What is a birth ball?
A birth ball has several benefits for a mom-to-be, including helping her to get into a position that best supports the weight of the baby during childbirth. Watch the video for tips from nurse midwife Paula Greer for using a birth ball.
Transcript
In this position, you can actually get into a squat and get these muscles ready for labor and birth.
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Birth balls were first used by physical therapists as known way to help increase your core strength and muscles,
and especially in your lower back and your pelvic area. They migrated to actually helping
with pregnancy and birth. If you purchase a birth ball, it could be used during the pregnancy to help get you
in a squatting position. Many women in America aren't used to squatting, and their legs are not going to support the increasing
weight of the baby. But in this position you can actually get into a squat and get these muscles ready for labor and birth.
During the birth process, the birth ball is used to help mom bring the baby lower into the pelvis
and to help her cope with pain. She can bounce on the ball. She can rock and sway on the ball.
And she can use the ball in various positions, hands, knees, in the bed if she must be monitored,
many different ways that she can use the ball to help her cope with labor. Many birthing rooms and birth centers keep a birth ball
there just for that reason. If you're going to go out and buy a birth ball and use it during the pregnancy, please
remember important safety tips. Do not use the birth ball when you're home alone. Make sure you have a partner there
to help you get off and on the ball to stabilize you so you don't actually fall. Make sure that you put some kind of sock with grippies on it
or a tennis shoe or a very supportive shoe so that your feet don't go out from underneath of you
when you're rocking on the ball. Birth ball safety is important. But this is a great asset that you
can use to help you in your pregnancy and your birth. Have a happy baby.
pregnancy
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