cheap 'exercise' ball spotted in argos - anyone used this for pg/birth?

[spackcat]

Just seen a really cheap exercise ball in argos for £4.99, is it just as good or do you have to buy a special birthing one that cost 5/6 times as much?

the cheap one works fine

I used it and it was FAB! Move in a figure of 8 shape when you have a contraction and it helps things open up.

I'm far from being an expert, as this is pg no1! But I was going to a pregnancy pilates class and the instructor said not to waste money on a special birthing one. I got one from Tesco for about £8 and it seems exactly the same as the ones she was using in class. The only thing I noticed with the ones which were slightly cheaper was that they were quite small. So just make sure it's big enough for you to sit on comfortably!

They are fab, I had one for home and used one in the delivery suite - brilliant.

Just make sure it's big enough for you to sit on it with your legs at a 90 degree angle rather than with your knees higher than your bottom.

couldn't have done without mine and I'm pretty sure it was a cheap one (certainly not one form a baby shop - Tesco I think)

I was sat on it more or less all the way through labour - it is very difficult though - as I discovered - to actually push the baby out while you're sat on it

Yes, mine was the Argos cheapie.

Thanks guys! I will be purchasing one soon!

Grrrr! I'm so annoyed! Went to a pregnancy yoga class and instructer said the official birthing balls are the only ones that should be used in labour. I just spent £30 this week on one of those stupid balls. I'm happy with in but I think I would have been happier had I spent £4.99!

i have just looked at argos online and cannot find the ball anywhere cheapest they have is £10.

was it actually instore? might pop into my local one and have a look, i was going to pay £15 for one they are a bargain at a fiver

This is the one you want.

ive got the argos one - it was great for taking the pressure off my back in pregnancy. used the bigger hospital one in labour though

i was told though to be a bit careful about the cheap ones as they could burst. i got a gym ball from my yoga teacher which cost about 22 pound and it has anti-burst written on it.

I've got the argos £5 one and i've been bouncing like crazy on it and it's coped so far........! ( though maybe I shouldn't say that!!)

Oh yes, buy a magic ball (as we christened ours ) they are terrific and I'm sure the cheaper one will be fine as long as you are not super tall. My soon-to-be-patented birth ball pose for labour was - pile up all the cushions, pillows and soft things you can find on the sofa (if at home) or hospital bed, then sit on your birth ball facing the wall of cushions you have built. Slump forward over the cushions so that your bump is hanging forward and you are blissfully comfortable. When a contraction comes, sit up and wiggle your hips around on the ball and turn on TENS machine if you are using one. When contraction ends, slump forward over cushions again. It worked wonders for me, allowing me to be upright and mobile during contractions, but still resting between times.

The ball will also be tremendously useful for joggling fractious baby on once he/she is here.