- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- pregnancy today articles
- pregnancy today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Having a Ball
Using Birth Balls to Ease Labor
By Kelly Burgess
While they may be called "birth" balls, what these balls really are is professional-grade physical therapy balls. Inflatable balls used for birth support should be slow-deflating (so Mom doesn't end up on her bottom if it were to puncture), latex free (because many people are allergic to latex and don't even know it) and weight tested to support up to 600 pounds.
Livingston says these balls came into the birth arena in the early 1980s, but she cautions both expectant parents and professionals to be careful about using balls provided by some hospitals that may date back that far. While midwife centers tend to be more up to date on this type of labor support, many hospitals are just now coming into the more natural way of laboring and may have old physical therapy balls that they are still using as birth balls. These balls may not be professional grade and may not be suitable to use as birth balls.
If you're thinking about purchasing your own birth ball, find one that is sold as a birth ball – those found at discount or toy stores are not as safe as approved balls. It may be worth a couple's while to purchase their own – especially if they're planning on having more than one child. They generally cost less than $30, and, in addition to support during labor, they can be used during pregnancy to help prepare the bodyfor giving birth.
"We don't do a lot of squatting like people in other cultures," says Douglas. "This can make it really difficult for a woman in labor if she really wants to squat, which is a comfortable laboring position, but her legs can't take the strain."
The birth ball can be used during pregnancy to practice those squats. Having regular access to a birth ball also enables the partner to practice holding and stabilizing the ball so he's not learning as he goes along while his partner is in labor.
It can even be used post-partum, providing gentle support to a sore bottom. Also, babies love the bouncing motion that Mom can make on the birth ball.
Want to see more?
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||
