PREGNANCY MONTH 6
WHY USE A BALL IN LABOUR?
■ In the last■ It encourages pelvic mobility. ■ It allows you freedom to rock your pelvis, change position and shift your weight for comfort. ■ It encourages foetal descent as you remain sitting upright and takes advantage of gravity. ■ Sitting on the ball helps keep the baby well aligned in the pelvis. ■ The ball encourages pelvic relaxation by conforming to your body, similar to a water mattress, as it provides perineal support without undue pressure. ■ Sitting on a warm compress on the ball will maximise perineal relaxation. ■ It encourages rhythmic movement, as you sway or rock back and forth while sitting on the ball. ■ Sitting on the ball and leaning over the bed gives you the pelvic mobility that you don’t have while sitting on a chair. ■ Less strain on hands and arms when you’re in the hands and knees position. ■ Eliminates hard external pressure of a chair, bed or rocker when sitting. ■ May speed up labour. ■ It’s used as a support while squatting, so that the ball presses on the part of the uterus furthest from the opening to encourage Baby to “drop”. Squatting helps widen the pelvic outlet to the max. ■ Using a ball is also useful for strengthening your lower back, for those with chronic back pain. ■ The ball can also strengthen abdominal muscles used in the second stage of labour.
