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.
Return to the top