I just spent twenty minutes inflating my “birthing ball.” Technically, it’s just a balance ball or stability ball, however they are very useful during the days leading up to labor and during labor itself.

• Gently bouncing on the ball can actually help the baby get into position
• Doing hip circles on the ball helps to open up the pelvis and makes delivery easier
• sitting on the ball offers relief that a more structured chair or sofa doesn’t

The hospital where I delivered my 2 year old son recommended I bring my own ball in case the ones they had were all being used.  I still love the image of my husband and me in active labor walking the long city blocks to the hospital with the suitcase, boom bucket, and birthing ball in our arms, stopping every few minutes for me to bounce.

Little did we know that ball would be FAR more useful after we brought our newborn home.  I remember my sister saying there was no use buying a glider or rocking chair when babies love the stability ball, so in one of those “witching hour” moments when absolutely nothing would stop my baby from crying, my husband held him in his arms and bounced on the ball.

It was magic.

He instantly stopped crying, and fell asleep shortly thereafter.  We were amazed and overjoyed.  If I had known how many hours I would spend bouncing on that darn ball, I would not have been as happy.  But in that moment it was wonderful.

For the next 6 months or so, my husband and I traded off sitting and bouncing on that ball, during all hours of the day and night.  It worked better than anything else we tried.  I had a love/hate relationship with it, but it was miracle enough for me to know that I will use it again with this new baby.

Do you have a birthing ball?  How about a deflated exercise ball gathering dust?  Do you have a crying baby?  Then I encourage you to get it out, puff it up, and start bouncing!

If you don’t have one, I consulted a fitness expert and found out how to choose a ball based on your size:

Each ball holds up to 600 pounds

How to choose size of ball:

• Up to 5’7″ tall use 55cm
• 5’8″ to 6′ use 65cm
• 6’to 6’4″ use 75cm

He also recommended the best place to order one online- they have the best quality balls:

Perform Better Stability Balls

Happy Bouncing!