Aniball and hypnobirthing

[Loulou2990]

I've been using the aniball for a couple of days now but getting confused with the breathing, as it seems the opposite to what is taught in hypnobirthing. The aniball instructions are that the inhale pushes the ball out, but with hyponobirthing 'down breathing' your exhale would push the ball out.
Should I practice the aniball with down breathing, or stick with breathing as per instructions? Or is the aniball breathing what I would do between surges?

Any advice appreciated! Xx

I’d definitely go with the hypnobirthing technique, you push your muscles downwards when exhaling so it makes much more sense.

I was wondering the same thing @Loulou2990. What breathing worked for you on the day?

I am currently using the aniball & reading about hypno birthing.
My understanding of the aniball instructions is that you're not supposed to be pushing it out, just relaxing your pelvic muscles and letting it move out naturally as you breathe & relax - I haven't been pushing at all & am at 25cm - though it does take a while to move out on its own this way.
Perhaps I have misinterpreted but I would worry that the inflated ball isn't designed to have the pressure of pushing that a babies head can withstand.
I personally use the hypno birthing breathing as a separate practice to the aniball & hope that both will be useful on the day.
The aniball I feel is more about the sensation & stretching than the specific breathing techniques that are supposed to help you get through hours of labour so I guess I hadn't thought to try & make hypno birthing breathing & the aniball 'fit together'
Will be interesting to see others use & interpretation though.

Sounds like you are doing well. I started the anniball really late so I think I am trying to rush it too much. I have got to 26 cm but I have to encourage it out and it makes me bleed 😬

@yoyona21
I definitely don't think you should be making yourself bleed, please be careful!
I think very early on (when the ball was still quite small), I had a tiny amount of blood when wiping after, so I started doing the first expulsion at a smaller size to ease myself in & then do 2 more at my 'max' size at each stage. (Eg currently doing the first at 23-24cm & then next 2 at 25cm)
I didn't start until about 38 weeks (was concerned baby was breech so didn't want to open the box in case I was going to have to have a planned c section) - how far along are you?
I'm fairly certain that the instructions say it's only recommended to go up to 25cm, they do say over this could cause injury as outside labour you don't have the hormones to stretch to the same extent.
So maybe try 23-25cm and see if that is more manageable and doesn't cause bleeding?
It does take me almost 10 minutes to breathe out the ball when it's at 25cm sometimes.
I had a growth scan recently and babies head had a circumference of 33cm so by the time I give birth will probably be 10cm more than I'm practicing with but I still think it will have helped.

I dont think you need to use an aniball.
Your body is designed to do this when the time comes and all the birth hormones kick in...
I wondered myself when I was pregnant with my first but honestly so glad I didn't bother.
Enjoy your pregnancy and do your hypnobirthing practice!
😊