Hellobee Boards

YAY! My yoga ball was my BFF at the end of my pregnancy. I bought a super cheap one (probably under $10) from Walmart and it was prefect. I really loved it while in labor too.

@Koolbreeze: I think mine is from Walmart too!

I don't really get the whole yoga ball thing - do you use them at work? Sitting around the house? Does it not bother you to not have any back support? I have one but somehow I'm never convinced I'm going to be more comfortable on it than my couch.

@MrsCB: I used it at home (I wasn't working). Towards the very end of my pregnancy I found it significantly more comfortable than our couch or recliner. I loved that it had some give to it so it wasn't putting so much pressure on my legs and lady bits. Plus bouncing/rolling your hips on it is supposed to help move the baby down/help dilate you (if your body is otherwise ready, I'm sure--I don't imagine it would put you into early labor!)

It's the only way to get DS to sleep other than nursing! And yeah I found it super helpful in early labor at home.

@MrsCB: I never brought mine to work but I used it while watching TV at home. I slouched really badly on the couch and put my feet up on the coffee table. While that was super comfortable for me, it is also a position that can encourage the baby to turn 'sunny side up' and I really wanted to avoid it. The no back support actually helped me have much better posture, and sit up straight, which actually helped my back feel better at the end.
I also got mine cheap at walmart, used it towards the end of my pregnancy to better my posture and keep baby in a good position. Used it during labor until we got to the hospital, and then labored on it leaning over the bed for a while after arriving. I really didn't expect to use it as much as I did.

Yes!!! My water actually broke on mine.
Super cheap at walmart!

I used mine to sit while hanging out or watching tv towards the end- sometimes the couch was just uncomfortable. I also bounced a lot towards the end to help baby get down into position. I bounced hard on it during labor. And now its the only surefire way to calm the baby- of you stop bouncing I swear she's like, "bounce, woman!"

@Orvis18: I wondered if I used it too much and that's why she is addicted too!!

We have used it so much more than most of the baby crap we have! We already had one for exercise, didn't buy it for pregnancy.

I just bought one last week off Amazon. Thinking about inflating it now (35 weeks) because I'm so uncomfortable with this hip pain.

Loved it to relieve my back pain during later pregnancy. Totally helped widen my pelvis, too. I thought I would love it during labour, but I hated it (needed to be standing).

I found that the couch made me slouch towards the end of pregnancy and that has made me nauseous and makes my back hurt. So often, I'll sit on the ball just to be more comfortable. And that's a bonus - the reason I got it was because in my birthing class, I was told that if you don't have the energy to walk, you could probably still have the energy to bounce. And I think mine was only $15 from Walmart, so even if it didn't work, it's not much money spent.

Ditto to @Grace:
I couldn't bear sitting on the couch...but the ball is super comfy to sit on, especially with lower back pain! I think its a small price to pay for comfort!