You’ve probably seen a yoga or “birth ball” – they come in a variety of sizes (usually 55cm up through 75cms) and can be purchased at Target for under $10. They’re fantastic for assisting in various positions in pregnancy and labor. A peanut ball is similar but instead of being round it’s squished flat and longer – like a peanut!
One study found that putting a peanut ball between a mother’s legs when she had an epidural opened up her pelvis and had significant results:
The results were compelling. Those who used the ball decreased the first stage of labor by nearly 90 minutes and the second stage by 23 minutes compared with a control group that did not use the ball.
The real payoff came through lower C-section rates. The C-section rate for the group of women who used the ball was 13 percentage points less than for the group that did not use the peanut ball.
Your hospital may not have a peanut ball but it’s an inexpensive investment that may have priceless benefits! You can purchase one at Walmart or Target in their exercise section near the yoga balls and they are around $20. Moms, if you know you plan to have an epidural then go order a peanut ball!
Read more: Article here.
This is the side lying position demonstrated:
Update: For moms not having an epidural the peanut ball can still be beneficial in labor. If you’re side lying the peanut ball can help keep mom’s pelvis open and help her feel more comfortable. I now keep the peanut ball in my car for all births and bring it in if needed.
Update II: I used the peanut ball at a hospital birth and it was GREAT! The nurses were curious and I explained more and they thought it was a fabulous way to help moms with positioning while laboring on their side. I got some funny looks walking into the hospital with it but once I explained you could see their expressions change with understanding and, “OH, that’s a great idea!”
Update III: The peanut ball has also been handy if mom is on the bed on all fours and her arms are tired. It’s a good height to cover with a blanket or towel and let her rest her upper torso on, instead of hurting her wrists.
Love all your info. just starting off as a doula and already want to get a peanut ball for clients! great clip, thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad to help! Sorry for the belated response.
That reminds me tha I need to stop at Target in the morning on my way to a prenatal with a momma I am serving!
I plan on having an epidural again this time and will definitely let you know what the difference is with the ball, i don’t have a doula
so will be doing it on my own but the video is incredibly helpful as well as images i have seen with demonstrations on your back inclined with ball underneath one leg at a time.
I would love to hear your experience with it! For moms laboring with or without an epidural I’ve received positive feedback.
What size peanut ball do you suggest?
I purchased locally but through the Amazon link the orange 50cm one is closest in size. I’ve heard 55cm or smaller, under 20″ high is best. I believe mine is around 18″ high.
We LOVE the peanut ball at our hospital! We use it so often that have a protocol and policy for it’s use! We all get silly looks from patients and their families as well but when it works the proof is in the pudding! Great read! Keep up the good work!
I love to hear that! And I’m curious about what the policies and protocols are for it, if you don’t mind sharing?
I use the round balls a lot when I’m at a birth. In general, do you think the peanut shape or the round is better? Thanks!
They are such different uses that it’s hard for me to say. One of my hospitals in town has birth balls, the other does not (and neither carry the peanut yet.) A local midwife at our birth center says she uses the peanut ball as much as the birth ball, and I think it’s worth having both even if they do take up lots of space.
If you don’t have a peanut ball at the hospital you can improvise by setting a pillow on the hospital bed table and raising it just a bit to elevate the mom’s leg. You can also pull out the stirrup (if the nurses don’t mind and show you how!) and use that to help raise the mom’s leg while she’s laying on her side. It would be trickier to come up with an alternative to the birth ball (I can’t think of one!) so that would probably be my basic, but I really do love the peanut ball as well.
I didn’t have a peanut ball at my first child’s birth, but the nurse laid me on my side and put my top leg in a stirrup (so a very similar position as your picture above – I did get an epidural). I went from 5cm to 10 in half an hour. I’m a doula now and will definitely get one of these. Thanks for the reminder!
I’ve heard nurses and midwives refer to that position as the pretzel or chicken leg – and it can really work well!!