HealthPartners - Preparing for childbirth

Useful Items BIRTHING BALL

Birthing balls are like the exercise balls you see in a gym, only larger and with an anti-slip surface to keep you from falling off. Sitting on a curved birthing ball instead of a flat surface can help relieve pressure in your pelvis, lower back, and spine. It may also encourage your pelvic muscles to relax and open, making room for the baby to descend into your pelvis in preparation for birth. Some evidence shows that using a birthing ball during labor can reduce stress and anxiety. It may even shorten labor and help reduce the pain of contractions. Some midwives recommend using a birthing ball at home when labor begins. You may find yourself instinctively swaying and rocking in rhythm with your contractions.

Positioning a peanut ball between your legs during labor may help reduce pain, shorten labor, and lower your chance of interventions or cesarean birth. If you will be giving birth in bed, using a peanut ball will help open your pelvis to make it easier for your baby to travel down the birth canal. REBOZO A rebozo is a long, flat shawl usually made from handwoven fabric. Dating back to 16th century Mexico, rebozos are still worn as garments and to help carry heavy objects long distances. A technique called “sifting” uses a rebozo to help jiggle and move your baby into a more comfortable position during labor. How to sift with a rebozo • Place the rebozo on a soft surface, such as a bed or soft rug • Lie face down across the center of the shawl perpendicularly

Ways to use a birthing ball during labor • Straddle the ball and rock your pelvis from side to side or back and forth • Lean over your birthing ball while you’re kneeling on the floor • Get into a hands-and-knees position by hugging your ball and lifting your bottom up from a kneeling position, then rock your pelvis from side to side • Lean over your ball from a standing position, with the ball on a bed or other raised surface PEANUT BALL A peanut ball is just what it sounds like. It’s a ball shaped like a peanut shell that is narrower in the middle so you can snugly wrap your legs around it. First used in physical therapy offices, peanut balls are gaining popularity with patients going through labor or who will be giving birth in bed.

• Ask your partner to gently pull on the long ends and jiggle your belly • May also be done on your hands and knees with the rebozo cradling your belly

During labor, you can suspend a rebozo from the ceiling or door frame to help you do a supported squat. Just put the rebozo underneath your arms like a sling to support some of your weight. Or use both hands to pull on the ends of the rebozo as you squat down. When it’s time to push, you can enhance your efforts by using a “tug-of-war” technique on the rebozo, either with your labor partner or by looping the rebozo over a squat bar.

38 Your Guide to Labor and Birth