Evidence Based Research on Peanut Balls
Peanut Ball Book
Grant, Cheri (2022) Peanut Ball: Basic and Advanced Techniques for Use During Labor and Delivery Also on Amazon available as an e-book in color or print black and white.
Research Articles on the Peanut Ball
Ahmed, A.H., Mohmed, A.A., and Fathalla, N.F. (2022) “Effect of Peanut Birth Ball on The Progress of Labor and Birth Outcome among Primigravidae” ASNJ Vol.24 No.4, December 2022
Dikmen, A. H., Gönenç, İ. M., & Ataş, A. N. (2024). “Effects of Peanut Ball Use on Perceived Labor Pain, Fatigue, and Mother’s Perception of Childbirth: a Randomized Controlled Trial.” Arch Gynecol Obstet. Epub ahead of print.
Duarte de Sena Fraga, C., et al. (2024). “Use of a Peanut Ball, Ppositioning and Pelvic Mobility in Parturient Women Shortens Labour and Improves Maternal Satisfaction with Childbirth: A Randomized Trial.” J Physiother 70(2): 134-141.
Grenvik,J.M., Coleman,L.A, Berghella,,V. (2023) AJOG Expert Review: Birthing Balls to Decrease Labor Pain and Peanut Balls to Decrease Length of Labor: What is the Evidence? AJOG Expert Review Volume 228, Issue 5, Supplement , S1270-S1273, May 2023 Published AJOG March 20, 2023DOI:
Hickey, L., Savage, J. (2019) Effect of Peanut Ball and Position Changes in Women Laboring with an Epidural. NFWH: Nursing For Women’s Health AWHONN June 2019 Volume 23, Issue 3, Pages 245–252 DOI:
Hoyladı, E., Yıldırım Varışoğlu, Y. 2026) Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effect of the Peanut Ball Devices on the Duration of Active Labor, Labor Pain and Comfort. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 26, 322 (2026).
Kamath P, Pai M, Shenoy R, Karkada S, D’souza S, Noronha J. (2022) “Effectiveness of a Peanut Ball Device During Labour on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes: Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial.” F1000Res 11(717) 1-16 2022 Nov 21;11:717. PMCID: PMC9727314.
Logan, L, Stettler, S. (2019) “Reduction of Primary Cesarean Birth Rate in a Rural Hospital Driven By Nurse-Initiated Peanut Ball Use in Active Labor” JOGNN: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing June 2019 Volume 48, Issue 3, Supplement, Page S110
Mercier, R.J. & Kwan. M. (2018). Impact of Peanut Ball Device on the Duration of Active Labor: A Randomized Control Trial. American Journal of Perinatology, 2018 March 6. doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1636531.
Palladino, Jena, Severi, Erica R., Bowman, Donna, “Nurse-Driven Labor Initiatives to Reduce Cesarean Rates” Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing JOGNN June 2019 Volume 48, Issue 3, Supplement, Pages S28–S29 DOI:
Roth, C., Dent, S., Parfitt, S. E., Hering, S. & Bay, R. (2016). Randomized Controlled Trial of Use of the Peanut Ball During Labor. MCN: The Journal of Maternal Child Nursing. 41(3), 140-146. ISSN: 0361-929X doi: 10.1097/NMC.0000000000000232
Tussey, C. M., Botsios, E., Gerkin, R. D., Kelly, L. A., Gamez, J., & Mensik, J. (2015). Reducing Length of Labor and Cesarean Surgery Rate Using a Peanut Ball for Women Laboring With an Epidural. The Journal of Perinatal Education, 24(1), 16-24. doi:10.1891/1058-1243.24.1.16
Yorgunluk-Delgado A, Silva R, Medeiros P, Melo R, Oliveira A (2022) “Peanut Ball Use for Reducing Maternal Fatigue During Labor: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial.” Res Soc Dev 11:1–11
Podcasts
How do Peanut Balls Support Labor?
The Peanut Ball and The Pelvis
Articles on the Peanut Ball
Ahmadpour, Parivash, Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi , Sakinah, Doosti , Rana, Mirghafourvand, Mojgan Use of the Peanut Ball During Labour: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Nurs Open. 2021 Mar 27. doi: 10.1002/nop2.844.
Almeida M. E., Mendes S. S., Oliveira N. M., Neto J. A. ,Lopes L. G. ,Vasconcelos C. T. , (2023). “Peanut Ball Utilization Protocols in Women During Labour and Delivery: An Integrative Review“ July 2023 Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada 45(6)
DOI:10.1016/j.jogc.2023.07.005
Bell, Amy D. & Joy, Saju & Gullo, Susan, More. (2017). Implementing a Systematic Approach to Reduce Cesarean Birth Rates in Nulliparous Women. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), 130(5):1082-1089.
Cockeram (2020). Narrow the Knee to Push with Ease: Challenge the Norm and Get the Job Done!
Collaborative, C. M. Q. C. (2016). Supporting Vaginal Birth Toolkit. In California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative- updated in 2018 with peanut ball section
Grant, C. & Clutter, L. B. (2015). Peanut Balls: Improving Options for Women Laboring with an Epidural. Australian Midwifery News, 15(3). 36-37.
Grant, C. B., Craig, B., & Rice, A. (2014). Length of Labor Reduced through Use of Peanut Ball: A Retrospective Study. Unpublished manuscript. (This is in The Peanut Ball book on page 186-187)
Grant, C. B. & Clutter, L. B. (2014). The Peanut Ball: A Remarkable Labor Support Tool. International Doula, 22(4), 12-15.
