Speeding up labour using birthing ball?

[Hoonette]

I had DS (my first) in May. Used a birthing ball and tried to balance myself so weight was pressing down on my cervix, as in ante-natal class we were told that this speeds up labour.

Well, I I went from 3cms dilated to 10cms in 1.5 hours...Had a mad, panicky, traumatic labour as a result.

Do you think it is possible that I caused the quick dilation using the birthing ball? Because if so, I'll be more cautious with the next baby - don't want it so quick that I lose all control of my labour.

I would love to hear other people's experiences of this.

Sitting on birthing ball caused my cervix to tilt around baby's head, extending my labour by about 4 hours. Suppose it depends on how your body is made.

never heard of that before. I found the birthing ball way too uncomfortable to use during labour.

I found water a lot more comfortable

I used a birthing ball during my first labour with DS - I found it comfortable as he was back to back but did not speed up my labour (49 hours!)

However, I wanted to use it during my labour with DD last year but I found it extrememly uncomfortable (to the point where I couldn't actually sit on it) so didn't bother but I had a very quick birth with her in comparison to the last one (3.5 hours) so I don't think the birthing ball had anything directly to do with your quick labour.

I used a birthing ball for my second and third labours (first was emergency c-section) and both were fairly quick. I merrily bounced & rolled around whilst clutching at my gas & air. Wasn't allowed in the pool as it was a VBAC, but the ball was a good alternative - i could stay active but rest my weight at the same time.

I loved mine during third labour but I don't think it spead it up at all. Did get to a stage where the pressure was too much at the peak of the contractions so I kind of sprang up to standing till it passed must have looked like a loney

especially to the passersby outside my front room window

Thanks for your replies, that's very helpful. Looks like it wasn't the birthing ball, I just happened to have a quick labour!

I used a birthing ball for weeks before labour and during it to try and get ds into the right position, as it turned out he was a bit on one side which made my labour very long (27 hours), no idea if the bouncing helped or hindered though...
but i did use it to lean on when in very haevy labour, probably its most helpful use!

I had a quick labour with DS2 but didn't have a birthing ball

With DS3, I sat it on a lot in the first stages as it was the most comfortable position but my labour was longer!Not ure that it w ould necesarily have anything to do with it really [smile

I loved using the birthing ball. I bounced on it for ages while listening to music and dh snored in the chair. As things progressed I felt I needed to get up on the bed though a couple of hours later I gave birth.

I wasn't aware of it speeding things up, just was a relaxing fun way to play through early labour.