Birthing Balls

[keelie_b]

My mum bought me a birthing ball today. Im just wondering if i can use it now? could it help with my bad back? i know some women try to induce labour using a birthing ball is it the sort of thing i shouldnt use until about 37+ weeks?
Are they any good?

Thanks

 

[nazmomi]

I dont know about setting off labour, and I didnt use mine 'on the day' as e had problems and had to have a very medically managed birth, but I do know I absolutely adored my birth ball in the last month or two of pregnancy.
It was fantastic to either sit on or get on all fours with when I had back pains. I couldnt get enough of it.
Will definitely be using mine again this time

 

[dannii87]

I've never heard of them inducing labour I know they're good for getting the baby in a good position (well, that's what they say but it never worked with Evie!)


It was invaluable during the actual labour though x

 

[keelie_b]

maybe i've got it wrong then, i just always heard overdue women saying they were desperately bouncing on thier balls and assumed it could help start things off? hmm....

Oh well all is sounding good i will collect it later

 

[Sherlock]

They can be used from about 32 weeks for encouraging baby into a good birthing position.

Need to have hips higher than knees and feet flat to floor to maintain the correct posture and keep hips tilted forward. Cen gently rock, sway or bounce. I used mine at my computer the last 8 weeks or so before birth. So long as you have the right sized ball for your height.

FWIW if you use one for this purpose and then go slouch on the sofa in the evenings you'll defeat the purpose and probably not get any benifit from it. On sofa etc also you need to keep tilted forwards and sit upright so as to encourage baby to *not* go back to back. Slouching and sitting back into a sofa etc will make it comfy for baby to go back to back which is far from ideal for labour.

 

[Sherlock]

maybe i've got it wrong then, i just always heard overdue women saying they were desperately bouncing on thier balls and assumed it could help start things off? hmm....

Oh well all is sounding good i will collect it later

Nah not really a labour starter. But are good for leaning on or sitting on when in labour. There are also various exercises you can do to help with hips etc when in labour.

 

[Sylvie]

I used mine to relieve my terrible backache by leaning over it and it really helped

 

[bobby1]

quick question...

sorry to overtake the topic a bit but... can you just get like an exercise ball from argos or summat??

cheers ladies!

 

[Sherlock]

yes you can, just get the right size for your height

 

[ronggeshi]

oh,no

 

[Zazu]

I got mine from tesco for about £3! Don't know if it was anything to do with the ball but baby was back to back and turned during labour x

 

[Squeakz]

Bouncing on balls can bring on labour theorectically as babies head 'bounces' on the cervix. But again its only if tou're getting to the point of labour naturally anyway that any of that stuff 'works' x