Kneeling leaning over
the birth ball



  • The mother can kneel over the labor ball on the floor, encouraging pelvic motion which may aid a posterior fetus in turning into the correct positioning for labor.
  • If your baby is positioned in the occiput posterior position (face forward) the mother can assist in rotating the baby by positioning herself kneeling on the floor and leaning over the ball.
  • Performing the pelvic tilt in this position by tucking your pelvis in and rounding your back, will help ease back pain during pregnancy and delivery.
  • This position helps support body weight during labour

Other positions using the birth ball:
Sitting on the ball leaning forward
Standing leaning over the ball
Sitting on the labor ball
Squatting back.
   
More information:
What is the labor ball?
Ball tips from our readers
New study shows pain reduction during labor
Exercise & pregnancy - what should you be doing/not doing

The Public Health Agency of Canada published its findings: among a group of women who had given birth vaginally or attempted to, one of most frequently used medication-free techniques for pain management was sitting on the labour ball. 18% of women in the Canadian Maternity Experiences survey were using the labor ball to assist with pain management.(1) The women in the study also used the other following methods:  changing position, breathing exercises, baths/showers, massage,  and walking.


A study examining low risk pregnancies in 18 to 35 year olds (n=58)  compared the women's perception of pain during labor and in the post partum period. Two groups of women were studied: women who used the birth ball, and women who didn't. Results showed that the birth ball is a safe and effective method of decreasing pain during labour with 4 cm dilation and in the postpartum period. (2)

   
References
1.  Public Health Agency of Canada. What Mothers Say: The Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey. Ottawa, 2009.
2.  BE Delgado-García,  MI Orts-Cortés, I Poveda-Bernabeu, P Caballero-Pérez. Randomized controlled clinical trial to determine the effects of the use of birth balls during labour. Enferm Clin. 2012 Jan-Feb;22(1):35-40.
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