Employing Peanut Ball during Childbirth Process
The peanut birthing ball is a unique and beneficial tool for expectant mothers during labour and delivery. This birthing aid, shaped like a peanut, offers several advantages, particularly for those who opt for an epidural.
Made of the same material as the traditional birthing ball, the peanut ball features larger ends and a narrow middle section. This design supports pelvic positioning and comfort, helping to open the pelvis and promote optimal alignment. This alignment assists the baby in descending into the pelvis and positioning correctly for birth.
One of the primary benefits of the peanut ball is its ability to reduce strain on the pelvic floor, lowering pain and decreasing the risk of tearing. It provides support for the legs, easing pelvic pressure and helping make contractions more effective.
The peanut ball can also shorten the length of the first and second stages of labour, reduce the likelihood of a cesarean section, and decrease the need for medical interventions. For individuals with an epidural, the peanut ball allows for the adoption of more labour positions, which might otherwise be limited.
In addition to its labour-shortening properties, the peanut ball can be used during the tucked lying position and the forward-leaning position for pushing. In the tucked lying position, the user lies down in a side-lying position on the bed with the bed elevated to 45 degrees, helping the baby move further down the birth canal. In the forward-leaning position, the user rests on both hands and knees, using the peanut ball as a pillow to support the upper body, allowing gravity to help the baby move down the pelvis.
The Fire Hydrant Position and the Lunge Position are other useful labour positions that can be facilitated by the peanut ball. In the Fire Hydrant Position, the user kneels on one knee, placing the foot of the other leg and the knee on top of the peanut ball, possibly moving the ball lower than the bed's bottom part. The Lunge Position requires elevating the bed to 45 degrees and placing the peanut ball under the top leg in a horizontally lunging position.
While research on the benefits of the peanut ball for easing labour and delivery is somewhat limited, a study conducted in 2011 found that the use of a peanut ball could reduce the first stage labour by 90 minutes and the pushing stage by 23 minutes. Another study from 2015 supported the use of birthing balls, stating that they can improve the labour process and ease pain.
Before using a peanut ball, it is essential to consult with a doctor and gynaecologist to ensure its benefits are maximized. It is also crucial to buy the correct size of the peanut ball based on the user's height to ensure its effectiveness during labour and delivery. While the peanut ball does not flatten, slide, or slip, choosing the right size ensures the best possible support and comfort for the user.
In the later stages of pregnancy, the peanut ball may help alleviate aches and pains, engage and position the baby, and potentially reduce the chances of cesarean delivery. Its unique design and benefits make it a valuable addition to the birth plan for many expectant mothers.
During pregnancy, using a peanut birthing ball may help alleviate discomfort and prepare mothers for labor by engaging and positioning the baby. This health-and-wellness aid can potentially reduce the chances of cesarean delivery, especially when used in conjunction with various labor positions such as the Fire Hydrant Position, the Lunge Position, the tucked lying position, and the forward-leaning position. Parenting resources increasingly recognize the benefits of this scientifically-backed tool for promoting optimal health and wellness during pregnancy and labor.
