, particularly when the mother is not anaesthetised, such that the mother can separate her legs in a substantially normal manner when wearing the harness. Preferably, the brace is adjustable whereby a threshold or maximum spacing between the knees, as allowed by the brace, is variable.

Preferably, the brace comprises strapping. Preferably, the brace comprises a single strap member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the brace connects to the leg units at positions which are adjacent the knees/upper shins when the harness is worn.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the brace is positioned to extend, between the legs, adjacent the support surface when the mother is kneeling on the surface wearing the harness, preferably resting against the surface. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, opposite ends of the brace are, preferably removably, attached to the cradles.

Preferably, a front side of harness defines a substantially open structure below the upper torso. Owing to this structure, it is possible for there to be little or no pressure exerted on the belly/groin area. Preferably, the front side is configured with an opening arranged to extend downwardly from the upper torso, accommodating the belly, over the front of the groin and between the thighs. The opening is preferably centred over a central longitudinal axis of the mother.

Preferably, a rear side of the harness defines a substantially open structure below the upper torso. Preferably, this open structure is configured to expose a substantial part of the lower back. Preferably, the open structure defined by the back side is configured to expose a substantial part of the buttocks.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the harness comprises panelling configured for receipt directly against the mother's body.

Preferably, the panelling is defined by a suit.

Preferably, the harness comprises a vest portion and/or a crotchless pant portion. The portion(s) may define at least part of the panelling.

Preferably, the panelling is made from flexible, closed-cell foam. Preferably, the harness comprises a frame structure. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the panelling underlies the frame structure. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the harness comprises shoulder straps and a chest strap engaged with the shoulder straps and extending transverse thereto. The chest strap may directly take loads exerted by the forward leaning of the mother, which may thence be transferred to the support through the shoulder straps.

Preferably, the harness comprises a connector at a rearward side thereof for attachment to the support. Preferably, the connector, which may comprise a loop or eye, is provided on the upper section. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided, in combination, a harness as defined above and said support.

The support may comprise a cable, chain, strap or the like which hangs from overhead, and may, for example, depend from an overhead beam, such as a roof or ceiling beam.

Preferably, the support is adjustable such that the level of an interconnection between the harness and the mother is controllably variable. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support comprises a winch or overhead crane. The support preferably is movable along at least one horizontal axis, and more preferably is movable in a horizontal plane. Operation of the support to move the woman into a kneeling, forwardly leaning position may then be facilitated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of supporting a mother kneeling, with her knees spaced apart, on a surface in a forwardly leaning position, while she is in labour and as she gives birth, wherein an epidural and/or spinal block has been administered to the mother, and the mother wears a harness as defined above connected to said support and depending therefrom.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a procedure for delivery of a baby, comprising administering an epidural and/or spinal block to the mother, and, using a harness as defined above which is being worn by the mother, orientating the mother such that she is kneeling with her knees spaced apart, in a forwardly leaning position, and supporting her, with the harness connected to the support, while she is in labour and as she gives birth. Preferably, the epidural/spinal block is administered while the woman is wearing the harness either in its entirety or minus the brace. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the woman, as is typical, sits on the edge of a bed and leans forward during the administration. The present invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a harness embodying the invention, in an assembled and closed condition;

Figure 2 is a front view of a woman wearing a harness embodying the invention;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the woman wearing the harness of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side view of the woman wearing the harness of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a front view of the harness of Figure 1, in which an inner of the harness is in a closed condition and a chest strap and bridging strap, both of which form part of a frame of the harness, are undone and detached respectively;

Figure 6 is a rear view showing the inner of the harness of Figure 1 in an open condition, from which bridging strap and detachable leg strapping units of the harness frame have been removed;

Figure 7 is a rear view also showing the inner of the harness of Figure 1 in an open condition, in which one of the leg strapping units is attached to the inner and the other is detached from the inner, and one of the leg units is in an open condition and the other is in a closed condition;

Figure 8 is a front view showing the inner of the harness of Figure 1 in an open condition;

Figure 9 is a front view showing a top section of the harness of Figure 1 in a closed condition; and Figure 10 is front view showing a bottom section of the harness of Figure 1 in a closed condition.

