Massage Ball Remedy
At 6.5 cm, this small spiky ball can have a big impact during pregnancy, labor, and breastfeeding by relaxing muscles, reducing pain, stimulating blood flow, relieving tension, and addressing common breastfeeding issues. At only $10 in my shop, available in a variety of colours, it is an affordable essential tool for your motherhood journey.
Pregnancy and Labour:
- Grip these balls in your hand during labor to stimulate the nerves, releasing endorphins and alleviating the pain of contractions.
- Roll the balls on your feet to redirect your focus away from the contractions.
- Instruct your birthing partner to apply gentle pressure around the sacrum to relieve lower back discomfort during labor.
- Use the balls to massage sore or tense muscles during pregnancy, being mindful to avoid the stomach and pelvis. Consult your physiotherapist for personalised guidance.
Water birth bonus: As these balls float, they are super handy for a water birth as they will float on top of the water when you drop it, ready for you to quickly grab it when you're ready.
How does this work?
The Gate Control Theory suggests that by flooding the body with pleasant sensations, the brain is less able to perceive painful sensations. Essentially, it blocks painful messages from reaching the brain because the brain is focused on other sensations. Research has shown that acupressure can relieve various types of pain. Gripping a labour ball triggers an endorphin response and distracts the brain from focusing on uterine pain, providing a natural and simple way to reduce discomfort during childbirth. Including an acupressure ball as part of comfort measures for birth is ideal, as it allows birth support to massage and soothe tense muscles, while also providing a self-directed method for pain reduction. Rolling the ball on the shoulders and neck can help relax facial muscles, which in turn can help relax pelvic muscles.
For breastfeeding:
Supported by extensive research and leading lactation consultants, massage balls are powerful tools for addressing common breastfeeding issues such as blocked ducts, mastitis, supply problems, and engorgement. They achieve this through simple massage, temperature adjustments (gentle heating or cooling), and compression. If you require any assistance you can fill out the form below.
