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Your Birth Plan

Using a Birthing Ball During Labour

The humble birthing ball is likely to become one of your best friends during your pregnancy and can also be a big help at the birth. It is even helpful after the birth for when you feel ready to start exercising again.

Most women probably haven't sat on anything like a birthing ball since bouncing around on a space hopper when they were children. However, a big round birthing ball has many uses and could easily become an essential part of your antenatal preparations, labour and delivery.

Pop your head into any antenatal class or pregnancy yoga session and you will almost certainly see expectant ladies using birthing balls. One of their advantages is that you can also use yourself them at home during your pregnancy and during labour if you plan to have a home birth.

Using the birthing ball prior to labour

In the third trimester, when you may start to feel large and ungainly sitting on a chair and sofa, and when trying to stand up can feel uncomfortable, you can swap your armchair for a birthing ball and sit on that to watch the telly instead. The ball offers firm but cushioned support and it's far easier to roll yourself up and off into a standing position from a ball than from the chair. Sitting on one is also good for your posture.

At the same time, you can do simple antenatal exercises that help to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, back and legs and increase flexibility in your hips, all of which can help to make your pregnancy body stronger, better prepared for the birth and more likely to recover afterwards.

Simple exercises such as rocking from side to side and rocking forwards and backwards are good for opening up the pelvic bones and helping to encourage the baby into the best position. Spread your hips and legs wide to support your weight and always remember to breathe while doing any exercising.

Balls come in different sizes, so make sure you get one that's right for your height. Once it's properly inflated, you should be able to sit on it with your knees bent at about a 90 degree angle. Don't worry about it popping and you landing dangerously on the floor. Proper birthing balls are made from strong materials that are designed to slowly deflate if there is a puncture, to avoid injury.

Using your birthing ball once you start labour

When you're in labour, you can take your birthing ball to the hospital or birth centre. If you haven't been using one at home, you may find that the labour suite has one anyway as the balls are now considered a fairly standard piece of 'equipment'. You should be able to stay on the ball even if you need to wear a foetal monitor. Even just sitting upright on the ball while in labour allows gravity to work and is a much better position than lying down.

Sitting on the ball during labour naturally encourages a swaying or rotating motion, which helps your baby descend through the pelvis and keeps him or her properly aligned. It can also open the pelvis, which helps speed up labour and the delivery because it is a similar position to a squat. On the ball, however, you have the advantage of being supported, rather than trying to hold a tricky position like a squat on your own, or with your partner, when you are tired. Rocking gently backwards and forwards may also help ease the pain of the contractions.

If you would prefer to stand, then place the ball on the bed and lean against it. Apart from giving you support, it will also help with pelvic swaying. You can also kneel on the floor and lie on the ball. If your baby's head is against your spine, this position can help turn the baby. It's also good for women who are having back pain. Don't be afraid to change positions during labour.

It's even possible to deliver your baby using the ball. You could place the ball against a wall and squat back onto it or lean over the ball for support while on all fours.

Birthing ball after birth?

Once you have had your baby, the birthing ball still has its uses! If you are sore or needed to have stitches, it can provide a soft but supportive way to sit while you heal. Once you have recovered from the birth and you have been given the all-clear from your doctor, you can use the ball to start some simple and gentle post-natal exercises to strengthen your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles.

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This internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult a doctor or other healthcare professional.