I gave birth to my first child on a birth stool. I spent all my second stage on it (2 1/2 hours). I was very active right through labour, shower, walking, kneeing, hands and knees, you name it I did it. When the time came to push I couldn't find a position to really 'get into it', I was offered the stool, up until then my midwife was using it as a place to sit, she had to give up her spot I was also exhausted, so sitting on the stool was a great way to keep going and to stay upright. I also found it private as my birth attendant was behind me, my midwife sitting to the side.

It was exactly what I needed. I birthed my 10 pound girl, beautifully on the birth stool.

With my second daughter, I had a birth stool available but didn't want a bar of it, every labour is different.

The stool I used was made of wood in a horse shoe shape with a padded leather seat. I have seen a really funky birth stool/chair last year on ABC The New Inventors (I think thats the programs name?). A midwife in NSW invented a birthing chair with a matching stool for the midwife, it look good, if I come across a link I will post it up.

My only suggestion would be to make sure everything you might want is in sight, ready to use and not left in a cupboard somewhere, otherwise it is easy to forget your options.