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Birthing ball

16 replies

Vic69 · 09/12/2004 10:43

I've been on the Active Birth Centre website and they have sold me on the idea of a birthing ball - but think they are taking the p*ss with what they are charging. I have seen the same thing in Argos for a tenth of the price - the only thing is that it comes without a pump.Does anyone know what you can inflate it with? (I'd assumed a bicycle pump might work - but then loads of my assumptions tend to be wrong!)

If you've got a ball, do you use it and do you have any tips to pass on?

Thanks!

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skiingawhitexmas · 09/12/2004 11:11

Hi Vic, yes I've got a 'birthing' ball and yes I've used it!! I got mine from Argos for a tenner and used it throughout my 1st pregnancy (had a 6 hour labour so must've done something right!!) and then used it even more afterwards - holding the baby and bouncing up and down on it!! Found it was the only thing that would settle him!!

This time round its out again and I'm using it again to sit on and lean over.

We used a bicycle pump first time round to pump it up but it was quite hard work and we used DH car pump this time round which was easier!!

Definitely recommend them. Funnily enough I didn't actually use mine while 'birthing' coz I found it too painful to sit on!!! HTH
Good luck! Smile

JoolsTide · 09/12/2004 11:14

dd had dgs3 in August and they had one at the hospital - she was very sceptical but found it amazing!

eidsvold · 09/12/2004 11:25

found it helpful for pubic pain pre birth - ours came with attachments to do exercises on so will be using it after 6 week check up to tone and firm body.

used an electric pump to pump ours up.

dh found it great for his back and dd1 likes bouncing on it Smile

Gobbledigoose · 09/12/2004 11:28

Don't know the answer to your specific questions but just wanted to say I cannot recommend the ball enough for labour - it was bloody marvellous to sit on and rock. Absolutely fantastic!

throckenrobin · 09/12/2004 11:33

I think you can use a foot pump. I had one of those balls and found it very relaxing in the weeks before birth - the most comfortable place to sit. Didn't get a chance to use it during the birth though. With DS1 the hospital had never seen one before - 18 months later with DS2/3 they had them at the hospital !

orangina · 09/12/2004 15:00

hi vic 69.... i bought the cheapo argos ball (£3.99 or something, without the reebok logo or whatever...), and then bought a foot pump at halfords for under a tenner (pump came with 3 different valve thingies, good for all sorts of inflatables).... I bought mine not just for the birth thing, but also to sit around on in the evening instead of slouching on the sofa... good for core stability etc.... I'm sure you could use a bicycle pump, as long as you have the right valve attachment, but I would say having spent a good 20 minutes with the foot pump, that it would be even harder work doing it by hand!

moondog · 09/12/2004 15:13

I did the same as you orangina, but used mine post birth on recommendation of physio for long standing back and shoulder pain. She showed me how to use it for sitting on in certain ways (core stability) and also to sort of run it up and down the walls. It's sorted out my constant pain and I felt 90% better-was the first thing to go in the suitcase when I came to live in Turkey
(also great for dd as very easy to bounce and kick

orangina · 09/12/2004 15:15

are you in turkey now then moondog (sorry, nothing to do with this thread...)?

moondog · 09/12/2004 15:21

yes,complete with ball, but not pump! had a terrible time trying to find one for a bizarre reason. my husband's whole office was on the lookout. in the end one of the drivers took it away and mysteriously returned an hour later with it up (the ball of course!) could have kissed him!!

nailpolish · 09/12/2004 15:40

cant believe you have to buy one. my maternity hospital has tons and you can have a shot as long as you like. (they have been disinfected Grin)

orangina · 09/12/2004 15:43

maybe that was exactly what he was after! All you have to do now is avoid a puncture...

dazedandconfused · 09/12/2004 15:56

I do remember trying to inflate mine at the local garage-8 months gone and enormous! It didn't work, BTW, but got a foot pump from the camping shop (£5) and that sorted it. I found it a comfortable way to bounce away the last few weeks. Also used it in early labour (moan/bounce LOL!)

moondog · 09/12/2004 17:20

Bit of an aside, but how is your dh's back and shoulder now nailpolish?

chonky · 09/12/2004 18:20

I loved mine, and I think it helped turn dd from breech prior to the birth. DD likes lying across it still now - it's actually a physio exercise for her but I think a lot of bubs would enjoy it.
I stupidly bought one from the NCT, only to discover the Argos one later - duh!

nailpolish · 09/12/2004 20:26

hi moondog

no better, he is reluctant to take painkiller reg. but when i bully him to they work fab so he just needs to take them reg like hes supposed to do. thanks for asking xxx

fruitful · 09/12/2004 20:41

I'm sitting on mine now - it has replaced the chair at my desk since about a month ago (am 25wks pg). Lovely. I got it last pg when I was getting lots of pain in my tailbone. Not a problem this time but its still more comfy than a chair.

Didn't prevent dd being breech though (and so didn't get to use it in labour - don't think they do ceasareans on them!).

Only problem now is, that dd wants to take it outside and kick it round the garden.

(and its an argos one, dh blew it up with a footpump)

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