[The birthing ball: rediscovering a non pharmacological resource of great importance in the birth process]

Advances occurred in recent years in obstetrics show that the free movement of the pelvis during labour decreases pain and facilitates the birth of the newborn. Nowadays, many techniques have effective non pharmacological relief in pain during labour. The birthing ball (BB) is one of them, closely linked to freedom of movement, the pelvic tilt and vertical feeding; it has shown a decrease in anxiety and pain during the birthing process and increased rate of normal deliveries. The BB does not replace other non-pharmacological techniques during the period of expansion, but can complement it, thereby improving their effectiveness. Not shown any harmful effects associated with the use of the BB both the mother and the newborn. As health professionals, we must know how to use and the benefits that are associated with the BB, to offer it as an effective method of pain relief in labour available to us.