need dh to add some more air to ours. haven't started using it yet.
have/did you use bouncing on a birthing ball as a labor inducer? pain reliever? etc.?
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Yup I used it during labor before getting the epidural. Contractions were definitely more bearable on the ball than in bed.
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I used it as a pain reliever before labor. I loved sitting on it, it felt so good to take the pressure off since her head was engaged for so long before labor started. I didn't use it while I was in labor.
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I used it during labor and found it didn't help too much, I preferred to walk around.
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I used it in the weeks leading up to labor to try to move him down and help dilate me. I don't know how well it worked, but it was the most comfortable position I had to sit in at the end.
I was on it nearly all day (from 8am-11p) the day I went into labor (before we went to the hospital). DH actually threw it in the back of the car with us when we when we went to L&D the first time, but when I was sent home and labored for a few hours the ball made the back contractions worse, no matter how I used it (sitting/rocking/bouncing/leaning over it). The only way I could handle them was to put my forehead on the kitchen counter whenever one hit, lol.
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Our doula is bringing a peanut shaped ball to use during labor
http://www.amazon.com/Isokinetics-Brand-Peanut-Exercise-Balls/dp/B0026N2JWG
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I sat on it nonstop in the last month of pregnancy - I was so uncomfortable anywhere else! But I hated being on it during labor.
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Omg - yes... Used this so much in the last 2 weeks leading up to help try to get the baby to drop - then it was fantastic to use while I was laboring at home.... For a few hours I sat on it through contractions until I needed to be in a new position , but totally worth it for those few hours of comfort!
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yes, sat on it all the time at home leading up to labor and during labor too. i really loved rotating my hips on it.
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@Mamabolt I was exactly the same! They kept trying to make me sit on it and I got SO mad lol
The hospital I ended up delivering at has them and they ended up putting it on the bed while I leaned on it.
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@mamabolt: I got so mad at thing during labor.
I did not find it useful during labor at all. My hospital has them and we tried using it many ways, but it just didn't work for me.
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What is the difference between a birthing ball and an exercise ball? I already have an exercise ball so could it function the same?
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@shopaholic: Yes I think so!
I loved the birthing ball at the hospital!
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@shopaholic: I think they're the same thing. I have an exercise ball and sat/bounced on it a lot the last few weeks of pregnancy. I didn't use it all during labour but it was great during pregnancy!
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@shopaholic: Our childbirth teacher told us the only difference is the birthing ball is more expensive : )
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I didn't bring mine (yoga ball) because they said they had one, but someone had just given birth so it wasn't cleaned yet.
I used the toilet instead.
The toilet is a GREAT place to labour. Don't knock it til you tried it! (I also took a 2 hour shower--oh back labour).]
My advice is this: take note of the million different possible positions for labouring and when it happens your body will tell you in a big way YES or NO!
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@cvbee: Oh yes, I forgot about the toilet! I spent a good amount of time sitting on the toilet when I was laboring at home!
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@FutureMrsMcK: forehead-on-counter! THat is how I labour for my kidney stones when I'm waiting for the hospital to get me the drugs. (Yeah, I did birth with back labour and no drugs, but the kidney stones require drugs every time....I've had 4 attacks, all since being pregnant and post-birth....not fun). My birthing room didn't have a counter. I bet that would have been divine. NExt time!!!!
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@cvbee: I labored on the toilet awhile too!
I used the ball the last few weeks of pregnancy. I would bounce on it and rotate my hips. Never ended up using it in labor.
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@Ree723: @MamaMoose: Thanks! I better dust mine off and keep it pumped!
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Yep, I used it during labor.
Got me through 10 hours of excruciating back labor!
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YES. My birthing ball was a lifesaver during my early labor. It was the only thing that got me through difficult contractions. I bounced on it at home, in a Duane Reade buying snacks before we walked into the hospital and in the hospital triage waiting room. Then the hospital told us to walk for a couple hours to make my labor progress more before they admitted me, so my husband carried my giant ball and our hospital bags through the streets of NYC from 1-3 a.m., stopping every 30 feet so I could bounce on the ball on the sidewalk. We also went to a diner and I sat/bounced on it. At that point, I clearly did not care what anyone thought! We bought ours last-minute the day before I ended up delivering and I'm so glad we did.
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I used it before labor because it hurt to sit anywhere else! My ribs were so splayed and my back hurt so the ball forced me to have good posture which helped a lot.
I wasn't allowed to move at all during labor so I couldn't do ANY pain-relieving tricks. I was MISERABLE! I hated labor so much. I think it would have been a lot easier had I not be restricted to the bed.
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I sent DH out to buy one when I was in labor, by the time he got home I wanted to die and we went straight to the hospital. I've been using it everyday the last few weeks to bounce LO to sleep or when she's hysterical. Lifesaver!
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Used it from week 40-42 of pregnancy every dat to try to induce labor. Like for HOURS a day. Needless to say at 41w5d I was not dilated even a little, so it didn't work:( It was comfortable to sit in since she was low and putting a ton of pressure on my pelvis in those last weeks!
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I didn't use one! Just wanted to lie in bed
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I used it until I was about 7cm dilated. It helped tons and was a lifesaver. I had a lot of back labor. If you are trying to go the natural route then become friends with this ball!
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I tried using it while I was laboring at home but it didn't do much for helping with contractions. We threw it in the backseat in case I wanted it when we got to the hospital but I found other positions and taking long showers just worked better for me.
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Using it now to relieve some back pain....OMGAH does it feel good!
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