Yoga Ball positions for pregnancy and labor with birth partner

Learn how to use the Yoga Ball for birthing with a birth partner.

Cooperate with your body's inborn instincts and the processes of nature. Staying relaxed and centered in your own gentle power is so helpful in labor. There are many ways to do this and having a few that work personally for you is a good idea:)!
,*yoga ball positions
*squatting (in various ways..including supported; holding onto doorknobs, holding someones hands, on a wall, in front of a chair or ball)
*other yoga poses that you can relax into for at least 2 contractions (pose of a child for example)
*sitting backwards on the toilet
*meditation
*guided meditations that help you stay tuned into your highest self and your babys highest self www.yoga-software.com/Prenatal_Mommy_Meditations_CD_p/400-cd.htm
*truly choosing your support people (Hint this is not a time to be a nice friend or family member and allow folks in your space that make you uncomfortable in this very special moment)
*flower essences- cherry plum diluted in ice chips or water for the I cant take it anymore feeling and 5 flower/rescue remedy for mellowing everything out www.healingflowerenergies.com
*remembering that you and your baby are in this together and can help each other
*hypnosis/self-hypnosis (check out classes, CDs, etc)
*hiring a doula who has done this before...sometimes alot! www.dona.org/mothers/find_a_doula.php
*lavender water or hydrosol for cool compresses staying cool and relaxed



Sit bones apart
If you practice the sit bones apart exercise before labor you will feel how much space this creates at the birth canal outlet. Then during labor if someone suggests that either the head is coming down at a funny angle or the head is really big you can use this position to make the outlet wider from sit bone to sit bone to ease the descent of the baby. In the Pink Kit video from www.thepinkkit.com/they suggest that 14 lb babies have been born this way!!! Once the baby descends enough their head will keep the bones expanded enough to let the head come down and out.

Check with your healthcare provider to see if they are open to using this during pushing, if not then you can still use this position anytime up to pushing and still receive alot of benefit. Remember that you can also sit backwards on the toilet (this makes you sit extra wide) and have a partner pull the sit bones apart and then sit on the toilet seat, which will hold the sitbones apart as well as a ball would. If your toilet set up allows you to you can also rest on the toilet tank...the cold and wet can feel like a great relief in labor!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• penni thorpe
• yoga ball
• ball for birth
• birthing
• yoga at change
• doula

[penniyoga]

so glad these are helpful!

[MsMikolajczyk]

Very useful, thanks

[MMMM1951]

These are great ideas! I have been a L&D nurse for 40 years and taught Childbirth Education for 25 and I will be adding these to my repertoire! This is the first time I have seen so many exercises with the support person sitting on the ball, supporting the mother! WONDERFUL! Looks so relaxing! Thank You!

[Bardoftoday]

this is fabulous. I just got a ball and didn't know what to be doing with it to prep for labor

[andielib]

Thank you very much!

[Tynell3]

Hi! This video was wonderful! Thank you for your detailed explanation about what to do and what can happen (give birth) when pregnant women squat on an exercise ball.

Tim!!! In Japan

[natalielinden]

great!