Dear Di,
I am new to the list and have spent time each day following different
topics, so I hope the following will be of some benefit.
We were given the opportunity to have Medi Balls demonstrated at the
1997 ACMI Vic AGM in Geelong by Murray Ceff of Healthtrek. As midwives,
we were impressed by their versatility and comfort, so I organized to have
Murray come and give an information and demonstration session at Geelong
Hospital. I invited midwives from local hospitals and surrounding districts
to attend and was delighted with the response.
We invested in two balls initially and have just recently ordered four
more balls ( so that each room has its own ball). The balls have been used
on a daily basis since and I believe they are an essential aid in assisting
women cope with their labour and birth experience.I have found they reduce
the length of labour because;
a) women tend to relax better on them thus allowing their contractions
to work more efficiently.
b) rocking on the ball tilts the pelvis back and forth and encourages
optimal foetal positioning.
c) a wonderful relief for tired legs
d) the pelvis is still able to flex and move, because the ball acts
like a sling without restricting the pelvis' flexibility which tends to
occur when sitting on a birth stool, toilet or lying in bed.
The ball is also useful instead of a beanbag. Most of the women I care
for use the ball in the shower and then stand or kneel to give birth once
the head is on view. Some of the midwives have favourite colours and currently
the "purple ball" is the most popular. Apparently purple stimulates the
pituitary gland. I'm not too fussed by how it works - I just know that
it does.
I was a keen user of the birth stool, but have not bothered with it
since using the balls. Murray has a website http://www.healthtrek.net
or you can email him -
Murray
Ceff [EMAIL PROTECTED]> . His Website has all the information
about safety, strength and cost if you are interested.
I imagine there are other suppliers out there and in other states,
however this is a starting point.
Regards for now,
Diana Stubbs. RM, IBCLC, BA. Nur
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
URL: http://welcome.to/birthrites
