Description

Birthing balls are similar to the fitness balls you might find in an average gym, but they are used by women to alleviate the discomfort of labour. Educator, Kathy Gambito shows you how to use a birthing ball and how to get the most out of it.

Transcript

Kathy Gambito: This is a birthing ball. Actually, an exercise ball, that you could find in any physical therapy store. The birthing ball is one of the newest tools for helping to alleviate the discomfort of labor. And also enhance the birth process by speeding it up. I always, I want to tell you about the birth ball. I don't know, have you ever used it before? Alice Benjamin: No I haven't. Kathy Gambito: This is the best & newest tool as far as labor and delivery coping technique skill. With the birth ball what we can do is we can get you seated to where you are comfortable, you lean forward a little bit,it takes the weight of the baby off of your lower back. As the baby comes, so the birth canal, there is a lot a pressure on your tailbone. So when we sit you here on the birth ball, you lean forward, it takes a lot of the pressure off of your lower back. So if you wanted to go ahead and try sitting down the ball. You want to be very careful and hold on to the bed. Once you distribute your way, I want you to try rocking front to back, side-to-side and see which one you like. When we rock and we have motion in labor, we have an automatic relaxation response. So by being in the ball, your pelvic are just comfortable, you don't have a lot of pressure coming up, with you and the bed there and a hard chair. When she find the direction that you like, because everybody is different; leaning on to the bed, may be putting your head down. That's going to promote relaxation and why you're laying there, or sitting there, you just rock back and forth, side-to-side. Maybe close your eyes and you start thinking of relaxation. Not only would you be able to relax, but your Labor Support Doulas, your partner, have you bought with you, it's going to be able to come and apply, some counter pressure on your lower back with your tailbone is. Baby will put pressure during labor and by having some support from your partners, they're going to be able to ease the discomfort you will have by taking the pressure up off of your tailbone. Alice Benjamin: This is my first experience with the birthing ball & I love it. I -- sitting in the positions & trying them was very relaxing. It took a lot of the pressure of my lower back & something that I will definitely want to try when I go into labor.