A birthing ball is a large, inflatable exercise ball used during labor to promote comfort and facilitate positioning. This non-pharmacological comfort measure encourages movement and helps manage pain during contractions. It provides a dynamic seat that encourages an upright posture, which is beneficial throughout the various stages of labor. Movement and gravity positively influence the birthing process.
Current Hospital Policies on Birthing Balls
Whether a hospital provides birthing balls varies significantly by facility and is not guaranteed. Larger birthing centers or hospitals focused on low-intervention or natural childbirth models are more likely to have a supply readily available in their labor rooms. These institutions often integrate such tools as part of their standard care to support patient mobility.
Smaller hospitals, older facilities, or those with more medically focused maternity wards may not stock birthing balls. Logistical factors often drive this variability, including concerns over storage space and the budget required to purchase and replace equipment. Sanitation protocols also play a role, as shared equipment must be thoroughly disinfected between patients to maintain infection control standards.
Patients should inquire directly with their care team or during a hospital tour instead of making assumptions about availability. Even if a hospital generally provides them, the number of balls may be limited, meaning a room may not have one if others are in use. Clarifying the facility’s policy beforehand is the only way to know what equipment will be present upon arrival.
How Birthing Balls Aid Labor Progression
The ball encourages the patient to remain in an upright, mobile position, utilizing gravity to assist the descent of the fetus. Sitting on the ball allows for subtle movements, such as rocking, bouncing, and hip circles, that are difficult to perform on a standard bed. These rhythmic movements can help reduce the perception of pain by providing distraction and counter-pressure to the perineum and lower back.
Continuous movement helps mobilize the pelvic joints, potentially increasing the diameter of the pelvic outlet to accommodate the baby’s rotation and passage. For a baby in a less-than-optimal position, such as posterior, subtle changes in pelvic tilt and movement can encourage the fetal head to rotate. Using the ball also prevents the mother from lying flat on her back, a position that can restrict blood flow and slow labor progress. Active positioning can lead to reduced labor pain and may contribute to a shorter duration of the first stage of labor.
Practical Steps for Ensuring You Have Access
Contact the hospital’s labor and delivery unit ahead of time to ask about the availability and policy for birthing balls. If the hospital confirms they do not provide them or only have a limited supply, bringing your own is a reliable alternative. When purchasing a ball, ensure it is made with anti-burst material, meaning it will deflate slowly rather than pop if punctured. This safety feature is important in a hospital setting.
Correct sizing is necessary for the ball to be effective; when sitting, the patient’s knees should be positioned approximately four inches lower than their hips. Generally, a 65cm ball is appropriate for individuals up to 5 feet 8 inches tall, while a 75cm ball is better for taller individuals. If you bring your own, transport it deflated and bring a small pump to inflate it upon arrival. Label your personal ball and be prepared to wipe it down with a hospital-approved disinfectant.
If a birthing ball is not available or if the patient requires an epidural, several alternatives can still promote pelvic mobility and comfort. A peanut ball can be placed between the legs while the patient is lying in bed, helping to open the pelvis asymmetrically. Other options include leaning over the hospital bed, using a sturdy rocking chair, or standing and swaying while leaning on a support person.