Birth balls, are they worth buying?

[Pagen]

Hello all,
I just spotted an exercise ball for sale at TK-MAX for £8 and wondered what the difference is between the sports ball and a "Maternity ball"...except the packaging.
Also, has anyone used one, was it worth it?

only ever used it whilst in labour. two contractions and i gave up, preferring to be on my feet! sorry not much help!

sports balls are just great. i used them each evening in pregnancy and during early labour. never even heard of maternity ones.....

I used a sports one in the last 3 months of my last 3 pregnancies and found it great during labour. It got damaged though and haven't had it this time - I miss it. Will definately be asking for one in the hospital. Well worth ti, and you can do sit ups later when it's all over. Kids love rolling it around too.

Don't think there's any difference other than that they recommend a larger one during pregnancy.
I used my normal one and it was fine though.
Was great during pregnancy and now use it for exercise (as before) but also my baby like being bounced to sleep on it!

someone told me that maternity ones have something to stop it bursting - it just punctures so you get a slow leak... not sure how true that is.

I used a normal gym ball in my last 3 pregnancies - they are so comfy to sit on/lean on. DH ended up throwing it out after DS3 arrived though coz he was fed up of DS1 playing with it! In this pregnancy, I got an adult space hopper from Argos in the sale - was about £8. Doesn't look as odd in the house and it can be played with by everyone Although DS1 keeps trying to convince me to race him on it!

I am pretty sure that they are the same thing, I think you need to buy the correct one for your height though (according to my MW). I sat / bounced on mine most evenings in late pregnancy and in fact my waters broke while on it...this was followed by a fairly short 4 hour labour (my 2nd vbac). Whilst pregnant I found it helped my lower back ache. My neighbour had one and she also had a short 2nd labour. All in all I would definitely recommend them.

Sainsburys have got one for £3.49
Its smallish, but perfect for me, Im 5ft2

I had a sports one and it was good, but when when I was in labour the hospital one was much softer and more comfy for labour. Ours was good for bouncing babe on later too (whilst sitting on it, holding baby over shoulder). Until it burst - with a big pop as opposed to slow deflation - DH was on with DD - luckily they were unhurt!

Just to add - am debating which to get for this time - it's annoying the preg ones are so pricey but I might just get one.

I bought a proper pregnancy one because a sports ball was too small for me (the idea is that when you sit on it, your hips are higher than your knees)and the pregnancy ones come in different sizes depending on your height. Pregnancy ones also won't pop if they get punctured, they will just leak air slowly.

I used mine loads during my first pregnancy. haven't used it much this time round cos DD wants to push me off so she can have a go

I used one with my labour in 2006 (during the god damn heat wave) and it was brilliant, I sat/rocked on that whilst leaning on the bed with a magazine in front of me, cooling mist within reach and a beaker of red-bull on the cabinet thingy on my right. And it was pink

Amazing - am fully intending to use one again with this baby.

I used one in the hospitalin my third labour - I loved it I had always thought they were a bit odd before!. I will be buying one for later pregnancy this time as sitting on it and leaning forward was the first time I had relief from pain in my hips for about a month.

oh yes v good in labour, didn't want to move off it.........