DIY  simulator ideas

3D printed stand for a DIY simulator

We have an engineering challenge: build this set of leg supports that will hold a DIY silicone simulator (see the examples below of what the torso looks like). The idea is to have 2 of these leg supports. Each leg will fit into the support (which will be bolted onto a piece of plywood). There's a sort of "arm" sticking up on each side, through which a piece of strapping will go and be strapped around the opening of the torso.

Why this type of support?

The potty stool works well, but the one disadvantage is that you cannot do fundal pressure, since the torso's "belly" is resting on the potty stool. If this idea works, it would provide access to the torso's belly while keeping the simulator stable and elevated above the support surface.

The 2 leg supports will be mirror images of each other, so the "arms" will be on the outside. The supports should be at least 6 mm thick, maybe more depending on how strong 3D printed plastic is. 

We created a rough mockup with paper so you can see how the one piece needs to stick out. I included a ruler so you can scale it properly when you print the pattern, since it's with A4 European paper. (Hint: tell the printer NOT to resize and it should keep the right scale.)

If you think you can design this to be 3D printed, please be in touch! (info@breechwithoutborders.org).

DIY silicone simulator

While we love the Sophie and Her Mum simulator, we also realize that not everyone can afford it. We were contacted by a student midwife in the US who used a silicone torso from Amazon (WARNING: not work appropriate!) and a 100% silicone baby from Temu to make a DIY simulator. 

• Assembly instructions 
• Juice container acts as the "pelvis"

Following the instructions above, our instructor Lucia in New Zealand tried it herself with good results! Below are videos showing how she hollowed out the torso, how the Sophie & Temu babies compare, and how the maneuvers work with the Amazon torso & Temu baby. 

Next, Rixa decided to test out the DIY simulator for herself! 

The BWB community has been experimenting further with this DIY design...we love some of the creative solutions they've come up with! A midwife in Australia embedded a stiff ring inside the top opening of the torso to hold it open. She used a colorful scarf to tie the torso securely onto the potty stool.

DIY foam simulator

Necessity is the mother of invention! Tuly von Prehn from Brazil showed BWB her simulator made out of foam and bike shorts.

She describes how she made it: 

"She was carved from a block of foam! Originally I bought some birth models (no money for expensive ones), but the babies couldn't fit for arm maneuvers (sweeps and Side to Side) because the baby's arms don't work for that. For some reason the arms cannot go above the head… 

"So I did what Brazilians do…I found a way lol. I bought a solid block of foam (super cheap) and carved my own pelvis and with a couple of bicycle shorts I wrapped her. In the pelvic area I put a cheese strainer cut to mold the pubic bone and she fits well for fabric babies! And it works much better. 

"I think it cost me 100 reals (USD $18!!). So yeah, that works much better for our rural area, middle-of-nowhere low-income traditional school!"