Maternity/birthing ball- worth the purchase?

[lockdownpregnancy]

Just that really? Is it worth purchasing one?im planning on having an epidural when I get to hospital so I won't be taking it with me.
However I'm 35 weeks and was just wondering if it's worth the purchase between now and labour? I'm getting a lot of aches and pains as of late (nothing worth calling the hospital for) so just wanted to see what you other lovely ladies opinions on the ball is?
TIA

[1990shopefulftm]

I got one quite early on, I'm 30 weeks now and have been sitting on it the past few weeks to watch tv and it's much more comfortable than the sofa.

[Ginblooded]

I would say it is worth it - it's a massive struggle for me to get up from the sofa and if I want a little sit down or I'm uncomfortable from sitting on the sofa, I sit on the ball!

[mynameisntlouise]

You can get one for like 8 quid new from eBay, I think it's well worth it. You've still got a few more weeks to go and might find yourself uncomfortable sitting on the sofa etc and gently bouncing can help get your baby in the right place and just feel nice. You also never know what positions might help ease discomfort in labour so a birthing ball just gives you more options!

[Dollywilde]

I got mine for about £7 on Amazon. Really helpful, it was so comfy to sit on as spread the weight across my sit bones. Also she wasn’t engaged at all at my due date and I did lots of bouncing which seemed to do the job - bearing in mind that was 2 weeks ago mid heatwave it was a bearable alternative to walking which I was just far too hot to contemplate

[namechange900079]

My baby's a toddler now but I look back and really wish I'd had one 😂 I had a newborn who needed to be bounced to sleep, a ball would have made that a lot easier.

[Babyboomtastic]

Yes.
I had planned sections so it was never used for labour, but it was great in late pregnancy, and used a lot when the babies were young, rather than pacing them to sleep.

It's only in the past few weeks I've stopped using it, and my youngest is 16m...

[nettytree]

I used one at home a lot. Great way to relieve back ache. My hubby also used it when playing on the wii. Great for wii bowling.

[KitKatKit]

I absolutely love it. Am almost 32 weeks and it's really helped when Im feeling super uncomfortable and can't get comfy anywhere. Mine was cheap from Amazon!

[Passthecake30]

I don’t think it helped me while pregnant however, I used it after to help my stomach tone up. As an aside, you state “I’m planning on having an epidural when I get to hospital”. So was I... what they don’t tell you at birthing classes that you need to be a certain dilation before that happens, and that can take ages - so consider something like a tens machine to help get through the many hours it might take before you are able to have the epidural.

[Reclinehard]

Defo worth it for late pregnancy /early labour

[Metallicalover]

I just bought a cheep yoga ball and done some pregnancy yoga on it. I used the hospital birthing ball throughout my labour. It was the only way I could get comfortable xx

[lockdownpregnancy]

That's amazing ladies thank you! Sounds like it's worth the purchase!
I do struggle getting off the sofa a lot so, I'll be getting on amazon and getting one ordered 👍🏻

[Superscientist]

I used mine as an office chair in my final weeks. I will probably continue using it when I return to work after maternity leave. I tried to use it in labour for fell off it so my partner wouldn't let me back on it.... I was most comfortable stood up anyway so probably wouldn't have used it much anyway!

[Babyboomtastic]

The other secret, is that boxing gently on the ball with a baby in your arms/on shoulder, geeks similar to bring walked, and is a lot less effort for you...

[boysnamehelpplease]

It was the only thing I could sit on in the couple of weeks before labour.

[xxxemzyxxx]

Im 34 weeks and have had mine a few weeks too and find it really helps, it has especially helped ease my back pain. Due to the position you sit on it, it is also suppose to encourage baby to get into the right position for birth.

[troppibambini]

Also really good for the early stages of labour I rocked and bounced before my four births. I found it helped.

[Mc3209]

I was resisting buying one for quite some time as I am not really planning on using it in labour, but gave in when my hips started to hurt. It's great! I should have bought it earlier. Now at 30 weeks it's pretty much the only thing I can sit on for periods of time without getting some sort of back or hip pain.

[lockdownpregnancy]

All brilliant feedback thank you so much! I ordered one from Amazon yesterday and it's coming tomorrow 😁