Are birth balls etc really worth the expense ???

[ANGELMOTHER]

Ok am on the home stretch now and have decided to give the birth pool a miss for various reasons, expense, time etc.

Have everything else ready but now am wondering what aids do I really need for this homebirth.

What items do you think are worth it.....expense is an issue, so trying to keep costs down.

I bought a birth ball and wouldn't say it was essential, but it was useful. You're supposed to use it to sit on as much as you can prior to the birth as it strengths the pelvic floor muscles and I did try and do this, but not enough. When I went into labour I did use it a fair bit during the early stages, but I could have managed without and didn't take it into hospital but used theirs for a while when I got there. However, once I was in really strong labour I didn't want it anymore - other people might have different experiences though. Also you might be able to get something cheaper than a birth ball by buying one designed for exercising on instead (just make sure it's big enough).

My other reason for buying it was to use if for stomach exercises afterwards but it didn't come with any instructions on how to do these and I hadn't used one in a gym so didn't know. I ended up deflating it as it takes up too much room, although I could really do with using it now as my stomach is still hugely flabby!

The other thing you might want to try is to hire a tens machine? I did this, and actually think it slightly worsened the contractions each time I switched it on but kept convincing myself that it was just that I turned it on at the time the contractions were getting stronger. I got a big psychological dependency on it and didn't want to take it off right until the end, as even though it wasn't helping I needed to have something to press or do with each contraction! However, I know loads of people really recommend tens machines and find them a big help, so you might want to consider hiring one? Maybe you've already used one before anyway - presume this isn't your first birth?

Don't buy a "birth" ball, buy an exercise ball from Argos or Index because they're exactly the same and half the price.

I quite liked my ball (in the birthing centre), I spent so much time concentrating on not falling off that I forgot about the contractions (sometimes )

No Lizc not my first, what to with dd is quite another issue.
Never used a tens before, all I had was pethidine which I'm hoping to do without this time. Must say I'm quite looking forward to entonox, never had that.
Have seen tens machines for sale in Boots but not asked about hire yet.

No never used the one I was given - cant quite see the point.

Think tens machines cost something like £80 to buy? They're only £25 to hire from Boots, although there are quite a few other people you can hire them from and they have differing terms and conditions - need to check you don't have to pay extra if the baby's late and you have to keep it longer.

I hated my tens machine but at the same time loved it. It drove me mad but I was so busy hating it and trying to work out if it was actually doing anything that it occupied me for a lot of the labour!! It also scared the life out of DP and gave himn a nasty shock when he was taking it off me in the hospital, so it was worth it for that!!
Didn't do birthing ball, had a go at it in hopital but couldn't stay on it as needed to be standing for the whole thing, sitting or lying down was a big no-no for me. Used them in my active bith classes that was about it.

Good luck - xx

I loved my birth ball but more for sitting on while pregnant - very comfortable - than for the birth itself. I think I used it for early labour but that was it. If you are nearing the birth, not sure if it would be worth getting now.

MIght sound silly but I would suggest getting some lavender oil..I put some on a flannel and just breathed it in - I found it really calming. You could have a bath with some in it too.

Resue Remedy??? Probably does naff all, but along with the lavender had a mild calming effect.
It's cheap too!
Would love a home birth, hmmm, feel all pleased and happy for you.
Hope it's lovely!

That's resCue remedy!

Loved my birth ball. I used it pre birth for sitting on, during my boring boring induction, then afterwards for exercises. I also found it brilliant for getting dd to sleep. I sit on it, with her lying tightly held in my arms, and gently bounce up and down - used to send dd off within minutes. I also use it as a seat in her room when I'm watching her play. and she no loves rolling it around the room.
This site has lots of exercises you can do.

just been sent a birth ball as a free added extra with my birthing pool hire (obviously paying too much for the pool!). Sitting on it now actually - more comfy than my desk chair. It has been a huge hit with the children who roll it around the house laughing hysterically, and I quite like sitting on it, but I don't think I'd have paid £30 for it. Mind you, I'll post a follow-up once I've had my labour and tell you if it was any use then!

I had a ball that was designed for exercising on atlhough must confess that I didn't find it terribly useful when in labour. However, it was good for tightening up my abs post-partum. As LizC says, don't go for the ones called birth balls as they are quite small and overpriced. Think Argos sell exercise balls cheaply. My ds (12 months) loves it too!!
I would recommend hiring a tens machine from Mothercare....although it didn't take the pain away for me, the funny sensation it gives you certainly helps to take your mind off the contractions (well a bit anyway!!)
Best of luck with it all

Are Boots hiring TENS again? Their service was suspended back in June/July.