Figure 11 shows front and rear views of a woman wearing a harness embodying the invention;

Figures 12 A, 12B and 12C are rear, front and side views, respectively, of the a woman wearing a harness embodying the invention;

Figure 13A shows how the woman, wearing a harness as shown in any of Figures 1, 2, 11 and 12A to 12C, is supported in the birthing position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 13B and 13C show examples of alternative ways of the supporting, in the birthing position, the woman wearing a harness in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention; and

Figure 14 shows an alternative way of bracing the woman's legs to keep her knees from splaying apart when she is in the birthing position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

A harness 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The harness 1 is configured to be worn by a mother to whom an epidural has been administered, to provide support to her in a kneeling position, as shown in Figures 2 to 4 and 13 A, during labour/delivery.

The harness 1 includes a frame 3 comprising a load-bearing strapping structure which, consistent with ordinary safety harnesses, comprises flexible, substantially unstretchable, webbing, which may be made of water repellent, woven nylon fibre, and an inner or core 5, in the form of a suit, over which the frame is received and which is formed of a single piece of soft, waterproof, resiliently flexible material, which preferably comprises closed-cell foam, such as polychloroprene, and in particular that which is promoted under the trade name Neoprene, such material being easy to clean/launder, quick-drying, insulative, waterproof and durable. The core 5 is receivable snugly against the woman's body and forms a soft padding which reduces pressure exerted on the body by the frame. With reference to Figure 13A, the harness 1 in use is secured to a cable 200 which may be secured to and depend from an anchor point 210 provided on a sufficiently sturdy overhead structure, which may comprise a ceiling 220 in the delivery room, as will be described in further detail later.

The harness 1 comprises an upper section 10 which is received over the upper torso (see Figure 2) and a lower section 30 which is received around the rear of the woman's waist area and receives parts 104 of the woman's legs upward of and including the knee/upper shin area, as will be described in further detail later.

With reference in particular to Figures 6 and 8, the core 5 comprises arm holes 12, a pair of opposed interconnectable chest flaps 14 which are interconnectable to secure the core 5 across the woman's chest (see Figures 1, 5 and 9) an upper back panel 16 which covers the woman's upper back/shoulder blade area, longitudinal side panels 18 extending from the panel 16/flaps 14 to be receivable against the outer lateral sides of the woman's torso and hip area (see Figure 4), and leg panels 20 receivable against lateral sides of the woman's thighs/upper legs. Formed at the lower end of each leg panel 20 are leg flaps 22 which are receivable around the thigh area of the respective upper leg and interconnectable to secure the core 5 to that leg. The chest flaps 14 are provided with complementary hook-and-loop fastener portions 14A so as to be overlappingly interconnectable. The leg flaps 22 are, similarly, provided with complementary hook-and-loop fastener portions 22A (attached by polyester stitching) so as to be overlappingly interconnectable. The back portion of the core 5 is open below the panel 16 but for a narrow bridge section 24 which interconnects lower ends of the panels 18 so as to extend across the woman's lower back/rear waist area, an opening 26 thus being defined through the back portion, the opening 26 being bounded by the panel 16, panels 18 and bridging section 24. The bridging section 24 assists in retention of the side panels 18 in their correct positions against the woman's body.

The frame 3 includes a pair of main straps 40 each of which extends, exteriorly on the core 5, from the lower end of a respective leg panel 20, longitudinally over the leg panel 20 and respective side panel 18, laterally inwardly and upwardly, between openings 12 and 26, to panel 16 and to a buckle member 42, through which they are fed and where they cross over, and thence, referring to Figures 1, 2 _S 5 and 9, extend to be receivable over the woman's shoulders and then downwardly and laterally outwardly, over the outer sides of the woman's chest and rib cage area, back to side panels 18. The sections of straps 40 extending from lower ends of the leg panels 20 to lower ends of the side panels 18 are stitched, via polyester stitching, to the core 5, as are the sections of those straps which extend from upper ends of the side panels 18 to an upper end of the upper back panel 16, to which the buckle member 42 is adjacent. The frame 3 is provided with a lifting eye or loop 50 a portion of which is received between the crossing over straps 40 and the buckle member 42 such that the loop is secured at the cross-over point. The buckle member 42 and thus the lifting loop 50 can, when pulled firmly, float along the straps 40 to adjust the position of the cross-over point and lifting loop 50 according to the anatomy and/or comfort requirements of the woman.

