Effects of Different Birthing Balls Used at the First Stage of Childbirth

Effects of Different Birthing Balls Used at the First Stage of Childbirth on Birth Outcomes and Maternal Satisfaction November, 2018

The study aimed to determine the effects of different birthing balls used at the first stage of childbirth on birth outcomes and maternal satisfaction. Randomized controlled, single-blind clinical study included a total of 180 pregnant women. The study included 3 groups (A: routine hospital care, B: spherical birthing ball, C: peanut ball). Especially spherical birthing ball, were effective in reducing labor pain and facilitating faster rate of descent of the fetal head, and they increased maternal satisfaction.

The study aimed to determine the effects of different birthing balls used at the first stage of childbirth on birth outcomes and maternal satisfaction. Randomized controlled, single-blind clinical study included a total of 180 pregnant women. The study included 3 groups (A: routine hospital care, B: spherical birthing ball, C: peanut ball). Especially spherical birthing ball, were effective in reducing labor pain and facilitating faster rate of descent of the fetal head, and they increased maternal satisfaction. IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Labor pain and outcomes occurring during labor are known and expected situation. Some non-pharmacological methods are applied to ensure that birth is easy and maternal satisfaction is high. What the results of this study add? There is no studies using the peanut ball and the spherical birth ball together. In our study, it was found that both balls are effective, but the spherical birth ball is more significant. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our study suggested that the spherical birth ball had effective on birth outcomes. Future studies should be performed to investigate the effects of birth balls in the postpartum period, breastfeeding or prenatal period.

The positions and movements for birth ball in the active and latent phases: kneeling on the ground and leaning on the spherical birthing ball, sitting on the ball with front support, sitting positions on the spherical birthing ball, full rotation of hip, moving to the right/left, back and forth. Positions and movements were repeated every 30 minutes. The 30-minute intervals were interrupted in cases where the women were not feeling well.

The positions and movements for the pregnant women in peanut ball: upright sitting position, forward bending positions, with backward and forward movement and swaying right and left on the peanut ball

in this scale, the participants marked the severity of their pain on a 10-cm ruler with one end stating "no pain" and the other end "worst possible pain". VAS was used to determine the severity of pain and the effectiveness of the intervention in this study.

This is used starting from the active phase of labor. The progress of the labor and the health status of the baby are monitored on the partogram

This is used to assess maternal satisfaction in normal delivery. Higher total scores on the scale indicate stronger maternal satisfaction with the hospital care provided in normal delivery

Inclusion Criteria: primiparous admitted to the delivery room for vaginal delivery 38-40 week being in the latent phase of labor having no obstetric risks Exclusion Criteria: undergo caesarean sections for various reasons having obstetric risks