Isn't a birthing ball meant to be pain relieving?

[Bumperlicious]

I've been sitting on mine (39 weeks) to encourage the baby to move (possible OP) and to do whatever it is the ball is supposed to do. I thought the ball was meant to help but I'm finding it bloody uncomfortable! Baby is very engaged and being on the ball just gave me a bum ache! Is it supposed to?

Hi Bumper, sorry you're still waiting...

I got a birthing ball and found it simply gave me God-awful back ache

How you doing otherwise?

Glad it's not just me!

i used birthing ball in labour, put it against wall and pushed into it with back and hips and just rocked from side to side it was great!!!

Weird, me too. It really helped last time, so I got DH to blow it up the other day. Tried it once but my hips started aching so now DD just plays with it.

I'll leave it up because I spent most of labour draped over it last time, so hopefully it will come in useful later.

I think if it hurts your back it might need punping up a bit more. You should only be able to get the tip of your fingernail into it so it should be quite firm!

I'm not too bad notnowbernard, just sleeping badly and tired, ready to not be pg any more!

It's not my back that's aching so much, it's my pelvis. Feels like I've been on a bike for too long!

sorry for hijack
but what is it they're supposed to do?
i blew mine up the other day and have been bouncing on it on and off. but... erm... i'm not really sure why!!

i find it vaguely comforting

but i also worry that i'm only doing it cos i used it last time when i was induced to encourage contractions... so i'm kind of hoping it'll help bring on labour!!??!
(i'm 38 weeks + and also ready to not be PG any more...)

(also, could i ask what OP stands for. have seen it on a couple of threads and don't know what it means....)

hope it all happens for you soon, bumperlicious.... and smoothly and nicely too :)

Op means occiput posterior, means the baby is back to back, not great. Think the ball is meant to widen the pelvis, stretch the uterus, that sort of thing. Also stops me being slumped on the sofa which isn't good for the op thing as the baby doesn't have room to move.

Ah... oh sorry. Really hope the baby turns for you.
Fingers crossed here... :)

(and thanks.. will keep sitting on the ball for now...)

Just wondering, at how many weeks do most start sitting on the ball? Seems to be around 38/39 from the above posts?

it's meant to help you and your baby get into a good position. So you can't lean back on a birth ball, which puts you forward, with your body upright and your knees apart. Exactly what the baby needs to get downwards and ready for birth.

So not really a pain reliever, but will help labour be shorter and less painful.

I used one in labour with dd3 (Suggested by the midwife- as I was being very stubborn stoical and refusing to lie down or sit down and she was worried if I stood for the whole labour I would be tired) It was very comfortable - surprisingly so tbh.