It’s okay to say no to people and to pass on plans and visits. Your family and friends will still be there no matter what. By including pregnancy fitness as part of our daily routine, we can realign, strengthen and ease the stress on our muscles, joints and ligaments during pregnancy. Stabilising your blood sugar levels before bed can help you to sleep better and re-energise your body. This is completely normal too. It just means you might be in for a longer labour. 7 Signs Your Baby Has Dropped

When in labour, you are going to find contractions uncomfortable and getting into a semi-relaxing position will prove impossible. A birthing ball can work as an aid and take that little bit of pressure off. I was in hospital, got to 9cm dilated and then stopped. As a last ditch option before going for a csection, they got me to lie on my side and put the peanut ball between my legs, and I had a few extremely intense contractions and voila... fully dilated!"(Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Keha) Tussey CM, Botsios E, Gerkin RD, Kelly LA, Gamez J, Mensik J. Reducing length of labor and cesarean surgery rate using a peanut ball for women laboring with an epidural. The Journal of Perinatal Education. 2015;24(1):16-24. doi:10.1891/1058-1243.24.1.16 Gains head control and is able to lift head between 45 to 90 degrees, without tilting head to either side. This is because your baby’s brain, lungs and liver go through a crucial period of growth between 37 weeks and 39 weeks.The Natural Birth and Fitness Birthing Ball has everything you could need for exercising and relaxing during pregnancy. It’s stronger than standard gym balls and can be bought in sizes ranging from 55cm to 75cm. If you do not collect all seven coins up for grabs in a week, do not worry. You can only do as much as you can. Pregnancy is a huge learning curve for women. All of a sudden, your lifestyle choices affect the health of another person - your baby! This is a fun way to keep active, improve your posture and balance, and will have you engage your core muscles without you even realising. Side to Side Hips Begin as soon as your baby comes home from hospital and initially aim for a few minutes, several times per day.

As pregnancy experts we cannot emphasise enough, a low quality ball simply cannot replicate the good qualities of a high end birthing ball. After all, you want to exercise to the right intensity to enjoy the best benefits from your 20 minutes. The benefits come from gentle low-stress exercises, you can even do them whilst you are watching TV! Birthing balls are not just for third trimester and labour, gentle movements have also been proven to improve the blood flow to your baby during the early stages. To your baby, it feels like being held up against your shoulder. BABYGO® BB Tummy Time Straight Line. The second school of thought, held by organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), takes a more conservative approach, claiming that “human health effects from exposure to low levels of phthalates are not as clear” and that “more research is needed.”“There are limited studies on the effects of phthalates in PVC as it relates to reproductive health,” Miller says. “Animal studies using very high levels of these materials have shown negative effects, so minimizing or avoiding exposure [to phthalates] is reasonable.”As your baby gains weight and drops lower into your pelvis the added pressure can lead to a soreness around the perineum. A birthing ball is great for exercising and providing comfort at any stage of pregnancy. But from around 32 weeks, it’s ideal for doing gentle exercises which can ease aches, pains and anxiety. Bouncing on a birthing ball can also help to prepare your body for labour and get your baby in the right position. Triggering a positive feeling in my body and working against aches and pains, regular exercise with the ball helped me to sleep much easier. It gives us a clear point of focus, amongst all the confusion, by simply reminding us to think of the 3 W’s. He suggested fear causes a pregnant woman to become tense, and that tension increases pain. Increased pain increases more fear and then the cycle repeats.

Avoiding the use of forceps or a vacuum device will reduce the risk of injury to your baby. These include injuries to your baby’s scalp, head, and eyes; bleeding inside the skull; and problems with the nerves located in the arm and face. Of course, that might be true. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There is something more beautiful to be said for being patient. Artificial hormones cannot replicate the wonders of natural hormones when giving birth. Global childbirth experts Gail Tully, Jean Sutton and Pauline Scot all agree that there is a common influence on complicated pregnancies. As well as winning the battle of the mind games, if you have followed our exercise plan, set out earlier in this book, you are sure to have the extra endurance and pushing power for a faster and easier birth without the need for assistance. Labour PositionsIf your baby has not dropped yet do not worry. For some your baby will not drop until labour begins. Deficiencies can be common until you adjust, and some supplements can help. It is important to speak to your health carer about your intake, as they can advise best on your individual circumstances. Remember, sitting and engaging in soft movements on your pregnancy ball can strengthen your core, improve posture and help your baby to turn head down into an optimal fetal position. Try using your birthing ball for:

There is one 20 coin up for grabs each day of your pregnancy. And a maximum of seven coins per week. Yes, but in moderation. Rest is important during pregnancy but needs to be balanced with the correct movements and activity in between. A great option for pregnancy exercises, this RDX Sports ball offers professional quality and anti-burst durability.

1. Overall best birthing ball: BABYGO Birthing Ball

Regular fitness in pregnancy will also improve your stamina and enhance your pushing power. This can limit your need for assistance with the help of forceps or a vacuum device. Birthing balls range in quality. Be sure you’re looking for a weight-bearing measurement on the specification.