Birth elements for greater freedom of movement.
Be-Up creates space for an active and self-determined birth. The specially developed birth elements support a variety of birthing positions, encourage freedom of movement and can be flexibly adapted to the individual needs of the woman giving birth.
The Be-Up birth elements invite women to explore movement and different positions. Throughout labour, this creates new possibilities that can be explored together with the midwife and birth companion and adapted to the individual needs of the woman giving birth.
This creates space for an individual birth experience – active, self-determined and centred around the needs of the woman.
One system. Many possibilities.
The Be-Up birth elements can be used individually or flexibly combined with one another. This creates a wide range of possibilities for upright, kneeling, sitting and supported birthing positions – adapted to the individual course of labour and the needs of the woman giving birth.
A partner or birth companion can also actively use the elements to support the woman during labour, provide stability and reassurance, and explore different positions together.
Ummi
Born from the mother
Three sizes for different needs
Mini: 30 × 45 × 50 cm
Medi: 35 × 45 × 50 cm
Maxi: 40 × 45 × 50 cm
Flexible support. Close companionship.
Ummi provides a stable seating option for the woman giving birth, her birth companion or the midwife. The three sizes can be flexibly combined and stacked to create a suitable height. This allows closeness and direct contact, enabling the birth companion to provide support, stability or massage.
Commonly used for: shepherd’s position · kneeling on · kneeling against
Often used in combination with a birthing rope or carrying cloth.
Nneka
My mother is the greatest
U-shaped design for versatile support
Base dimensions: 45 × 50 cm
Height: 35 cm
Flexible positioning. Support together.
Nneka can be used as a birthing stool and integrated flexibly into a variety of birthing positions. Its distinctive U-shape creates different possibilities for sitting and support.
The birth companion can also actively use Nneka to stay close to the woman, provide stability and support her in different positions.
Commonly used for: sitting · supported positions · support from a birth companion
Imara
The strong-willed one
Wedge cushion for flexible positioning
Dimensions: 50 × 60 × 20 cm
Move. Position. Support.
Imara can be flexibly integrated into a variety of birthing positions. Its wedge shape allows it to be used as a stepping element and combined flexibly with other Be-Up birth elements.
Imara can also provide targeted support in different positions, creating additional possibilities for adapting the birthing environment to the individual needs of the woman giving birth.
Commonly used for: stepping · supported positions · combination with other Be-Up birth elements
Taio
Born to be happy
40 cm high. Plenty of space for movement.
Dimensions: 100 × 200 × 40 cm
Create space. Move. Support.
Taio provides a generous surface for movement, changing positions and a variety of birthing positions. The mattress can be used in many different ways and flexibly combined with other Be-Up birth elements.
After birth, Taio can also provide space for supportive and self-determined postnatal care. If, for example, a perineal tear needs to be sutured, the mother can be comfortably positioned on Taio in combination with Ummi and Imara. Her birth companion can remain directly behind her, providing closeness, stability and support.
This allows the mother to remain in a comfortable and supported position during medical care – with greater freedom of movement and closeness, while continuing to feel actively involved in the experience immediately after birth.
Commonly used for: different birthing positions · changing positions · resting · postnatal care · combination with Ummi and Imara
Dayo L
Great joy, joy has come, joy in life
Floor mat for movement and changing positions
Dimensions: 100 × 200 × 4 cm
Move. Change positions. Create freedom.
Dayo L provides a comfortable surface for a variety of birthing positions and gives the woman space to move freely and change her position throughout labour.
The distinctive shape of the floor mat allows the midwife or medical staff to stay close to the woman without having to step onto the mat. At the same time, Dayo L can be flexibly combined with the other Be-Up birth elements.
Commonly used for: all-fours position · kneeling · squatting · standing · combination with other Be-Up birth elements
Dayo M
Great joy, joy has come, joy in life
Floor mat for movement and changing positions
Dimensions: 100 × 160 × 4 cm
Move. Change positions. Create freedom.
Dayo M provides a comfortable surface for a variety of birthing positions and gives the woman space to move freely and change her position throughout labour.
The distinctive shape of the floor mat allows the midwife or medical staff to stay close to the woman without having to step onto the mat. At the same time, Dayo M can be flexibly combined with the other Be-Up birth elements.
Commonly used for: all-fours position · kneeling · squatting · standing · combination with other Be-Up birth elements
Names with meaning
The names of our Be-Up birth elements have their roots in different languages and cultures of the African continent. Ummi and Imara originate from Swahili, Nneka from Igbo, and Taio and Dayo from Yoruba. Each name carries a special meaning and, for us, symbolises the unique connection between mother, baby and birth.
With these names, we would like to express our respect and appreciation for women giving birth and their babies. In this way, each Be-Up element has not only a practical function, but also its own identity and meaning – as an expression of our respect for the uniqueness of every birth.
