Birth Balls

1. As nurses, do you find they help or are just something that's in the way?
2. 

   About Natalieboo

   Joined: Jul '02; Posts: 112; Likes: 2
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3. 
   Aug 8, '02

   Occupation: RN Joined: Nov '01; Posts: 1,487; Likes: 70

   I use the ball pretty frequently. I find it really helps a pt. with back labor or one who doesn't want pain meds. My patients really seem to like it.
   
   Have you ever sat on one? We do it at the nurses station at night sometimes......man, that thing feels good if your back hurts!!! Ahhhhhhhhh................
4. 
   Aug 8, '02

   Joined: Jul '00; Posts: 11,351; Likes: 387

   Ditto! We always seem to have one at the nurses' station! If the patient likes it, I don't care how much space it takes up!
5. 
   Aug 8, '02

   Joined: Oct '00; Posts: 8,729; Likes: 8,412

   Works like a charm at times. Some women say their back pain disappears, and I've had women stuck at 5-6 start to dilate again fairly quickly if they can be convinced to try it. Wouldn't want todo without it on our unit.
6. 
   Aug 8, '02

   Occupation: SAHM, Birth Doula Joined: Jul '02; Posts: 112; Likes: 2

   I totally agree! I have one around the house and sometimes we sit on it while at the computer. I also have a 6 month old daughter and I sit on it with her and we bounce. It's fun
   
   I also have one that I bring to the births I attend.
   
   At the first birth I attended, I suggested the pt. get on the ball and the nurse looked at me and said "Thats not going to do anything for her, those are a joke" so while I flashed an evil glare at the nurse I suggested to the pt. she get in the tub. Nurse was more enthusiastic about that.
7. 
   Aug 8, '02

   Occupation: registered nurse Joined: Nov '01; Posts: 1,083; Likes: 14

   we have birth balls and the patients that try them usually really like them
8. 
   Aug 9, '02

   Occupation: Labor, Delivery, Post Partum and Newborn RN Specialty: 10 year(s) of experience in OB, Post Partum, Home Health ; Joined: Dec '00; Posts: 291; Likes: 34

   I have found that pt's either love them or they hate them. Pt's with hemroids hate them!!
   The nurses love them. I often sit on them to chart. And, on really slow nights, I work out my abdominals on them!!!! (haha)
   Oh and another thing, if pt has back pain, i have her sit on the ball, facing the bed so that she can lean on the bed for support, I put her partner on a stool behind her and it is much easier for him to give her a massage or counter pressure during a contraction.
9. 
   Aug 12, '02

   Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 38,756; Likes: 16,280

   i use birth balls to do sit-ups at the gym. REALLY!!! i love em.
   
   Too darn bad, as a labor pt, i never had one offered to me! my patients either LOVE Them or HATE them, like said above. like anything, you use what works. we keep about 5 or 6 on the floor of one of the OB units where i work. they are certainly worth a try; like anything else nonmedical and potentially so helpful.

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