When to start jumping on the Swiss ball

[NDE1987]

Hi All, I am currently 34 weeks pregnant, and just wondering when to start jumping on the Swiss ball? I am trying to avoid being induced so started drinking rasberry leaf tea, eating dates and now wanted to know about the ball.

Thanks!

[Hidden]

I would start now! They are so comfy to sit on too. I wish I had started mine earlier xx

[NDE1987 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Hun!! Do you literally jump up and down? And how long do you jump for lol. Or more is it you rock from side to side? X

[Hidden in reply to NDE1987]

Yeah just do little bounces up and down and round in a circle. I probably done it for an hour here and there xx

[NDE1987 in reply to Hidden]

Oh wow Hun that's a long time! I thought about 10 minutes haha. It's all becoming very real now. I watched the Emma Willis midwife programme and thought that's going to be me in a few weeks!!

[Hidden in reply to NDE1987]

I was just desperate not to go over and I had left it a bit late so 10 mins here and there at 34 weeks is probably fine. It’s hard to fit in otherwise. I did go over in the end so didn’t work on me but she was a bit baby so that was probably more the problem.

I completely forgot about that programme! I might have to try and find on catch up. To be honest I don’t know if I could watch it now probably would get all emotional!

Hope your time flies for you. Have you finished work yet? Xx

[Rach2022]

The ball is lovely to sit on and can be very comfy in late pregnancy as you don’t have to sit back like you do on a sofa. It’s also better for your core muscles to sit on the ball, which is useful since pregnancy is very bad for them. I haven’t really heard of anyone who has managed to get labour going with the ball tbh, but you might find bouncing on it weirdly relaxing - I definitely did - and it’s great during early labour.

I drank loads of raspberry leaf tea, ate dates and curries, went on long walks to the point of exhaustion and had lots of nookie with hubby and LO was a week late so I think it’s a load of hooey. All the dates and curries did was help me put on extra weight that I now have to shift so in retrospect wish I hadn’t bothered. The most likely thing to work is apparently the nookie though if you do end up trying to move things along.

When I was getting frustrated at LOs late arrival I was comforted by how the whole thing works... They don’t entirely know why people go into labour at a particular time but supposedly the baby’s lungs being fully developed makes them emit a hormone that reaches our brains and sends us into labour. That’s to say, frustrating as it can be to wait, you’re waiting for your baby to be fully ready and that’s always a good thing. Obviously if you go 2 weeks over I.e. when they deem it wise to get the baby out, that’s a little different.

Read about all your options - we were due to have a very large baby and I am a delicately built woman so I did not want the increased risk of an instrumental delivery with all the possible complications for both me and baby, and chose instead to have an elective c section instead of an induction (that is to say, when we got to 41 weeks I told them I would take a c section and would not be induced). Read all the stats and think about your circumstances and plan for every eventuality as you do not *have* to be induced if you don’t want to be, it’s just that the NHS obviously prefers it as it’s cheaper and more likely to lead to a natural birth.

In the end I went into labour at 40+6, 3 days before the planned c section, tried for a natural birth but didn’t progress and didn’t want to be put on a hormone drip to speed labour (essentially induction) so ended up with a c section, which worked well for me. Once you’re in labour they can refuse to give you a c section so having one arranged previously I think helped a lot. That and my total failure to progress! Before pregnancy, I never thought I would opt for a C Section but then I hadn’t read up on instrumental delivery statistics and risks. I still think a natural birth is best in most circumstances.

Apologies for the essay, and I hope it’s helpful. I know a lot of small girls who were due to have large babies and went overdue and who *did* get induced and it did not go well (as in, it went horrifically badly). That’s just anecdotal obviously but I also read up on it and there are several studies looking at late term induction and risks, which were what informed my opinion at the time. I think it’s worth being aware that the NHS will give you an elective C Section if you ask for it, although it can be a little bit of a faff.

[Rach2022 in reply to Rach2022]

Or the shorter version: yeah, you can use the ball whenever it’s nice! Sorry for going off topic x

[Hidden]

I've been using mine sporadically since about 28 weeks but I'm trying to jump on It (not literally!) every night now. I stay on it until I'm bored, usually after 30 mins to an hour. I'm terrible for slouching though so I need to nip that in the bud! I think the ball is supposed to help baby get head down rather than helping to bring on labour.

I want to avoid induction too, luckily my hospital is being very relaxed about it and it's basically my choice from 40 weeks. I will just be monitored to ensure that baby isn't getting poorly. I can also opt for the sweep at 39 if I would prefer. Will just see how it goes.

My baby and I have been having words though and I've asked it nicely to come anytime between 22nd and 31st of December 😂 xx