Standing and leaning over the ball, either placed on a high bed or against a wall will enlist the help of gravity to encourage your baby to descend. Once you’re healed and ready to start exercising again, a birthing ball can then be used as part of your fitness routine too. What is the best birthing ball? It’s not as strong as the likes of BABYGO Birthing Ball, but it can still hold up to 125kg and comes in blue as well as purple. The Birth Ball is the #1 selling pregnancy and labor ball sold. And just like that, the choice was made easier! Material: The ball should be latex-free and made of durable, field-tested materials such as PVC or eco-friendly rubber. These are firm, light, long-lasting, and do not have any inflation problems.

Exercise Ball Bounce According to Green, gently bouncing on an exercise ball can help to start labor by soothing the baby and encouraging the baby to move down, which will help the cervix to dilate.

2. Best budget birthing ball: Opti 65cm Purple Gym Ball

Shen, C., Wang, H., Sun, B., Jiang, Z., & Meng, Q. (2021). Birthing ball on promoting cervical ripening and its influence on the labor process and the neonatal blood gas index. World Journal of Clinical Cases, 9(36), 11330-11337. https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v9.i36.11330 Your midwife might be able to advise on good birthing ball exercises. Your birthing ball might also contain some instructions to help you get started. The term “dilation” refers to the widening of the cervical opening. One sign that a pregnant woman is entering labor is a dilated cervix. Most expectant parents are eager to start the show by the end of the third trimester. According to Joyce Gottesfeld, M.D., “(many) people feel uncomfortable being pregnant and want to be unpregnant.” a Denver-based OB-GYN for Kaiser Permanente. Some women think about trying to induce labor themselves if their due date passes without any sign of labor beginning. In fact, a lot of pregnant women are searching for ways to induce labor at this point.

The Core Balance Gym Ball is an exercise ball that can be used during pregnancy and labour and there are four sizes available – 55cm and 85cm – which could be useful for women who find average birthing balls too big or too small. In this article, you’ll notice that I will be using these terms interchangeably as well! Pregnancy ball size My recommendation would be to increase the amount of time you spend on your birthing ball and the intensity of the exercises as you get closer to your due date Perhaps the most important differentiators between exercise balls and pregnancy balls are the safety features.

When should you start using a birthing ball?

NOTE: Yes, a birthing ball is the same thing as an exercise ball. 😉 How Big Should Your Birthing Ball Be? The Birth Ball is a valuable tool, which can help you remain in control during labour. Its unique design provides physical support for you in pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. It is an excellent alternative to a chair for sitting and can also be used in a dynamic way to practise exercises and positions in preparation for labour. At the same time it induces a sense of calm and relaxation. Working with the ball helps to move your baby into the best possible position prior to and/or during labour. Such a position favours an easier and shorter labour. The beauty of the ball is its simplicity: it is comfortable, fun and easy to use. Even if you plan on getting an epidural, a birthing ball is helpful during the early part of labor when you may be encouraged to walk and move around.