what to do w/ birthing ball

[babykaoss]

so i have a birthing ball here, that i borrowed from my friend and doula....i've been sitting on it a lot.......but is there anything specific i should be doing? baby apparently flipped back into correct postion from being posterior last week........but you never know.........


p.s. i love ice. *crunch crunch*

[aydensmama]

I used the birthing ball to try and let baby drop, hehe, I don't know if it worked, but I tried sitting with legs far apart. It was also rather comfortable those last couple of weeks! BUT....the best part of the brithing ball was bouncing on it lightly with baby in cranky times. Ohhh, he loved that ball and the bouncing. I would bounce on it at the dinner table, at the computer, watching tv, all while baby was happy content or sleeping! It is the perfect height also and he loved being on it no matter who was holding it. I would say "ok i need a nap, go bounce the baby" and get at least a 30-45 minute nap!

I am sure it is great for birthing, but after was where I got my $$$ worth!

[babykaoss]

: i'll have to keep that in mind for after! maybe i'll just 'forget' to give it back right away!

[Awaken]

I got mine for exercising with, but I've also used it to sit on to encourage proper positioning (although no where near as much as I should have!).

I've practiced using different positions on it to see if I'd be comfortable using it in labor- sitting on it is out (if I were having cntx) as I feel really scrunched that way, but leaning forwards on it on my knees with my head down feels ok, I may try that in labor, we'll see.

Otherwise it'll continue to be a nice tool to use for exercising post-partum!

[crsta33]

I labored on hands and knees for most of my first birth, and by the end of transition I was pratically falling over my stack of pillows b/c I could barely support myself anymore. Then I saw a birth on some show where the laboring mama was using the birth ball to lean into and I really wished I had seen that before my labor b/c it would have been wonderful to lean on the ball instead of my unsteady and unsupportive stack of pillows.

I've sat on mine some, but I mostly got it in case I want it during labor.

Christa

[BensMom]

Its great for sitting on in late pregnancy (instead of a chair) for when you are on the computer or sitting for longer periods. Much easier on the loose joints of the pelvis.

You can do small circles and rocks on the ball to help loosen the pelvic muscles and ligaments and help rotate the baby into position.

All of my clients *love* the ball during labor. Motion really helps with ctx, so rocking, rolling, circling, etc on the ball during a ctx helps the mom get through them.

Leaning over on the ball is also wonderful (like crsta said). Both in late pregnancy to help with positioning and in labor to help with pain and positioning. Allows a partner to give counterpressure very easily.

I would not go into labor without my ball. Many hospitals offer them for your use, but I have found that they might be the wrong size, shape or underinflated (and no one knows where to find a pump). The hospital I am going to makes you buy the balls (at like $100/pop). So definitely bring your own!

[Queen of Cups]

I keep mine at my computer desk and use it instead of an office chair - that ensures I sit on it at least an hour or two a day. It seems to have worked pretty well, because DS was in a great posistion during labor, and this baby seems to be in a good position. I used mine some during labor last time, too, just to sit and gently bounce.

[MamaFern]

i use it as a chair at the computer and while im watching tv ( which isnt often) and even for eating meals. i find my body just feels so much better after sitting on the ball than on a chair. i kinda bounce from side to side sometimes and even just put my arms around it and kneel on the floor to stretch my back sometimes. after elwynn was born i used to it rock him to sleep or bounce him.. he liked it better than a rocking chair.

[BethHG]

Are exercise balls and birthing balls the same things? I have an exercise ball which I am now blowing up (after months of looking for the pump!).

[Live~Laugh~Love]

I used one in the hospital, they recommended it. My son almost jumped out of me... OUCH. I was joking and I took off bouncing like a nut... Will NOT do that again... Youza

[Live~Laugh~Love]

Big time whaen i was pregnant. i loved ice. I have a cavity now, what would I do???


p.s. i love ice. *crunch crunch* [/QUOTE]

[Sleepymama]

Originally Posted by aydensmama

I am sure it is great for birthing, but after was where I got my $$$ worth!

OMG, me too! DS was super high needs and the ball was the only way he'd go to sleep for months and months. My cat kept popping mine and one night I had to go to sportmart at 9pm b/c I just couldn't get him to sleep any other way!!

I also took mine to the hospital and spent most of my labor on it. Very worth the $$.

[zjande]

I have a borrowed one, too. I sit on it when I'm on the computer & when my back is especially sore. It just makes my whole sore skeleton feel so much better.

I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only weird ice-eater. I never eat ice normally, but these past couple months I've been chowing on it. My usual routine now is to lie in bed at night, reading my book & munching down a whole bowl of ice. I know it's terrible for my teeth & hope the habit goes away when my pregnancy does.

[starparticle]

Attn all you ice eaters!

I had major ice cravings last time, eating like a quart a day. I was totally anemic and having PICA! Seriously, it was the ice eating that tipped off my MW to check, and sure enough my iron was around 9. So, I'm sure your all okay - but maybe get your iron checked??

[babykaoss]

my iron was just under 12.....thats fine isnt it?

[starparticle]

My M/W told me 11/12 is borderline low - but I know that each test is different. I'm sure if yours was too low they would have said something

I have a had time keeping mine above 12 - hence the anemia and ice eating!

[rsjamison42]

I've heard that sitting on a ball is great for proper positioning, but how does that apply to breech babies? I've been reluctant to do anything that might encourage her to engage butt-first, such as squatting, and I feel like the ball might do that. Sitting on my ball is much nicer on my back than a chair, though, and I'd love to feel good about using it. Any thoughts?

[babykaoss]

i thought that butt first was the best breech position for vaginal delivery?

[rsjamison42]

Yes, but my MW won't do a vaginal breech, so it's head-down or nothin'.

[babykaoss]

ohhh you poor dear! go to that spinning babies site! i would definitely sit on your birth ball or on the floor cross legged! my baby flipped from posterior last week after concentrating on doing those things, as well as the hands and knees exercises.....and i know posterior is HARDLY breech, but at least its worth a try.