When should I start using a birthing ball? What are the functions of a birthing ball?

In order to relieve the pain of parturients, more and more novel tools have emerged, and the birthing ball is one of them. So when is the birthing ball used? How to use it? What are the benefits of using a birthing ball for parturients? Let's take a look~

In ball delivery, a soft and elastic ball is used to continuously move the pregnant woman's body, thereby relieving labor pain. Generally speaking, pregnant women use delivery balls to take a comfortable position, or to make the fetus take a comfortable position, or to make the fetus take a position that is conducive to the descent or rotation of the pelvis, which can relieve pain and shorten the delivery time. At present, there are relatively few hospitals that use ball delivery.

A birthing ball is a large rubber ball with a backrest. It is very comfortable for the mother to sit on it, just like sitting on a soft sofa.

The birthing ball may be relatively unfamiliar to some expectant mothers. In fact, the birthing ball exercise uses a soft and elastic ball to continuously move the pregnant woman's body. It can improve the mother's breathing and circulation, coordinate the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments, increase the mother's flexibility and strength, help pregnant women cope with the extra burden on the body, and gradually adapt the body to the needs of pregnancy and childbirth. During natural childbirth, the toughness, endurance, and elasticity of these muscle groups will come into play.

1. Can relieve labor pain

The birthing ball exercise during pregnancy can effectively promote the elasticity of the pelvis of pregnant women and the descent of the fetus. In the case of an inverted fetus, it can also help the rotation of the fetus. If you use the birthing ball to squat during the delivery period, you can expand the pelvic space, thus relieving the pain during delivery. It can help the baby's fetal head descend as quickly as possible, relieving your pain during delivery.

2. Quick recovery after childbirth.

During childbirth, there is no pressure on the genitals, so the recovery after childbirth is fast. In addition, it can maintain the elasticity of the buttocks, thighs, and abdominal muscles, which is conducive to restoring the original body shape after childbirth.

3. It is very beneficial to the body in the early, middle and late stages of pregnancy.

Using ball delivery exercises can improve changes in body gravity in the early stages of pregnancy, thereby maintaining a good posture and preventing low back pain; in the second trimester, it can flexibly exercise the abdominal muscles and help with pelvic movement; and in the third trimester, it can help stabilize the legs and diaphragm muscles.

Experts at Jilin Guojian Maternity Hospital pointed out that if the physiological conditions are met and the expectant mother does not have any obstetric complications, she can start learning some ball exercises in the second trimester under the guidance of professionals, and start learning several ways to use the birthing ball in the third trimester to prepare for delivery.

1. Start exercising in the intervals between contractions. When women have regular labor pains and contractions, they can choose to sit on the birthing ball in the intervals, sway their bodies back and forth with the ball, and complete the birthing ball exercise with the help of medical staff to relax the pelvic floor muscles and relieve the nerve pain in the perineum.

2. Cooperation of multiple parties in childbirth. When the delivery officially begins, the mother should adjust her posture, breathe properly, use her strength scientifically, cooperate with and accept the help of the midwife while doing the birthing ball exercise, and finally give birth smoothly.

Birthing Ball

1. The birthing ball is also called the doula ball. It is currently mainly used in obstetrics departments of hospitals and maternity schools.

2. The material of the birthing ball meets medical material standards and is safe and non-toxic.

3. Compared with yoga balls, birthing balls have a certain hardness, so they can stimulate the perineum, accelerate the delivery process and reduce labor pain.

4. The service life of delivery balls is strictly limited. The service life of domestic delivery balls shall not exceed 1 year, and the service life of imported delivery balls shall not exceed 1.5 years to ensure safe use.

5. The birthing ball needs to be used in conjunction with a fixed ball stand to ensure the safety of pregnant women.

6. The birthing ball must be explosion-proof and pressure-resistant. The load-bearing capacity must be more than 200 kg.

Yoga Ball

1. Yoga balls are mainly used for sports and training.

2. There are many domestic manufacturers of yoga balls. The materials can basically be divided into PVC, recyclable plastic, etc.

3. The hardness of a yoga ball is lower than that of a birthing ball, because sports balls are too soft and not convenient to use.

4. Yoga balls do not have a strict service life limit and their safety cannot be guaranteed.

5. Yoga balls are basically sold individually and do not come with fixed ball stands.

6. Yoga balls are divided into explosion-proof and non-explosion-proof types. The pressure resistance is basically above 150 kg, not more than 300 kg as some websites say.

From the above, we can see that the birthing ball and the yoga ball are two completely different products. The birthing ball is a medical device while the yoga ball is a sports equipment. If there is someone accompanying you at home, you can use a yoga ball instead of a birthing ball for a short period of time, but do not use it for a long time. To avoid unnecessary harm.