birthing balls

[Scouseem]

I'm 23weeks with DC3 and his head is already down and in pelvis so really not cumfy sitting on couch anymore but just read some midwives say not to use till the end as they encourage labour.
Has anyone actually asked there own midwife? And what did they say?

I've never heard of the ball being likely to start labour (I have encouraged overdue women and those in early/pre labour to use it to help chin tucking in the baby) but I think its extremely unlikely to bring on labour before you're body is ready.
I would go ahead and use it whenever you like.
See
www.askamum.co.uk/Listen-and-watch/Search-Results/Video-tips/Video-Ways-to-use-a-birthing-ball/
www.associatedcontent.com/article/74611/using_a_birth_ball_during_pregnancy.html
Selina

Thank you for your reply. I'm not normally a worrier but my brothers girlfriend went into to prem labour at 20weeks so just don't wanna do anything that could be any danger. Thanks again.

no my physio told me to get one and i was 17 weeks lol. also the pregnancy yoga class i go to uses them too

Oh I'm gonna get one tomorrow then. Thanks :)

sorry to hear about your brothers girlfriend. things like that are pretty scary arnt they

Thanks beckie. It only happened at the weekend so I'm just so scared to do anything that could slightly bring on labour. Supose you just have to think for every person that has something go wrong there are thousands of people that have healthy babies.
Hope you and your pregnancy are doing well. X

the pregnancy ball excercises will not encourage labour. these are very gentle excercises and will help you stretch. try swimming as well. btw, how can you feel his head? just curious, as i am 26 weeks and my baby's head has also been down since about 22 weeks according to scans, but i don't feel anything (maybe because i am inexperienced as this is my 1st pregnancy).

I'm 10 days overdue and have been sitting on my ball since about 28 weeks. No sign of it making any difference at all. We use them at yoga and it's definitely much comfier than a chair.

hi lily13 its because its my third so im all stretched down there (thats the midwives words) so my muscles arent holding him in so he just settles where hes cumfy if that makes sense. Midwives will nag you to do exercises after the baby to help the muscles and i would defo say do them, i didnt and learnt the hard way :) x

littleyellow chicken i have my fingers crossed your baby comes soon. x

hi lily13 its because its my third so im all stretched down there (thats the midwives words) so my muscles arent holding him in so he just settles where hes cumfy if that makes sense. Midwives will nag you to do exercises after the baby to help the muscles and i would defo say do them, i didnt and learnt the hard way :) x

littleyellow chicken i have my fingers crossed your baby comes soon. x

i see. thanks for the explanation. i hope you feel better! have you been doing pelvic floor excercises? i keep forgetting to do them, but have been told that these are critical... ahhh

I'd like to say I have been doing them but I always forget haha. Anything that helps to get everything back to normal and helps in labour in anyway is something we should make time for tho I'm thinking. We must try harder haha.
Hope your pregnancy is going well.

I was told to get off the birthing ball while I was in labour as my contractions were actually stopping

birthing ball was great in late preg for me - way more comfy than anything else to sit on. also you can use them to do crunches post birth to get your abs back :-)

I think using the birthing ball a form of pelvic floor exercise, isn't it? I've just ordered one from eBay, waiting for it to arrive in the post...