With reference in particular to Figures 2 and 9, the frame 3 further includes a chest strap 45 one end of which is doubled over and stitched, via polyester stitching, to form a loop 46 which is received around a front section 40A of one of the straps 40, and which extends therefrom, so as to cross the woman's chest to be received around the front section 40A of the other strap 40, and thence be doubled back on itself, so that an end portion 45 A of the chest strap 45 is received against a portion 45 B of the strap which extends between the sections 40A. The sections 45A and 45B are provided with complementary hook-and-loop fastener portions in the form of strips 45C, 45D which are stitched, via polyester stitching, thereto and extend therealong such that they releasably engage when brought against each other. The front strap sections 40A are received through buckles 47 which entrap the chest strap 45 axially with respect to the strap sections 40A, the buckles 47 being able to float along the front sections 40A, if pulled firmly enough, to adjust the level of the strap 45 on the chest according to anatomical and comfort requirements. The span of the chest strap 45 is also adjustable, again according to comfort and/or anatomy, by virtue of the degree to which the strap 45 is doubled back on itself (i.e. the relative lengths of the sections 45 A and 45B) being variable, within the attachment limits of the strips 45C, 45D.

The frame 3 further comprises leg strapping 60 for taking up loads through the woman's legs and limiting how far her knees splay apart as she kneels. The leg strapping 60 comprises left and right strapping units 62, each strapping unit comprising, with reference in particular to Figure 7, a first strap 64, which is arranged to extend longitudinally along the outside of the respective leg, and under and around the knee area to form a cradle section 65, and a second strap 70, interconnected with first strap 64, which wraps around the lower thigh. A layer or lining 64A of soft material is attached against the inner surface of the woven nylon strapping in each of the first straps 64, the lining preferably comprising the same material as that from which the core 5 is formed and being receivable against the woman's skin, thereby providing a soft, comfortable padding. A layer or lining 70C of- such material is similarly attached against the inner surface of the woven nylon strapping in each of the second straps 70 for the same purpose.

The first strap 64 and a lower portion of a respective strap 40 are provided with complementary hook-and-loop fastener elements in the form of strips 40B, 64A via which the former is detachably connected to the latter, and owing to which the position of the strapping unit 62 along the longitudinal axis of the body can be adjusted according to the woman's anatomy. The first strap 64 is threaded through a buckle 72, and the outer portion of second strap 70 is received between the buckle 72 and the portion of strap 64 received therethrough, whereby a laterally outer section of the strap 70 is coupled to the strap 64 in a manner permitting the position of the latter along the former to be adjusted. A lower end of strap 64 is stitched, via polyester stitching, to a laterally inner section of strap 70. The strap 64 can be drawn through buckle 72 to adjust the height of the cradle portion 65 and thus the level at which the strap 70 is received around the leg, according to anatomical and/or comfort requirements. Opposite end portions of the second strap 70 are provided with complementary hook-and-loop fastener elements, attached by polyester stitching, in the form of strips 70A, 70B via which they are releasably interconnected to form a closed loop which is received circumferentially around the thigh. Separation of the end portions opens the loop and permits the cradle portion to be received around the lower knee/upper shin and a front part of the strap 70 to be received around a corresponding front part of the thigh. The remainder of strap 70 is then wrapped around the rear part of the lower thigh and the fastener strips 70A, 70B brought into contact such that the strap 70 forms a closed loop which firmly engages the thigh. Owing to the provision of the complementary fastener strips on strap 70, the size of the loop is adjustable according to the girth of the thigh.

