birth balls

[Ladypug]

Are birth balls any good and if so, which would you recommend? Is there a difference between a yoga or exercise ball and a birthing one?

I used a space hopper! I bounced on that with a tens machine on my back at home quite happily till I was 9cm! So must have worked well
Enough for me!

Hehe thanks zippy!

The woman who takes my NCT classes is a big advocate. She says they help the baby get in to the right position, and can help aches and pains. I was skeptical, but I got to try one out recently and it was great for lower back pain. Not sure if there's a difference between exercise balls and birth balls, but I've gone for a birth ball.

Have used both in this pregnancy. The pro fitness exercise ball from Argos for 6.99, and the Birth Ease birth ball second hand for £3.

No difference in the ways they work. Or in how the felt. But - the exercise ball burst gradually one evening getting ruptured at the base catching on something on the floor. The birth ball is going strong still. Both are gradual bursts so won't fall you flat.

I would on hindsight get the birth balll but not shell out the full amount for a new one. Local selling sites on Facebook, ebay and chastity shops are ways to go.

Chastity shops? Well, it's a bit late for chastity by the time you're looking for birth balls I expect so I'd take it that I meant charity shops.

And yes, these balls are a lifesaver. A posture corrector, pelvic floor massager, pelvis opener, labour companion, leaning support, postnatal healer, and great to gently sway colicky babies on.

Either or! Well worth having.

Absolute godsend. I had a cheapy Argos exercise ball at home, and a bigger one my sister lent me. The Birth Ease ball they had at the hospital did feel better quality though.

When I was in labour it was the only comforting thing, even my friend who wasn't in labour found it comfortable!

I got an exercise ball from sports direct for £7 and another from Aldi for £3. The Aldi one was the best, good for leaning over when I was in pain, and spent a good three weeks bouncing on it before I went into labour, eased the stiffness I was feeling :)

I got a sports ball. Great in later pregnancy as far more comfy to sit on than sofa or chairs (I'd gently bounce through DVD's whilst sorting laundry or knitting).
I intended to use it in labour but found I was much more of a walk about during labour person.

I'm sitting on mine right now (40+3 and willing this child out of me!) Just using it for a short time every day has helped to shift the weight of the baby away from my sciatic nerve and relieve my pain somewhat. I like leaning over it too, as if I'm lying on it, very soothing on my sore back. It's just a basic pilates ball, £8 I think from Decathlon.

I use one for lower back pain, helps enormously. (I'm really bad at slouching on the sofa)

I've been using mine all pregnancy and it is THE most comfortable thing in the world. I use it instead of a chair when I'm WFH too. You can also do lots of exercises with it (e.g. put it between your back and the wall and you can do really well-supported squats). I have no intention of giving it up after pregnancy.

Mine was about £11 off Amazon, if I recall.

Worth getting imo. Although I ended up not really using it in labour. I wanted to lean on something solid, not moving. I spent early stages leaning on edge of bed and then was in pool. But I liked bouncing on it while pregnant. And you've reminded me to dig it out...

When do you use them from?

Whenever you like, really. Just thinking of digging mine out at 24 weeks, but used it from around 15 weeks last time, in pregnancy yoga classes.