Birth Balls

Tiffany · 08-11-2005, 06:15 PM

Why Use the Birth Ball?
1. In the last month of pregnancy pregnant women find it easier than a chair or couch to get up and down from.
2. It encourages pelvic mobility.
3. It allows the mother the freedom to rock her pelvis, change her position and shift her weight for comfort.
4. It encourages fetal descent as the mother remains sitting in an upright posture taking advantage of gravity
5. Sitting on the ball helps keep the fetus well aligned in the pelvis.
6. The ball encourages pelvic relaxation by conforming to the mother's body similar to a water mattress as it provides perineal support without undue pressure.
7. Sitting on warm compresses on the ball will maximize perineal relaxation.
8. Sitting on the ball encourages rhythmic movement as the mother sways or rocks back and forth while sitting on the ball.
9. Sitting on the ball while leaning over the bed gives the mother the pelvic mobility that she is unable to have while sitting on a chair.
10. Less strain on the hands and arms when mother is in the hands and knees position.
11. Eliminates hard external pressure of a chair, bed or rocker when sitting.
12. May speedup labor.
13. Can be used as a support while squatting so that the ball presses on the fundus to encourage fetal descent. Squatting helps widen pelvic outlet to its maximum.
14. Its use is beneficial with techniques for "failure to progress".
15. Ball use is also helpful for strengthening lower back for those with chronic back pain.
16. Ball use can also strengthen abdominal muscles used in second stage.

Use in Back Labor or Persistent Posterior Fetal Position
1. Having the mother lean over the ball while on her hands and knees gives her good pelvic mobility as well as uses gravity to encourage the largest and heaviest part of the baby's body to rotate.
2. Kneeling and leaning over the ball assists in rotation of the baby to the anterior.
3. As the mother's weight is totally supported by the birth ball, she is able to stay in the critical hands and knees position for an extended length of time. Normally the mother is only able to maintain this position for a short interval as it causes carpal tunnel syndrome by putting excess strain on her wrists and hands and is tiring as she must support her entire body weight.
4. The use of the ball has saved more than a few mothers from a cesarean section for failure to progress.
5. It is easier for someone to do counter pressure for the mother for her back pain while in the hands and knees position over the ball.

(NOTE: I apologize for not listing the source of this article. It has been on my computer for over 3 years and I have no idea where I got it from. If anyone knows the source feel free to reply.)

loveslabor · 09-15-2005, 04:20 PM

The ball was a life saver for my labor. After being in labor for 5 days, I was tired! The ball was comfortable and I could move in rhythm will just the slightest movement of my pelvis. No pressure or strain on my arms or legs or back.

It REALLY was great!

Kalamazoo Doula · 09-21-2005, 12:00 AM

I love the ball too, I was just wondering if anyone has used the 'egg' ball? I was thinking of buying one of these. Our local hospitals have the regular ones, so I was thinking of having another option for my clients.

tlcdoula · 09-21-2005, 10:25 AM

I have never tried one. I saw them, thought they looked neat, but wondered how some of my mamas would be able to make circles with their hips on a egg shaped ball. Have you used one? Is it possible to make circles? Seems to me that a mom would only be able to bounce and rock back and forth (but I might be wrong - I would love to hear from someone who has used this type of ball).

kelley piasecki · 09-21-2005, 10:50 AM

Have you seen the peanut shaped birth ball?? It's hilarious! (the hospital staff actually called it "the peanut")

tlcdoula · 09-21-2005, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelley piasecki

Have you seen the peanut shaped birth ball?? It's hilarious! (the hospital staff actually called it "the peanut")

Yes I have seen these too - they are very similar to the egg shaped ball, and even with this one I wonder how a mom would be able to make circles with her hips. Anyone have experience with this one too?

raspberrymoondoula · 09-21-2005, 02:11 PM

friend of mine used the peanut ball and said it was fantabulous, way better than the regular ball.
my only wish is for a ball that can be used in a pool, mine kept floating and i just wanted something to lean on lol

kelley piasecki · 09-21-2005, 02:19 PM

One of my moms who used the peanut loved it....she really wasn't able to do much of a circle though, but she loved the comfort of it!

Matrescence · 09-21-2005, 02:54 PM

I love the peanut shaped ones...

As for other uses... my kids love to play with them

Pambug · 11-08-2005, 10:32 AM

I'm starting to slowly buy the things I want to bring with me to the labors. I was wondering how many of you have bought birth balls and do you use them a lot. Also, what kind do you recomend nad what size. the different sizes really confuse me.

susan1 · 11-08-2005, 11:27 AM

I am wondering the same thing.

I don't want to carry a lot of things to the birth..so my question is how many times have you girls used the ball with a client?

Susan

DL · 11-08-2005, 11:33 AM

Hi Pam,

65 cm. is the advertised best size for the average woman. You can go up or down for short or tall women (55 cm or 75 cm). I have 65 cm and have never had a problem with it accommodating every client I've had.

You can buy burst-resistant birth/exercise balls. Those seem to be recommended, but they do cost a little more. You can also buy birth/exercise balls at sporting good stores (that's where I puchased mine). If you purchase there, look for "exercise" balls, since the packaging rarely says "birth" at a sporting goods store!

I mostly use my ball for demonstration purposes during prenatals; yes, I use it a lot for the prenatals and do recommend that all doulas have one! All of the hospitals already have birth balls around here, so I just use theirs or Mom's (both for convenience & liability issues). If I were to attend a home birth (hope to!), then I would suggest that the mom buy one for herself (again, liability issues). Not all doulas worry about birth balls & liability, but Mom using her own or the hospital's was suggested to us at my Doula training. They're great to have prenatally and postnatally too, so Mom having her own for those times is really a good idea!

DL · 11-08-2005, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan1

I am wondering the same thing.

I don't want to carry a lot of things to the birth..so my question is how many times have you girls used the ball with a client?

Susan

Seldom do I NOT use a birth ball with a laboring mom at some point (at what stage of labor varies greatly among different moms). As stated in my above post, I usually just use mine during prenatals. They are large and can be awkward, so you can check ahead and see how available the balls are for Moms at the hospital. Better yet....have Mom buy her own so you'll be 100% certain she'll have one should she want to use it (then she'll have it to help sooth baby at home afterward, too!). I DO encourage you to buy one, though! Actually demonstrating with a birth ball is much better than just talking about options or only using handouts.

Pambug · 11-08-2005, 11:44 AM

So you don't usually take your own ball to the birth but use it mainly for the prenatal appointments?
If the liability problem is an issue with birth balls could it also potentially be an issue with any product we use and if so is it a wise idea to cover ourselves in our contract?

susan1 · 11-08-2005, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pambug

So you don't usually take your own ball to the birth but use it mainly for the prenatal appointments?
If the liability problem is an issue with birth balls could it also potentially be an issue with any product we use and if so is it a wise idea to cover ourselves in our contract?

Good question ..Pam. I would also like to know ..I never though about liability on a birth ball.

Susan