When it’s time for labor, there a few tricks you might want to have up your sleeve to help you get to the finish line. Birthing props are great for managing the pain of contractions, and encouraging your labor to progress. Here are few of our favorite birth props that can be useful during labor, whether at home or in the hospital.
Exercise or Birthing Balls
You’ve probably seen these big, inflatable balls at your local gym—but they’re useful for more than just workouts. Birthing balls can help you find comfort during contractions in a number of ways:
- Sitting on the ball with your legs spread wide can relieve pressure on your pelvis and encourage baby to move down into the birth canal
- Bouncing, rocking, or doing hip circles during contractions can be useful for managing pain
- Leaning over the ball from standing or on your knees can help ease any back pain during labor
Another big benefit? Sitting on an exercise ball helps you remain upright and mobile which can encourage labor to progress. After all, gravity is your friend during labor!
Peanut Ball
The peanut ball is another favorite of birthing people and their care teams alike. Just like the name suggests, peanut balls are inflated exercise balls shaped like a large peanut. Peanut balls are a great tool that can encourage the pelvis to stay open even while laying down. This can be particularly helpful if you’ve had an epidural or can’t move around the room, or even if you need some rest in the middle of labor.
There are two main ways to use a peanut ball while laying down:
- In a semi-reclined position, place one leg over the top of the peanut ball, and the other alongside the ball
- While in a side-lying position, lift your upper leg up and over the peanut ball, and rest it at the narrow or wide portion of the ball depending on what’s most comfortable for you
Keeping your pelvis as open as possible can help encourage baby to move down into the birth canal for their grand exit, shorten the length of labor and reduce the need for interventions during delivery.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy, or laboring in water, has proven to be an effective tool for managing discomfort during contractions. The American College of Nurse-Midwives states that laboring in warm water during provides comfort, supports relaxation and is a safe and effective pain relief strategy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists finds that immersion in water during first stage of labor associated with shorter labor, decreased use of epidural, and may be offered to healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies.
If you don’t have access to a tub, taking a shower can have similar effects. The warm water running over your body paired with the water pressure can feel great, and remaining standing helps gravity to do its job to move baby down. Aim the water on your lower back or belly to see if the pressure helps to relieve some of your pain during contractions.
One note: it’s important to speak with your provider about using hydrotherapy as a tool during labor, especially if your water breaks. After your water breaks, there is an increased chance of infection — so while your provider may OK a shower, a bath is likely out of the question.
Chair
A regular chair, whether in your house or at the hospital, can be a great tool for providing support during labor. There a few different ways you can use a chair as a labor prop:
- Kneel in front of the chair and place your forearms on seat. Relax and focus on breathing while letting the weight of your belly drop towards the ground. Slow, controlled hip circles throughout your contractions can also be helpful in this position.
- Stand behind a sturdy chair, hold the backrest and lean down and back, like you’re doing a child’s pose. This position can help take the weight off of your back if you’re having back pain during labor.
- Squat down, using the chair as support. This is a great way to widen your hips and pelvis to encourage baby to move down in preparation for birth. Some mamas like to sway or rock back and forth in this squatting position.
- Straddling a chair facing backwards, place a pillow between your belly and the back of the chair and lean into it. This position can take the pressure off of your back, and your birth partner can rub, massage or apply counter pressure to your back.
Your Support Person
- Ok we know—they’re not technically a birth prop, but they can act like one. Here are a few things you can do with your partner, doula or other support person:
- Wrap your arms around their neck and sway like you’re slow dancing
- Leaning against your birth partner for support while standing or squatting
- Ask your partner to apply pressure to your back and hips while you’re leaned over a birth ball, bed or the back of chair
Remember, every birth is different for every person. A birth prop that works for one person might not work for another. Don’t be afraid to try something different to find what makes you feel the most comfortable during labor.