Outcomes of Exercise Training Following the Use of a Birthing Ball During Pregnancy and Delivery

Abstract

Fournier, D, Feeney, G, and Mathieu, M-E. Outcomes of exercise training following the use of a birthing ball during pregnancy and delivery. J Strength Cond Res 31(7): 1941-1947, 2017- Using a birthing ball (BB) is an exercise form that is growing in popularity. Improved delivery outcomes have been recently reported with as little a 6-8 hours of training per week; however, little is known regarding lower and higher training levels. The aim of this study was to document whether more time spent training with a BB resulted in improved delivery outcomes for the mother and the newborn. This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a sample of women who participated in 1 to 28 supervised exercise classes during pregnancy according to the Ballon Forme program offered in nonclinical settings (http://ballonforme.com), with the option of completing the supervised BB exercises performed at home. Thirty women who gave birth naturally were included in the study. Mean BB training time was 22.3 hours (SD = 16.6 hours). A greater BB training time was significantly associated with shorter labor duration (r = -0.408; p = 0.031) and specific stages of labor (stage 1 [dilatation/active stage] [r = -0.372; p = 0.043] and stage 2 [expulsion] [r = -0.415; p = 0.028]). Increased participation in BB supervised classes was more closely associated with quicker deliveries than those of home based BB exercises. No associations between training time and adverse effects of labor parameters or the baby's health were noted. Greater involvement in BB training seems to lead to quicker deliveries than lower levels of involvement; it also has the benefit of supervised practice.

The Effectivity of Birth Ball Exercise on Labor: a Systematic Literature Review

“…It was also statistically significant that the experimental group was more effective in reducing pain childbirth than the control group [32]. In another research, Birth ball exercise were also done for 30 minutes in the childbirth group [33]. The subject of the research is divided into two group, they were experimental group which experienced pain during childbirth latent phase at the interval of 15-20 minutes and dilatation of the cervical 0-4 of cm and the control group with no pain delivery by the score of VASs (Visual Analogue Scales) 0 but secreted mucous blood.…”

“…Each exercise session takes 20 minutes and is carried out up to three times over six weeks, equipped with media containing a video duration of 19 minutes and a booklet of 26 pages (based on the results of the review and recommendations by two prenatal educators and certified deliveries, two body specialist and one physical therapist) and birth ball exercise during labor (Exercise, comfortable positions and movements must be supported every hour) and follow-up provided a statistically proven improvement with a significant result in pain during labor [31]. From the results of studies in the experimental group as evidenced by statistically significant tests about 30 minutes of ball exercise in the latent phase can reduce back pain and lower abdomen, reduce labor pain in the latent phase and hypertension [33].…”

“…The research that has been done showed the experimental group used less epidural anesthetic compared to the control group but they were not statistically tested [31]. Reported from the research result, there was no statistically significant difference in the use of petidin inter communal (p=0,380) [33].…”

Antenatal Clinical Hypnosis and Birth Ball Exercise as Adjunct Therapy For Management of Labor and Delivery Pain: a Summary of Its Empirical Findings

“…41,48,49 Furthermore, recent quasi-experimental study was conducted by Fournier et al in 2016 have found negative correlation between total training time on the birth ball exercise and total labor time (r= -0.408; p= 0.031), in other word, an increased training times with a birth ball during pregnancy was associated with shorter labor duration for both stage 1(r= -0.372; p= 0.043) and stage 2 (r= -0.415; p= 0.028). [50][51][52] The most of studies have their limitation in terms of including the concomitant use of other non-pharmacological pain relief during labor, but not specifically investigating the combination between clinical hypnoanalgesia and birth ball exercise itself. One of RCT has been conducted by Henrique et al in 2016 assessed the influence of perineal exercise using birth ball in combination with warm bath or hypnotherapy.…”

Practices of Counter Pressure and Birth Ball Exercise Combination to Increase β-Endorphin Hormone Levels in Labor Pain

“…[6,8] One of the relaxation techniques and other non-pharmacological actions in handling pain during childbirth is by using birth ball exercises which are also commonly known in Pilates exercises as fitball, Swiss ball and petzi ball. [5,9,11] To prove the influence of both technique of counter pressure massage and birth ball exercise methods on labor pain, it is necessary to combine the two methods in order to obtain a stronger effect in stimulating the β-endorphin hormone and the relaxation effect will be more maximal so that the increase in intensity decreases labor pain will be optimal. [8,10,14] Counter pressure can be applied in lying down position or half-sitting position, depends on the comfort of the mother position.…”