Made for movement.
The Be-Up birth elements create space for a variety of birthing positions and individual movement. Used individually or flexibly combined, they support the woman in adapting her position throughout labour according to her own needs.
This creates freedom of movement – for an active and self-determined birth.
Movement during labour
Movement can play an important role during labour. Being able to change position throughout birth allows the woman to respond to her body and the course of labour. Upright, kneeling, sitting or supported positions provide different ways for her to take an active role in shaping her birth experience.
This is exactly where the Be-Up birth elements come in. Ummi provides different seating and support heights, Nneka enables upright and supported positions as a birthing stool, while Imara can be used for support, elevation or as a stepping element. Taio and Dayo provide generous surfaces for movement, changing positions and kneeling or floor-level positions. The elements can be used individually or flexibly combined.
This creates a birthing environment in which no single position is prescribed. Instead, the woman can explore together with her midwife and birth companion which position feels right for her at each stage of labour.
The Be-Up Study underlines the importance of this approach: women in the Be-Up birthing room adopted upright positions more frequently during labour and spent less time in lying positions. The study also found a significant association between upright maternal positions and women’s experience of self-determination during birth.
Movement therefore means more than simply changing position – it creates space for an active, individual and self-determined birth.
Flexible combinations
The Be-Up birth elements are designed as a flexible system and can be used individually or combined depending on the situation. This creates a variety of possibilities for sitting, kneeling, supporting, leaning, elevating or relieving pressure – adapted to each stage of labour and the individual needs of the woman giving birth.
Ummi, Nneka and Imara can provide different heights and possibilities for sitting and support, while Taio and Dayo create space for movement and changing positions. By combining the elements, the birthing environment can be adapted again and again without restricting the woman to a particular position.
At the same time, the elements create opportunities for closeness and the active involvement of the birth companion. A partner or birth companion can remain close to the woman, provide stability, support her, offer massage or explore different positions together with her. Closeness can create a sense of trust and security, helping the woman to focus more fully on herself, her body and her individual needs.
By exploring and experiencing different positions together, the birth companion can take an active role throughout labour. This provides not only physical support – it can also strengthen the connection between the woman and her birth companion and make birth a shared experience.
The midwife can flexibly integrate the elements into individual care, continually exploring new possibilities together with the woman and her birth companion.
This creates a birthing environment that adapts to the woman and the course of labour – with space for movement, closeness, trust and a shared birth experience.
Developed from research. Designed for maternity care.
Be-Up has its origins in the scientific Be-Up Study, which investigated a movement-friendly birthing environment using floor mats, mattresses and foam elements. The study explored how a specifically designed birthing environment could give women more opportunities for movement, different maternal positions and self-determined action during labour.
The findings underline the importance of movement and upright positions: women in the Be-Up birthing room adopted upright positions more frequently and spent less time in lying positions. The study also found a significant association between upright maternal positions and women’s experience of self-determination during birth.
Based on these experiences and findings, Be-Up was further developed for use in maternity care. Following the study, the floor mats, mattresses and foam elements used during the research were further optimised. This resulted in a flexible system of birth elements designed to support movement, different positions and the individual adaptation of the birthing environment.
Today, Ummi, Nneka, Imara, Taio and Dayo can be used individually or flexibly combined. They create different possibilities for sitting, kneeling, supporting, leaning, elevating and moving, while also enabling the active involvement of the midwife and birth companion.
In this way, Be-Up combines scientific findings with the practical needs of maternity care – creating a birthing environment that gives women more space for movement, individual needs and self-determination.
Scientific evidence. Put into practice.
The Be-Up Study showed the importance that freedom of movement and upright maternal positions can have for women’s experience of self-determination during birth. The birthing environment investigated in the study gave women more opportunities to move, change positions and actively shape their birth experience.
Today, these findings are translated into practice through the Be-Up birth elements. Ummi, Nneka, Imara, Taio and Dayo together create a flexible birthing environment that accommodates different positions, movement and individual needs.
The aim is not to prescribe a particular course of labour or a specific birthing position. Instead, the elements create possibilities for sitting, kneeling, supporting, leaning, elevating, moving and resting – while also creating opportunities for closeness and active support from the midwife and birth companion.
In this way, scientific research becomes a practical concept for the birthing room: more space for movement, more possibilities for individual positions and greater freedom for women to shape their birth experience in a self-determined way.
Be-Up – where research meets maternity care.
Would you like to use Be-Up in your hospital, birth centre, university or maternity care setting? We would be happy to advise you personally on the Be-Up birth elements, their versatile applications and combinations, and a suitable selection for your facility.
Together, we can explore which elements best suit your space, your requirements and your approach to maternity care.
Create more space for movement, individual birthing positions and a self-determined birth.