Can you borrow a ball?

Has anyone heard of this group which hire out tens

£24 for 5 weeks sounds good but not sure if machine is as good as mothercare's version which is £27.50 for 4 weeks.

Mind you the way I feel it will be next week when I need this

I got a mega fun ball from the ELC. £8 I think. Exactly the same as a birth ball in principle only it was lime green with a monster face on it!

Soupie, do you think it might result in a little monster.

I borrowed a birth ball which was half inflated when I got it. Try as we might, we couldn't get any more air into it with our footpump. I found it quite comfy to lean over then though. However, when my mother turned up with a functioning pump and pumped it up properly for me, I didn't find it at all comfortable, so I stopped using it. I didn't use it at all in labour myself, but dp and Mum used it to sit on by the pool so that I could hang on to them.

Sad to say, my first reaction when it arrived was "But it's the wrong colour!", as it didn't fit in with my newly decorated birthing room. Fortunately, I had just enough presence of mind left not to say so out loud (I was very grateful for the loan).

I was glad that I hadn't spent any money on it though.

I didn't use my birth ball much before the labour, only to sit on it when my back was playing up. With regards to my labour, you couldn't get me off it, it was the only place I could get comfortable. I took it to hospital and sat on it there and my waters broke on it too! I was told afterwards that it probably helped my cervix dilate quicker as it opens up your pelvis more.

I also had a tens machine which I used from lunchtime until my waters broke at 7pm, so it worked for me!

I thought Superdrug sold birth ball for £6 and Special K gave some free...
I think BB are great - used it in both my labours and most of my birth mums use it in labour...
Do you not do AN yoga??? Could your teacher not let you borrow one. I let my students borrow mine.

Angelmother, it did - DS2. Looks like an angel, has the heart of a devil!

I have a sneaky feeling that Asda were selling birth balls cheaply not so long ago.

Pupuce despite your good advice regrettfully I never went to the Yoga classes due to timing, expense etc but did do nct classes where I got a brief "go" on one, not long enough to ascertain it's worth though.
Definitely going to hire the tens (unsure where from) just unsure about the ball.....

You can't understand how nice a BB is in a NCT class versus a labour situation believe me !!!!

Yes, Boots are hiring their TENS machines out again. I absolutley loved mine last time, couldn't have done without it. I had it on continuously from midday Saturday to Monday morning when they FINALLY gave me some proper drugs! (Remember to have some spare batteries handy)

Oh yes, bb are excellent! I haven't deflated mine since I was pregnant with no1! Get the biggest you can (especially if you're tall). Mine I think is 65cm diameter.

Both while pregnant and while not, I drape over it forwards to stretch my back, rest legs on it for sit-up and pelvis raises, bounce on it for posture (and fun), balance on it for core stability (ie back exercises), I laboured over it, bounced the babies on it, rocked them on it... the list is endless. And now my toddler absolutely adores playing with it!

Did someone mention TENS? Brilliant for early labour, worth every penny of the rental. Pain-relieving and a good distraction. You can't get any of it wet, but if you use it for an hour or so, then the p-r effects continue for 20-30 minutes, so you can remove the pads and get into some water. I hired mine by post (very convenient) from the company who provide the Boots one. Because I'd used it before I knew what to expect, but if it was the first time I would have wanted a demo.

Water - oh bliss. I didn't believe the bath would be comfortable at 41wks, but it was - I didn't want to get out! With every contraction I poured jugs of warm-hot water over my belly and could not believe how much it eased the pain. Do not be left alone while you're in the bath!

Good luck!

I never tried a birth ball; I don't think it would work in labour since my legs totally collapse. But I did make up my own birthing chair and it was fantastic. Because my legs were jelly during contractions I couldn't kneel or stand or anything. Straddled the chair to birth DD and she fairly whooshed out with the help of gravity. Definitely recommend purchase if you can't/don't want to make one up. Ours was just an ordinary wood kitchen chair with seat removed and tea towels wrapped around the supports to pad me sitting on them.

Mind you, Midwife had to play a "Pass the Parcel" game, passing baby back thru the seat opening, since I didn't want the umbilical cord to get cut until late. Funny part is I can't tell which of our kitchen chairs it was, now.