The leg strapping 60 further comprises, referring to Figures 1 to 3, 5 and 10, a bridging strap 80 which interconnects the strapping units 62 to limit the degree to which the woman's legs are splayed as she kneels. Each end portion 80A of the strap 80 is detachably connected to a lower end 65A of a respective cradle portion 65 via complementary hook-and-loop fastener elements, attached by polyester stitching, in the form of strips 80B, 65B provided on an upper face of the strap 80 and a lower face of the cradle portion 65 (see Figure 5), whereby the end portions of 80A are received between the lower knees/upper shins and the support surface on which the woman kneels. Owing to the provision of the fastener strips 80B, the strap 80 can be attached to the cradle portions 65 at variable positions therealong, so that the length of the bridge formed between the strapping unit 62, and thus the maximum spacing between the knees which the frame will allow, can be adjusted according to the woman's anatomy, particularly the lengths of her thighs. Providing the complementary fasteners as strips 65B ensures that there will be parts of those fasteners at lowermost positions on the cradle portions 65, regardless of the heights of those cradle portions (which, as outlined above, are adjustable), facing downwardly to connect with upwardly facing strips 80B. A layer or lining of soft material may overlie the woven nylon strapping in the strap 80, the lining preferably comprising the same material as that from which the core 5 is formed, thereby providing a soft, comfortable padding.

The woman dons the harness 1 by placing her arms through openings 12, fastening the flaps 14 across her chest and each of the pairs of flaps 22 around a respective leg, thereby securing the core 5 to her body, whereby it functions as a soft padding between her and parts of the frame 3, and fastens the chest strap 45 snugly across her chest adjusting its height along straps 40A as appropriate, and secures the strapping units 62 to her legs, having adjusted, if necessary, the positions of the units 62 relative to the core 5 (in the direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the harness 1) by altering the degree of overlap between the strips 64A, 40B on each side of the harness 1. Each strap 70 is closed so as to be received firmly around the woman's thigh, and the depths of the cradle portions 65 are, if necessary, adjusted so that, when the mother kneels, they engage the lower knee/upper shin areas. The bridging strap 80 may, to start with, be detached from the leg units 62, whereby the woman can initially use her legs substantially normally when wearing the harness 1. The strap 80 may be attached to the leg units 62 prior to administration of the epidural, and remains attached when the mother is moved into the kneeling position for the labour and delivery.

The harness 1 may be configured with a holder (not shown), such as a pocket formed in the core 5, for holding a monitor, generally used during labour/birth, which monitors, among other things, the mother's and foetal heart rates, blood-oxygen levels and blood pressure.

As will be clear from Figure 2, when the harness 1 is fitted, it forms a front opening 52 which extends downwardly from the chest flaps 14, spanning substantially the entire width of the woman's torso, over the front of her pelvis and between her thighs. Importantly , the belly area is free to hang forward as the woman kneels, allowing the baby more room to turn and move - in a manner somewhat akin to the function of a hammock when a person lies in one - and there is no external pressure on the belly, which pressure can be very uncomfortable. As can be seen in Figure 4, the opening 26 exposes substantially the entirety of the woman's back below the lower shoulder blade region, including in particular the area over the lumbar vertebrae between which a catheter is inserted to administer an epidural block, and section 24 extends along the woman's lower back/rear waist area. A further opening 28 extends from section 24, spanning at least an inner part of the buttocks, to the knee area. Owing to the forwardly open structure of the harness (below the upper torso), the harness 1 allows for the baby to be delivered vaginally without exerting pressure against her belly/pelvic area, and for the midwife or obstetrician to monitor the dilation of the cervix internally and/or to carry out any other procedure which requires free access to the vagina. Any loads which are transferred from the lower/legs section of the harness to the upper/upper torso section of the harness are transferred along the lateral sides of the woman's body in the region of her upper thighs/hips/lower torso, the rear of the harness also comprising a substantially open structure below the upper torso. The section 24 is resiliently flexible and does not exert any appreciable strain on the woman's lower back. The lower section 30 of the harness 1, because the core 5 is crotchless and the frame 3 does not have groin straps extending between the upper inner thighs from front to rear, will not obstruct delivery when the harness 1 is in use.

