Exercise Ball Reduces Labor Duration For Women Who Receive An Epidural

Women who've given birth can tell you--the process is quite painful. That might be why a majority of mothers-to-be opt for an epidural. This medication that's delivered through a catheter can significantly reduce labor pains. However, it can also greatly increase the duration of the birthing process. 

New findings published in the Journal of Perinatal Education show that using a peanut-shaped exercise ball while in labor can greatly reduce the time of giving birth for women with an epidural.

"The peanut ball is a low-risk, low-cost nursing intervention that promotes positive labor outcomes and reduces the duration of the delivery process," said Christina Tussey, MSN, RN, CNS, lead author of the study and a clinical nurse specialist at Banner Good Samaritan, in a news release. "Of U.S. women who require a primary cesarean surgery, more than 90 percent will have a subsequent repeat cesarean. Women utilizing the peanut ball during labor had a statistically lower rate of needing a cesarean section for delivery thus reducing the risks associated the primary cesarean surgery and implications for subsequent pregnancies."

Changing a woman's position during labor has multiple benefits that will also include a decreased labor time, increased circulation, fetal descent and improved quality of contractions. However, women who use an epidural are oftentimes limited in the number and capacity of positions.

The study showed that 21 percent of women assigned to the control group required a cesarean section, while only 10 percent of women who used the peanut ball did. Furthermore, the findings showed that women who used the peanut ball had a significantly shorter labor period during the first and second stages.

"Organizations have begun assuming responsibility for limiting elective procedures, especially C-sections, recognizing that the best outcomes overall for both mother and child occur in facilities with cesarean surgery rates in the 5-10% range," said Emily Botsios, BSN, RN, an author of the study and clinical nurse at Banner Health. "Our findings show that mothers can ask for a risk-free option to help promote labor when receiving an epidural. Based on the success of the study, we have implemented use of the peanut ball in all labor and delivery units across Banner Health."

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).