Sitting on the birth ball
leaning forward
- Sitting on the ball and leaning over onto your bed or a chair is a comfortable way to rest between contractions.
- This position helps take pressure off the sacroiliac joints.
- It allows the mother to relax certain muscle groups while remaining supported.
More information on the birthing ball/labor ball:
What is a birth ball?
Labor ball tips from our readers
New study shows pain reduction
A study published by the American College of Nurse Midwives in 2011 looked at use of the labor ball in the management of pain during labor.(1) A group of 60 women aged 18 to 35 were divided into a study group and a control group. Pain scores in the study group, the women who used the birth ball were significantly lower than the mean scores in the control group. The study also looked at the effects of the birth ball on the duration of labor and found that while pain was improved, the length of time women spent in active labor remained unchanged.
Other positions using the birth ball:
Sitting on the ball
Standing leaning over the ball
Kneeling leaning over the ball
Squatting back.
References
1. S Taavoni, S Abdolahian, H Haghani, L Neysani. Effect of birth ball usage on pain in the active phase of labor: a randomized controlled trial. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2011 Mar-Apr;56(2):137-40.
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