I found out yesterday that I'll be delivering at a different hospital than I had initially thought. I assumed I would deliver at the hospital near my OB's office since that is where I've been going for all my ultrasounds and such, but she also delivers babies at another hospital closer to me which has just renovated their maternity section (yay!) Plus they have better accomodations for natural births
Anyway I wanted to find out how many of you used a birthing ball and if you would recommend it?
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I used a birthing ball! I never thought I would but I had horrible back labor and the birthing ball really helped. I sat on the birthing ball and rested my elbows on the bed...while DH pressed down on my lower back or squeezed my hips together during contractions... So if you have back labor def give this a try!
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I wanted to use one but was put on strict bed rest 3 weeks ago, not supposed to move from my left side more than bathroom breaks or sitting up to eat meals.
I wish this little fella would get a move on on his own but I can't blame him, I haven't been much help not being able to move. Getting induced Friday. -
I tried it but it didn't feel good when I was in really active labor. When I first started labor, before my water broke, it felt good though. I would at least try it out when the time comes.
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It was a nice change of position for me. I would go from the bed, to the ball, to leaning over the counter.
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I was made to use it when I was in really active labor but things weren't progressing as much as they wanted and it was soooo hard... I don't feel like it did anything for me and it really hurt to try and do what I was supposed to while my contractions were happening. I think it might have been nice for the earlier stages of labor but I was in too much pain to want to sit there. The birthing tub on the other hand... now that was such a blessing
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Thanks for the responses.. I dont know if that hospital allows birthing tubs.. I will look into it.
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I didn't choose an option but I did use the birthing ball. It was semi-helpful. I wasn't really good about switching positions. I recommend trying a few different things along the way. This was the one thing that did minimize the contracts a bit. Next time around I'd love to try the pool. The option was there when I went into labor but I was under the impression that I'd be able to manage without much assistance- not so much.
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@Mrsbells: Our hospital had tubs but you weren't allowed to do a water birth. You could labor in the tub as long as you liked but you had to deliver on the bed. I thought this was something I really wanted but in the end never really felt like drawing the bath and getting in.
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@Thehistoryofus: Yeah my hospital doesnt allow water births either and I'm not really looking to have a water birth,. but it would be nice to sit in a tub during labor
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I had an opportunity to use the birthing ball for my second labor and I found it hilarious because the second I had a contraction while on the ball I was like - GET ME OFF!! It definitely didn't help.
Now...AFTER the baby comes home, the birthing ball (or any large exercise ball for that matter) is great for calming a baby down, especially during the witching hour. Just hold the baby and sit on it and bounce away. Pretty much every baby responds well to this!
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I thought I'd want it but when the time came it didn't sound good so I never tried it....same with music, massage, lots of the labor positions I'd planned on. All I wanted was the tub!
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I used one the week before labor started and loved it and again in very very early labor. Once labor actually got moving I had no interest what so ever in using one, it was more uncomfortable for me.
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I asked the LDR girls about this, because they have a stock of about a half dozen different sized birthing balls, they all said that only very rarely do people find it helpful (one girl estimated 1 in about 30 moms actually like it), about half of moms try it, and most want off of it within about 90 seconds (LOL). The hospital did get a new birthing tub with air jets, and that hasn't been as well liked as they thought either (a shame since the tub and suite it is in cost about 20K to install).
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