I recently attended a hospital birth as a doula, and a nurse introduced me to a new technique to speed up labor using a peanut ball. I was already familiar with using a yoga or “birth ball” to help open the pelvis and assist the baby in descending, but this was a new variation for me. The nurse suggested it when the baby’s heart rate showed slight decelerations while the mom was walking. Since the baby wasn’t fully engaged in the pelvis, they wanted the mom to try lying down, which helped, along with the peanut ball.
This sparked my interest. Birth balls are often recommended during pregnancy and labor for various benefits. Studies show that women who use them regularly tend to have shorter labors, need less pain relief, and have fewer c-sections. If you’re pregnant, it’s important to consult your doctor or midwife to ensure it’s safe for you and to learn the best ways to use it.
I’ve personally used a birth ball during my four pregnancies and deliveries, including two in a hospital where we had to bring our own. After labor, I found them useful as my babies loved bouncing to fall asleep. I’ve spent many nights gently bouncing a baby on a yoga ball while playing classical music.
There are many ways to use a birth ball, from replacing your desk chair with it to doing exercises and stretches. These methods have been helpful and comfortable for me during pregnancy and labor.
While birth balls are beneficial, I had never seen a peanut ball before. It’s essentially a double birth ball connected in the middle, resembling a peanut. Like a birth ball, it can be used for sitting, stretching, or improving posture. Unlike a birth ball, it doesn’t require as much coordination to use, which is why the hospital used it during labor. When a mom needs to lie down, like in this case when the baby’s heart rate decelerated after contractions, it helps keep the hips in an optimal position for labor and widens the pelvis to speed things up.
I started researching to see if peanut balls had been used before or if this hospital discovered something new. It turns out both are true. The use of peanut balls in labor is relatively new but has been studied and implemented by hospitals aiming to reduce c-section rates. A healthcare company in Arizona is equipping its labor and delivery wards with peanut balls after a study showed a reduction in c-section rates and labor time for women who used them.
This effect was especially noticeable in women with an epidural but would be effective for any woman needing to lie on her side during labor. Christina Tussey, a clinical nurse specialist in Arizona, tested the idea with two groups of women: those who used a peanut ball and those who didn’t. She found three significant benefits for those who used the peanut balls.
Thanks to this study, Banner Health, Arizona’s largest hospital chain, now provides peanut balls in all its hospitals for labor and delivery. The peanut ball is used for women who need to stay in bed during labor, often due to an epidural, but there are many reasons a woman might need to lie down, and some simply find it more comfortable.
The way I saw the peanut ball used was when a woman was lying on her side. She would shift her weight slightly toward her stomach and place her top leg over the peanut ball. The ball’s shape helps maintain this position, even if she can’t feel or move her legs, simulating a partial squat by opening the pelvis. This allows the laboring mom to rest and relax while optimizing her pelvis to hopefully speed up labor.
I’ve ordered a peanut ball after seeing it used in labor, even though I don’t plan to have a hospital birth or use an epidural. Here’s why: Since this is my sixth baby, my hips tend to get sore at the end of pregnancy, and I often use a stack of pillows to relieve pressure while sleeping, though they never seem high enough and often fall. I’m planning to use the peanut ball in the “labor position” during sleep in the last few weeks of pregnancy.
I’ve also had long labors in the past (24 hours or more) and have had to rest eventually, as standing, walking, and squatting for 24 hours doesn’t leave much energy for pushing. If this happens again, I’ll use the peanut ball while resting to keep my pelvis open. Also, since our regular birth ball just popped with the help of a certain 2-year-old, I’ll be using the peanut ball for regular birth ball activities like sitting and exercise.
Have you ever heard of a peanut ball? If you’re pregnant, will you give it a try?
