Can you tell me about birthing balls?

[Miaou]

Heard lots about them, never seen them, not quite sure what they are for/what they do.

Do hospitals provide them or do you buy your own? If so, where from?

you can buy one from sport shops, I have one for the kids physiotherapy

My midwife found mine very comfy while I was giving birth to ds2!!!!

Wasn't it balls that got you in to this in the first place

ps - you can buy them for around £5-£10 in places such as Toy's R us.

I got one from Tesco for £3.97, including the pump.

It was lovely - I used to sit on it at home - very comfy. Didn't take it to hospital - they had them there.

I had one for the birth of my ds4 and wonder why I'd never used one before.

You know those space hoppers? Well they are a bit like them but bigger and without the handles! You sit on them which helps to spread your weight out and you can gently bounce to relieve the pain of contractions. I think it helps to open up your pelvis and the gravity helps too. Although they look like you'll roll off, they are surprisingly comfortable and stable.

When I was in having my ds I noticed one when I went to the loo just sitting in the corner and asked if I could have a go with it. Really enjoyed it and if nothing else it proved a bit of a distraction for me.

argos sell them, I can't do a link with my keyboard as I can't find the forward slash

www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=3151&productId=125793&Trail=C%24cip%3D21734.Sports%2Band%2Bleisure%3EC%24cip%3D21784.Home%2Bgym%2Bequipment%3EC%24cip%3D21749.Pedometers%2Band%2Bfitness%2Baccessories&categoryId=21749&clickfrom=image

Wowee, didn't realise they would be so cheap, maybe I should give it a go.

LGJ - pmsl

Get the nicer ones, Miaou, the cheap ones aren't very good. At least IMO. I borrowed one from MIL, and it was cheap and I hated it. Then DH's aunt lent me her nice one, and I used it to sit on the last month or so of pregnancy. Sometimes sitting on it was the only way to be comfortable.