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Birthing
balls
A Birthing Ball is a physical therapy ball (approximately 65 cm).
Birthing Balls can help expectant/laboring women get into positions that are
more comfortable and can enhance labor's progress. These positions provide
movement to change the position of the baby if necessary.
About the Birthing Ball:
- The Birthing Ball should be large enough for you to sit on with legs bent
at a 90-degree angle.
- Use the Birthing Ball with a "spotter". When a mother is pregnant,
the center of gravity is altered and she will need someone to help steady
herself to avoid becoming off balanced.
- The Birthing Ball should be inflated to the point that is slightly firm
but still "gives"; it should roll easily.
- Always keep sharp objects away from the Birthing Ball.
- The Birthing Ball can be used with both the external and internal
electronic fetal monitoring, should this become necessary. Check with your
labor nurse or doula for the hospital policy regarding the use of the Birthing
Ball in your particular situation.
- A labor nurse or doula may place a "chux" pad over the ball while you are
laboring on it. If the water breaks or is leaking while the mother is on
the Birthing Ball, a chux will help.
Why Use This Ball?
- In the last months of pregnancy pregnant women find it easier than a chair
or couch to get up and down from.
- It encourages pelvic mobility.
- It allows the mother the freedom to rock her pelvis, change her position
and shift her weight for comfort.
- It encourages fetal descent as the mother remains sitting in an upright
posture taking advantage of gravity
- Sitting on the ball helps keep the fetus well aligned in the pelvis.
- Sitting on the ball encourages rhythmic movement as the mother sways or
rocks back and forth while sitting on the ball.
- Eliminates hard external pressure of a chair, bed or rocker when sitting.
Use in Back Labor or Persistent Posterior Fetal Position
- 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.
- As the mother's weight is totally 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.
- It is easier for someone to do counter pressure for the mother for her
back pain while in the hands and knees position over the ball.
- If a woman has an epidural, the ball can be placed between her legs as she
lays on her side to keep her pelvis open wide and allow baby room to rotate.
References:
Birth Ball User's Guide by Connie Livingston & Sandy Dennedy
The Nurturing Touch At Birth By Polly Perez
Special Women by Polly Perez
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