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Birthing balls to decrease labor pain and peanut balls to decrease length of labor: what is the evidence?

Jessica M Grenvik¹, Laniece A Coleman², Vincenzo Berghella³

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

|March 22, 2023

Summary

Birthing balls and peanut balls are safe, evidence-based tools for labor management. Birthing balls reduce labor pain, while peanut balls shorten labor duration and increase vaginal birth rates without complications.

Keywords:

Swiss ball birthing ball labor and delivery labor pain length of labor natural childbirth peanut ball vaginal delivery

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Area of Science:

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Reproductive Health
Evidence-Based Midwifery

Background:

Birthing balls and peanut balls are nonpharmacologic adjuncts to labor management, historically used based on anecdotal evidence.
Their safety and efficacy have been investigated using randomized controlled trials to provide evidence-based recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of birthing balls and peanut balls in labor management.
To determine if these tools offer benefits for maternal comfort, labor progression, and birth outcomes.

Main Methods:

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Analysis of data on maternal pain, labor duration, mode of delivery, and obstetrical complications.

Main Results:

Birthing balls significantly reduce maternal labor pain by 1.7 points on a 1-10 visual analog scale, without affecting delivery mode or complications.
Peanut balls significantly decrease the first stage of labor by 87.42 minutes and increase the relative risk of vaginal delivery by 11%, with no increased complications.
No reported risks associated with the use of either birthing balls or peanut balls.

Conclusions:

Birthing balls and peanut balls are safe adjuncts to labor management.
They offer subjective improvement in maternal pain (birthing balls) and facilitate labor progression (peanut balls).
Both interventions can be recommended for individuals in labor based on moderate quality evidence.