Birthing Balls

Birth Balls For Use During Pregnancy, Labor, Birth, Postpartum and Infants The birthing ball is an exercise ball that helps positioning and comfort for a laboring mother. During labor, women may sit on the ball or lean over the ball while at the same time gently swaying to facilitate comfort during contractions.

Using a birthing ball may:

• Relieve back pain by taking the weight of the baby off of the sacrum area.
• Encourage pelvic relaxation by conforming to the body similar to use of a waterbed mattress.
• Provide perinea! support without undue pressure.
• May assist rotation of the baby into a good position for birthing.
• Allow less strain on hands and wrists when the laboring mother is in a hands and knees position.
• Helps keep the fetus well positioned during labor.
• Be used as support while the Mother is in a squat position.
• Allow for pelvic rocking and swaying body movements that encourage relaxation of the muscles used during labor, which may reduce pain and stress.
• Use may help contractions to be less painful and more productive.

The ball will accommodate a weight of 300 pounds and will tolerate gentle bouncing up to 800 pounds burst weight. The birthing ball is for use by the laboring mother only. No support person(s) will be permitted to utilize the birth ball.

There is a risk of falling off the birthing ball. THE LABORING MOTHER SHOULD NEVER USE THE BIRTHING BALL WITHOUT SUPERVISION. An assistant must always remain with the laboring mother and should keep a hand on her to help the laboring mother maintain balance. The birthing ball may not be utilized after insertion of an epidural anesthetic to due the mothers limited mobility.

Sitting on the Birth Ball Although the name implies that the ball is used for birth, it's use should begin before labor Sitting on the ball in pregnancy and in labor Allows the pelvic floor to release Relieves pressure Soothes back aches by shifting and rotating the pelvis Is a convenient position for doulas or partners to massage the head and shoulders

Leaning on the Birth Ball Kneeling over the ball is great for Pelvic rocking Assisting in rotating a posterior baby Taking strain off the arms and shoulders Relieving some discomfort from back labor Providing easy access to the lower back for massage and counter pressure

Please note:

Midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, nurses, doctors, family and friends will also love sitting on the ball.

Caution:

The ball is capable of holding 300 pounds, but it can be punctured by sharp objects and then the "sittee" will fall on their "tushee"

1. During the last trimester of pregnancy, expectant mothers may find it easier to sit on than a chair or couch to get up and down.
2. Sitting on the Birthing Ball encourages pelvic mobility.
3. It allows the mother the freedom to rock her pelvis, change her position and shift her weight for comfort.
4. It encourages fetal descant as the mother remains sitting in an upright posture taking advantage of gravity.
5. Sitting on the ball helps keep the fetus well aligned in the pelvis.
6. The ball encourages pelvic relaxation by conforming to the mother's body similar to a water mattress as it provides perineal support without undue pressure.
7. Sitting on warm compresses on the ball will maximize perineal relaxation.
8. Sitting on the ball encourages rhythmic movement as the mother sways or rocks back and forth while sitting on the ball.
9. Sitting on the ball while leaning over the bed gives the mother the pelvic mobility that she is unable to have while sitting on a chair.
10. Less strain on the hands and arms when mother is in the hands and knees position.
11. Eliminates hard external pressure of a chair, bed or rocker when sitting.
12. May speed up labor.
13. Can be used as a support while squatting so that the ball presses on the fundus to encourage fetal descent.
14. Squatting helps widen pelvic outlet to its maximum.
15. Its use is beneficial with techniques for "failure to progress."
16. Ball use is also helpful for strengthening the lower back for those with chronic back pain.
17. Ball use can also strengthen abdominal muscles used in second stage.

Use in Back Labor or Persistent Posterior Fetal Position

1. Having the mother lean over the ball while on her hands and knees gives her good pelvic mobility as well as uses gravity to encourage the largest and heaviest part of the baby's body to rotate.
2. Kneeling and leaning over the ball assists in rotation of the baby to the anterior.
3. As the mother's weight is lordly supported by the birth ball, she is able to stay in the critical hands and knees position for an extended length of time. Normally the mother is only able to maintain this position for a short interval as it causes carpal tunnel syndrome by putting excess strain on her wrists and hands and is tiring as she must support her entire body weight.
4. The use of the ball has saved more than a few mothers from a cesarean section for failure to progress.
5. It is easier for someone to do counterpressure for the mother for her back pain while in the hands and knees position over the bell.