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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

birthing ball

16 replies

LizzyBennet1813 · 14/05/2015 19:10

hiiiii

I'm 36+5 and have literally in the last 5-10 minutes or so wondered whether I should get a birthing ball, obveously I've done very little reading on them in 10 minutes and will continue to do more after posting this! I just thought I'd come on and see what other women's experiences of them were. I mean, did you find it worthwhile having one or not or can you offer me any tips in using one/buying one?

thanks in advance

OP posts:

ZenNudist · 14/05/2015 19:16

Yes I think very useful but I used it in pregnancy as a place to sit to help with SPD (didn't do that as much as I should). I used it when I was ready to drop to encourage both ds to come out. I used it in 2 labours, found it very useful in my home birth of ds2.

They're not expensive and get them online. Also look at TENS machines.

Greenstone · 14/05/2015 19:18

Yeah, they're very good for labour.

bakingtins · 14/05/2015 19:19

You can get one v cheap from Argos. They are good to sit on in the last few weeks, keeping knees lower than hips is supposed to encourage baby into a good position, and bouncing/ rocking is good in pre or early stages of labour.

FlappertyFlippers · 14/05/2015 19:26

They are excellent for getting the baby to fall into the correct position for Labour. Historically humans used to sit on the floor, squat down or have wooden stools and very upright chairs. Nowadays we spend an awful lot of time slouched down on the sofa, which can lead to the baby rotation in a more back to back position. (Picture how your spine is angled when slumped on a comfy sofa compared to other methods of sitting).

When you sit on a birthing ball you have to sit up straight. This will help enormously.

MabelSideswipe · 14/05/2015 19:29

They are really useful but buy an exercise/swiss ball rather than a birth ball as they are the same and cheaper. Just make sure it is an anti-burst one. Also needs to be the right size for you. Under 5ft4 probably a 55cm one, over 5ft4 and up to 5ft 9, a 65cm and 5ft 9 and over, 75cm. The key thing is that your knees should be lower than your hips when you sit on it.

They are good for using for getting the baby in a good position for birth and trying to avoid a back to back baby. From about 36 weeks try not to spend long periods which tip hips backwards so that your knees are higher than hips. So crossing legs, slouching on sofa, lying on sofa, long car journeys etc not so good. The birth ball is good for sitting on, kneeling on the floor and leaning over it etc. Whatever is comfy.

In early labour lightly bouncing on it can push the baby down onto the cervix thus promoting more oxytocin which is the hormone that drives labour. As labour progresses it is comfy to sit on it and rotate hips. Its much more comfy than sitting on anything hard as not so much pressure. You can also use it for support while kneeling forward and rocking hips.

After birth its good for light exercise. While sitting on it, tighten your core muscles and try and keep your core still while gently rotating hips in circle and backwards and forwards. Babies like to be fed on them too and lightly bounced.

BlueBee · 14/05/2015 19:32

I was wondering about these as I have SPD. Would you look silly if you took one to the hospital when in labour? Is that odd or normal to take your own? I haven't a clue.

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 14/05/2015 19:42

I used one the hospital provided during labour last time and found it so helpful I bought one to have at home this time, especially as this pg has been more painful and sitting on the sofa not comfy at all for the last few weeks. I am 36+3 so will race you to get the baby out!!

I bought an nbf one via Amazon, not too dear really although the pump has since broken but they are supposed to be replacing it for me

Cakeboastname · 14/05/2015 19:44

The hospital may have one available to use. I didn't bring one for dc3 but 5 mins before I decided to kneel and push I noticed DH bouncing on one that was inthe room and demanded that he hand it over and it was so so confortable! I labour walking on the spot and it was so good to sit down for a few minutes and much much better than a chair. I was kicking myself for not having used one for the first two kids or earlier inthe labour!

Original poster

LizzyBennet1813 · 14/05/2015 19:46

thank you, that's really helped :D midwife isn't sure if baby is head down on breach at the moment, I have a scan next week to find out so I guess if baby is breach it will help encourage it into the right position!
thanks again ladies x

OP posts:

NickyEds · 15/05/2015 21:01

I took mine into hospital deflated but they had them there anyway. I found it to be an instrument of torture during labour!! My baby was back to back and it just seemed to make contraction worse. I'll be on it from 35 weeks with this one to try and avoid a back to back presentation.

Roseybee10 · 15/05/2015 21:33

Used mine a lot to get baby into position.
Did rapid circles and figures of 8 on it around due date and was in labour both times within 24 hours.
Also used it during labour.

rallytog1 · 15/05/2015 21:40

My waters went while I was bouncing on mine! Fortunately I was in the labour ward waiting to be induced

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 16/05/2015 16:20

Couldn't contemplate one in any of my three labours - like a red hot poker up my coccyx.

Nice beforehand occasionally.

RhiannonElward · 16/05/2015 18:02

I bought one for my first, but used the hospital one when I was being induced to start labour, within 10 mins of bouncing my waters broke. Coincidence? Maybe, but I'm getting another one just in case it wasn't.

Cherryberry1 · 17/05/2015 09:29

I used mine (an exercise ball from Argos) to help turn my back to back baby in between my last midwife appointments. I also used it quite a lot from my first twinges and found sitting and moving around on it helped me to stay comfortable

LillyBugg · 17/05/2015 09:41

I also bought the argos one, very cheap and you can just go out and bring it straight home. I used it towards the end of my pregnancy when my back was killing and also in the early stages of labour. I found the bouncing distracted me and I was much more comfortable than sitting on a chair or sofa. My baby came pretty quick to, and I sailed through the early stages of labour, whether or not the ball made any difference to this I don't know.

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