The harness 1 , as- indicated above, is worn, either in its entirety or minus the strap 80, whilst the epidural/spinal block is administered. The woman may sit, as is typical, on the edge of a bed and lean forward during the administration. Referring to Figure 13 A, the loop 50 is connected to a winching cable (200) of an overhead hoist (constituting the "support" in the present embodiment) which is not only operable to move the lower end of the cable up and down but also moveable, either freely or in a powered manner, in a horizontal plane to facilitate moving the woman, using the hoist, from the orientation she adopts when the epidural is administered to the birthing orientation on the bed. The hoist may comprise a mobile ceiling track mobility hoist.

Following administration of the epidural and subsequent lifting/moving of the woman into the kneeling position, which is shown in Figures 3, 4 and 13A, the labour can proceed. During the labour/delivery, the woman assumes the birthing position, in which she kneels such that her thighs as viewed side-on (see Figures 4 and 13 A) are generally upright, i.e. lie in an upright plane, and she leans forwardly, allowing the baby room to move/turn and, with the help of gravity, the baby's head to press firmly against her cervix, releasing oxytocin, which regulates her contractions such that her labour progresses without augmentation (induction) and, in particular, without any need for synthetic oxytocin. The woman's head may rest against her arms, as shown in Figure 3, and her arms, in turn, as well as perhaps part of her torso, against a cushion 205 (see Figure 13 A) or other suitable front support. The birthing position, as discussed above, is that which most women who are able to move around during labour will automatically, instinctively, adopt. The hoist cable 200, engaged with loop 50, is drawn by the hoist winch so as to be tensioned sufficiently that a proportion of the woman's weight, which may typically be 30% to 50% of her weight, is taken through the harness 1. The harness upper section 10, into which the woman forwardly leans, engages the woman's upper torso, above her belly area, to transfer weight loads from the upper torso (a significant proportion of which is taken through the chest strap 45), through the loop 50, to the cable 200. Weight loads in the legs are taken up in the harness lower section 30, by the strapping units 62, and are transferred to the upper section 10 by the sections of straps 40 extending from the leg panels 20 to the upper section 10, those strap sections in so doing, advantageously, not exerting strains on the woman's belly area, owing to their being disposed on opposed lateral sides of the woman, and are transferred thence to the cable 200 through loop 50. Because a proportion of her weight continues to be supported through her thighs, the woman can still push against the bed, engaging/activating her muscles, as required in particular for the second stage of labour, for pushing the baby out, when the cervix has fully dilated. A proportion of the substantially dead weight of the woman's numb legs stabilises and "plants" her on the bed. The reaction force of the supporting surface on which her legs rest has the effect of urging them apart, which the woman, due to muscle weakness resulting from the pain relief, would not be able to counter unassisted. The bridge 80, which is connected to the cradle portions 62 before the woman assumes the kneeling position, is so connected that it precludes the spacing between the woman's knees exceeding a suitable amount. Specifically, the bridge 80 is tensioned as the woman's knees are urged laterally outwardly, stopping them from spreading, thereby acting as brace. Generally speaking, it is appropriate to connect the bridge 80 to the leg units 62 such that when it becomes tensioned, there is an angle of approximately 90° between the thighs.

It will be apparent that, as the woman kneels and leans into the forward part of the upper section 10 of the harness, her knees act as pivot points, and the weight in the part of her body which is disposed forwardly of her knees creates a moment which, but for the connection to the support, would cause her to topple/collapse forwardly about those pivot points, into the bean bag/cushion 205. The harness is configured such that the line of action of the centre of gravity of that part of her body is between her knees and the connection to the support. Much of the load the woman exerts on the harness 1 is taken directly by the chest strap, and transferred, through the shoulder straps and thence the connection, to the support.

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the woman's thighs/pelvis and the brace as formed by the bridge 80 form a triangle which functions as a truss, and thus provide a sturdy support for the delivery, notwithstanding muscle weakness in the legs resulting from the epidural.

Following the delivery, the hoist may be operated to facilitate placement of the woman back into a lying position, and the cable released from the loop 50. The woman may subsequently be released from the harness 1, which may then be laundered for re-use.

