Bumps & Boobs Podcast

Love the peanut ball for reasons below 👇

It has come to my attention that this photo has been widely shared across Facebook and Instagram 😱 I am blown away! My friend Sarah and I created this photo while at work to demonstrate some positions that you can use with peanut balls. Read the original post below:

Let’s talk about one of my FAVORITE labor tools: peanut balls! 🥜

If you are not familiar with peanut balls, you have GOT to hop on the train! There was a study done in a hospital from 2009-2010 that looked at the effectiveness of peanut ball use with an epidural.
➡️ The control group: consisted of about 100 people who did NOT use a peanut ball
➡️ The study group: consisted of about 100 people who DID use a peanut ball
➡️ The results: the control group had a cesarean rate of 21%, whereas the study group had a cesarean rate of 10%! The study group also had reduced labor and pushing times!

Peanut balls work to expand our pelvis and passively stretch our muscles, allowing for babies to move down in the pelvis. Here are some great positions that you can try:
1. Squatting: great for laboring down/letting gravity and the force of contractions push your baby down!
2. Hands and knees: a great way to stay comfortable in hands and knees. Can help with the pain of labor, or for babies in an OP position!
3. Fire hydrant: place one leg up on the ball in hands and knees position and switch about every 20 minutes. Great for OP babies!
4. Side lying: opens the pelvis and helps baby move down. Great for people with epidurals!

Edited to add- Here is my citation for the research for anyone who would like to do more reading:
Tussey, C. M., Botsios, E., Gerkin, R. D., Kelly, L. A., Gamez, J., & Mensik, J. (2015). Reducing Length of Labor and Cesarean Surgery Rate Using a Peanut Ball for Women Laboring With an Epidural. The Journal of Perinatal Education, 24(1), 16–24. http://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.24.1.16 ... See more

The Village Midwife, LLC

For those choosing a hospital birth, check out how we can make the bed work for you and the many positions that are helpful for labor and birth.

Reposted from @bumpsandboobs @bumps&boobspodcast Bumps & Boobs Podcast

- MAKE YOUR HOSPITAL ROOM WORK FOR YOU!! 💯
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My friend @ikaria_integrative_health and I wanted to show you some examples of ways that your hospital bed can transform and assist you with the progression of labor. 🛏
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1. Throne/chair position. This is great for people who are laboring down with an epidural, or for people who just need to sit and take a quick break.
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2. Hands and knees. This is a great position for OP babies/back labor. A lot of laboring patients find hands and knees more comfortable!
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3. Side lying with your leg resting in the stirrup. This position is great for opening up the pelvis and allowing the baby to move down. Quick note: I would not feel comfortable with my patient staying in this position/on one side for too long. I also would be cautious in using this with patients who have an epidural because they may not feel sensations of discomfort if this position is not serving them.
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4. Squatting with a squat bar attached. Many facilities have squat bars that attach to beds. Upright positions can help encourage stronger contractions and help move baby down. Quick note: I would have a support person remain at the bedside to ensure that the laboring person does not lose balance.
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Any other ways that you have utilized hospital beds to work FOR you? Let me know! 👇🏻👇🏻 - #regrann ... See more

Just one simple way to use a #rebozo. We so often hold tension in our shoulders and this technique allows us to release it with a simple vibration technique. This is me and my friend Nicole with Northern Star Doula Support at Brittany with Blossoming Bellies Wholistic Birth Services wonderful Creating Space workshop that focuses on the pelvis in labor and birth. Such wonderful tools and info for us #doulas to create such wonderful #laborsupport ... See more

www.nationalpartnership.org

http://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-work/resources/health-care/maternity/the-rights-of-childbearing-women.pdf