Birthing/Gym balls

[berri]

Are these the same thing? I have seen 'birthing' balls advertised by the NCT etc and I thought I might get one to sit on to help my back a bit as it's been pretty sore, but there is just a normal gym ball lying around at work which I could use couldn't I? Are the birthing balls a particular size or anything, or will gym balls do the same job?

Yes, i'm sure they're just the same.

I bought a cheap gym ball from from argos yesterday, i'm 27 weeks and using it for the same reason. It also helps to get the baby in to the right position.

Also, when i was in labour with dd1 the one i used at the hospital was just a normal gym ball.

HTH

same thing. i didn't use one, as the mw running the antenatal class was a little too, er, over-enthusiastic whilst demonstrating and disappeared backwards off it at a rate of knots... do be careful lol...

I used a cheap one from Tescos. It did a fine job. Expensive balls always say that they have a non-slip covering, or are burst-resistant or other such stuff, but I really couldn't tell the difference.

I'm planning to get back on it in a month or so to get my abs back, with a baby and a toddler we'll see if that one happens...

i still remember the sight of her little legs stuck up in the air over the ball to this day - she nearly knocked herself out on the 'baby positions' flip chart as she went.

she wasn't great tbh - she nearly electrocuted herself demonstrating the TENS machine the next week - oddly none of us wanted a go at that either.

i had a cs.

Thanks for the replies! Haha - Romy7 I'm giggling thinking of how funny your classes must have been, I hope mine are like that when they start (or perhaps not...)!!

we were all traumatised lol. who knew being pg was so dangerous?