The harness according to the invention can take a variety of alternative forms, examples of which will now be described and illustrated, using, where possible, the same reference numerals, as have been used previously, to designate common features. A harness Γ according to one alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 11. The harness 1', unlike the harness 1, does not comprise an inner/core, instead comprising strapping 8 which is received directly against the woman's body. The strapping may comprise straps, formed of nylon or the like, similar to the straps in the first embodiment though, if and where appropriate, additionally a soft covering 9, which may be an outer covering within which the straps are contained (as shown in Figures 11A and 1 IB), which may, for example, be made of the same material as the core 5, to be received directly and comfortably against the woman's body. The upper section 10, though still being configured to hold the upper torso, comprises a dedicated upper back strap 43, which extends across the shoulder blades, and parallel shoulder straps 44 extending therefrom, over the shoulders to chest strap 45A, instead of the crossed over sections of straps 40 in the harness 1. A loop or eye 50 may be attached at a central position on the strap 43. Portions 40E of main straps 40 which extend along the outer lateral sides of the woman's belly/lower torso area are widened to provide extra support, reducing any tendency for the woman's lower torso/thigh area to fall forwardly out of the harness 1 , or at least a perceived such tendency, and may, to this end, be reinforced or rigidised. Leg units 62, which in this embodiment are integral with main straps 40 instead of being detachably connected thereto, may comprise higher circumferential thigh straps 70', which may supplement or replace the lower circumferential thigh straps 70. The upper section 10 of harness Γ may further comprise front and rear transverse straps 49A, 49B, the front strap 49A being approximately between the sternum and solarplexus and thus clear of the belly area of the woman.

A harness 1 " according to yet another possible embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 12A to 12C. Like the harness , this harness does not comprise a soft core but instead strapping which is preferably encapsulated within a soft outer or covering. The harness 1" has an upper section 10 comprising a strapping configuration which differs from that of the harness 1 and harness 1'. The harness 1" may be provided with a monitor- holding pocket, generally consistent with that described previously (as may the harness Γ).

In each of the harnesses Γ and 1", the bridging strap 80 may be integral with the first straps 64 which, in these embodiments, do not have return portions which extend upwardly from the knee/upper shin areas to straps 70 to form cradle portions. The bridge 80 nevertheless serves as a tension brace, preventing separation of the knees, consistent with that in the harness 1. Provision may be made to enable adjustment of the overall length of the strapping which comprises left strap 64, bridge 80 and right strap 64, according to the woman's anatomy, such that the maximum spacing between the knees, as allowed by bridge 80, is appropriate.

In other embodiments, the harness is configured for attachment to an overhead support via an alternative cabling arrangement. The alternative arrangement may comprise, as shown in Figure 13B, a pair of side-by-side upright cables 200A, 200B secured to a rear part of the upper section of the harness, at the same level up the woman's back, at positions which are spaced equally from, and to either side of, the axis of the woman's spine, possibly contributing to increased stability of the woman's supported torso in a plane in which the two cables lie. The alternative arrangement may alternatively comprise, as shown in Figure 13 C, a pair of upright cables 200, 200', the former being secured, at a central position, to the rear of the upper section, consistent with the harnesses 1, 1' and 1", and the latter being secured, also at a central position, to a rear part of the harness adjacent the waist/lower back, possibly providing useful additional support to the woman's hip/waist/lower back/lower torso area. The lower part of a harness 1"' according to yet a further possible embodiment of the invention is shown from behind in Figure 14. The harness ", instead of comprising a core and strapping frame, may comprise a suit 3' which is formed of material which is soft to be comfortably receivable directly against the woman's body, consistent with the core, but substantially unstretchable, consistent with the frame, to transfer loads adequately to the cable(s) 200/200 A,200B/200,200'. In this embodiment also, there is a strap 80 which forms a tension brace extending under and between the knees/upper shins to limit separation of the knees, end portions of the strap 80 extending part of the way up the outer lateral sides of the thighs and being releasably and adjustably connected to the suit 3 via connectors 4.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.