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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Birthing Balls.

29 replies

VictorianSqualor · 15/02/2008 12:09

So, myself and half of my antenatal thread have all bought them, why?
What on earth are we meant to do with them???

OP posts:
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Clegg · 15/02/2008 12:10

attic fodder

preggersagain · 15/02/2008 12:10

bounce on it like a spacehopper and if that fails let it down and give it to dh/dp etc to blow up whilst you're in labour- keeps them occupied

belgo · 15/02/2008 12:10

they are really annoyed to get the dust off of them

belgo · 15/02/2008 12:11

annoying!

Spink · 15/02/2008 12:15

I was the only one to get one in our NCT class, it was very to turn up to the class with it when no one else did... and I thought mine was rubbish til I was in labour and bouncing (well, kind of slomping) around on it. Somehow it was just... comfortable. Actually it was also pretty good to kneel against too, and kind of stretch out my back..

and I am sitting on it now as it's turned into our computer chair.

and my 3 yr old niece happily spends hours chasing it round the living room.

I'm hoping it'll be as good when I have my next baby, hopefully the little bean will be cooked in October

Original poster
VictorianSqualor · 15/02/2008 12:18

Congrats spink

I thought you had to do special things with it?

OP posts:
dizzydixies · 15/02/2008 16:52

I LOVED mine but I was huge both times and expecting the same again!
they're great for sitting on instead of getting in and out of chairs and can really help you if you have lower back/pelvic problems because your posture is better on them

was brilliant for bouncing up and down on during labour too and if you're one of those excercise inclined people [I obviously am not ] you could use it to help get back into shape

pobletsmum · 15/02/2008 16:59

They are better than a slouchy sofa for getting the baby into a good position for birth, so I try to spend some time each day sitting on mine. My ball was one of the few places I could get comfy whilst in labour with DS, and will use it again this time (2 days overdue and counting...). I think it puts you in a good position for keeping your pelvis open in labour, hopefully meaning the baby can come out more easily. Hmmm... (didn't quite work for me last time!). Happy bouncing!

dizzydixies · 15/02/2008 17:02

ooohh poblets - 2 days - get bouncing woman, how can you typed and bounce at the same time?!?!?!??

glamourbadger · 15/02/2008 17:03

I have to say I loved mine! In the end it was the only thing I could sit comfortably on. Must have looked hilarious through the front window though - mother of twins akin to small whale perched on a ball in front of the telly .

Grouchyoscar · 15/02/2008 17:19

I loved the one i used in labour but I do think theyaneed horns so you can hang on

Original poster
VictorianSqualor · 15/02/2008 18:22

So they are good for sitting on?
I thought they had magical powers!

OP posts:
MaeWest · 15/02/2008 18:26

I loved mine. Sat on it loads whilst pg, leant on it whilst in labour.

DH sat on it and bouncy tetchy newborn DS for hours whilst I got some kip. Now toddler DS thinks it's fab as it's the biggest ball he's ever seen

MaeWest · 15/02/2008 18:27

bouncy bounced

TheMaskedPoster · 15/02/2008 18:30

ah-ha! good thread VS as I am about to go out and buy one ... am expecting the miracle of an easy birth because of it of course.

Original poster
VictorianSqualor · 15/02/2008 18:35

LOL tmp, that's what I was hoping, I thought raspberry leaf tablets+birthing ball=great easy quick painless labour

OP posts:
lollipopmother · 15/02/2008 19:04

Is a birthing ball the same thing as the big balls at the gym that you stick your legs on and do ab-crunches?

Original poster
VictorianSqualor · 15/02/2008 19:09

Yes, practically.

OP posts:
pobletsmum · 15/02/2008 21:26

Yes, and the cheap ones (a few quid in Argos/Tesco etc.) are supposedly just as good as the dedicated 'birthing' balls from NCT etc.

glamourbadger · 16/02/2008 09:05

Mine was a cheapie from Argos - just the same as the NCT ones.

middymee · 18/02/2008 00:09

They are fantastic for turning OP babies. The way to use them is to sit on them with your legs slightly apart and rather than 'bounce', you rock and/or roll your pelvis. This opens up the pelvis, allowing the head to put firmer pressure on the cervix which in turn, releases Prostaglandin. Its all to do with 'Optimal Fetal Positioning'

middymee · 18/02/2008 00:13

Oh yeah, forgot to mention, when you sit on the ball, if your knees are higher than your hips you're doing more damage than good. This alters your posture and can prevent the baby from turning.

Original poster
VictorianSqualor · 18/02/2008 14:01

Yay! A proper answer!

OP posts:
blondiep14 · 18/02/2008 14:05

bounced loads on mine the evening before my contractions started in the wee hours.

Think baby was just ready tho...

Gives you something to do while you wait i guess!

No luck with the easy, quick, pain-free labour mind. Perhaps if you start bouncing sooner?!

Kathyis6incheshigh · 18/02/2008 14:07

Use it while pregnant to sit on
Use while in labour to bounce on
When baby becomes a toddler s/he will play with it

DH thinks it would be fun to use it to help conceive the next one but I'm not so sure

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