Exercise Ball or Birth Ball? Potato, Potata

I don't remember the first time I saw an exercise ball, but I remember having one during my senior year of college so we are going back over half a dozen years at least. This 65 cm in diameter rubber ball is extremely useful. Not only is it good in the gym setting for stability exercises and to provide extra back support, it is just as helpful in a dorm room or apartment. Too often we are in the sitting position in a chair that allows us to have bad posture and perhaps even fall asleep (not the best thing when you should be writing a paper or reading an online article). Sitting on an exercise ball (also known as physioball, or fitball) makes you hold your back up straighter and turns sitting into an active position. You can move back and forth, side to side, in circles and bounce up and down while your concentration stays focused on the computer or TV screen. I could go on for pages, but let's just say that this ball has been a friend of mine for years.

Then I went to birth classes and discovered an entirely new use for the ball. Apparently the new trend is to use it in labor, both as a support for the upper body during contractions (leaning on the ball instead of on your hands and knees) as well as sitting on the ball to help with hip movement and overall motion. What I found interesting is that the people in this world make no mention to the use of this ball in the fitness world. They market it as if it were invented solely for giving birth. Sure enough when I visited various hospitals I saw this friendly piece of equipment almost everywhere. I wonder if the US also has them in the maternity ward.

Now with only a few weeks to go, I am constantly using my ball- in fact, I am sitting on it as we speak, writing this blog entry. I am even considering bringing a spare one to work. And I won't even mention the wonders I have heard this ball does for babies and nursing.