There is one kind of ball that is slightly different from the average exercise ball, however, and that is a birthing ball. Birthing balls are intended to reduce the pain felt during both pregnancy and labor. To that end, they tend to be slightly larger than the average exercise ball for the sake of comfort, and often feature an anti-slip finish to make longer sitting sessions easier without slipping off (via Healthline).
Of course, there is more to do than merely sitting on your birthing ball. According to Motherly, you can rock back and forth on the ball to realign the pelvis, position one one on a bed and lean against it to take the weight off the lower back, and even lean against it while on all fours both to reduce pain and to help speed up dilation. In fact, according to a 2015 meta-analysis, using a birthing ball was found to reduce both pain and anxiety in pregnant women if used before labor starts (via The New York Times). With so many potential benefits, it should come as no surprise that plenty of famous mothers are purportedly fans, including Khloé Kardashian (via Self).
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