Grant, C. (2021) Premier Birth Tools Peanut Ball Informational Nurse and Doula Packet.
Grenvik JM, Rosenthal E, Saccone G, Della Corte L, Quist-Nelson J, Gerkin RD, Gimovsky AC, Kwan M, Mercier R, Berghella V. Peanut Ball for Decreasing Length of Labor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2019 Nov;242:159-165. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.09.018. Epub 2019 Sep 20
Hill, A. (2012). The Peanut Ball and its Effect on Laboring Women.
Honaker, Megan E. (2021) “The Use of a Peanut Ball During Labor in Nulliparous Term Singleton Vertex Pregnancies to Decrease the Primary Cesarean Rate: An Evidence-Based Practice Improvement Project“
Jayasudha A, Lakshmi GS, Priscilla K, et al.: “Effectiveness of Peanut Ball On Outcome of First Stage of Labour Among Primi Mothers in Selected Tertiary Care Hospital, Coimbatore. International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management.” 2021; 4(3): 73–75.
Klump, Jennifer S. (2017) “Use of the Peanut Ball to Reduce Cesarean Rate” (Publication No. 26) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Northern Colorado]
Lee & Crawford (2018) Peanut Ball Use by Women Labor: A review of Literature
Lythgoe, A. (2014). Peanut Balls for Labor —A Valuable Tool for Promoting Progress? A Research Blog About Healthy Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond. Lamaze International.
Perez, P. (2014). The Nurturing Touch at Birth: A Labor Support Handbook, 3rd Edition. Johnson, VT: Cutting Edge Press.
Outland, L., & Alvarado, Y. (2020). Preventing Cesareans with Peanut Ball Use. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 10(1).
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones on the Peanut Ball
Ezuma, Ndidiamaka (2020) The Use of the Peanut Ball on Nulliparous Women Laboring With An Epidural Directed Scholarly Project
Payton, Carol L., (2015). Use of the Peanut Ball to Decrease First and Second Stages of Labor Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones, Paper 14.
Articles and Tool Kit Mentioning the Peanut Ball
Bell, Amy D. & Joy, Saju & Gullo, Susan, More. (2017). Implementing a Systematic Approach to Reduce Cesarean Birth Rates in Nulliparous Women. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), 130(5):1082-1089.
Smith H & Peterson N & Lagrew D & Main E. (2016) Toolkit to Support Vaginal Birth and Reduce Primary Cesareans: a Quality Improvement Toolkit. Stanford (CA) Maternal Quality Care Collaborative CMQCC- Updated (2018)
Poster Presentations on the Peanut Ball
Alvarado, Yolanda, Outland, Lauren, Menchaca, Angelica, Strong, Niki. (2017). Promoting the Progress of Labor With the Peanut Ball. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, Volume 46 (Issue 3), Supplement
Bell, Catherine (2018) Effectiveness of Using the Peanut Ball to Shorten the First and Second Stage of Labor
Bookwalter, Amy. (2016). Peanut Ball Positions. Pictorial Home Birth Poster Presentation at 2017 DONA International Convention
Clutter, L. B. (2016) The Peanut Ball: A useful Tool for Labor & Delivery Support 2016 Family Nursing International Conference
DeOliveira, E. (2016). EBP Poster Presentation: Can the Use of Peanut Balls Reduce the Length of Labor?
Evans, Sarah J, & Cremering, Michelle M. Use of Peanut Labor Ball for Pelvic Positioning for Nulliparous Women Following Epidural Anesthesia. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, (2016)Volume 45, Issue 3, Page S47.
Grant, C. (2014). Peanut Ball Positions, Set of 5. Pictorial Posters.
Martinez-Rodriguez. A, Stairhime, C, Use of Birthing Tools to Decrease Labor Times Houston Methodist Willowbrook
Potter, K. & Will, S. (2020) Increasing Use of the Peanut Ball in Labor JOGNN Volume 49, Issue 6, Supplement, S46, November 01, 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2020.09.079
Schmidt, M. & Roach, A. (2015). A Peanut and a Pelvis: A Simple Change to Facilitate Labor and Delivery. Science Internship Program: Nursing Care at Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved from Poster
Tussey, C. & Botsios, E. (2011). Decrease the Length of Labor with the Use of a Labor Ball with Patients that Receive an Epidural. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecological, & Neonatal Nursing, 40(Supplement s1), S105-S106. DOI: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2011.01243_25.x
Clinical Trials on the Peanut Ball
Bell, Catherine (2018) Effectiveness of Using the Peanut Ball to Shorten the First and Second Stage of Labor
D’Angelo, R. & Harris, L. (2016). Do Peanut Shaped Birthing Balls Reduce the Length of Labor in Patients with Epidural Analgesia? ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02539563.
Stulz, V., Campbell, D., Yin, B. et al. Pilot Feasibility Stud (2018) 4: 156. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-018-0346-9 Using a Peanut Ball During Labor Versus Not Using a Peanut Ball During Labor for Women Using an Epidural: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Videos on the Peanut Ball
Assouline, Stephanie. (2017) Peanut Ball for Labor. Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Baptist Health Medical Center (2025) Peanut Ball Education Video Baptist Health L&D Team – Nurses Discussing Internal and External Rotation of Femurs Using the Peanut Ball. Cleaning, covering and Safety of Peanut Balls. Authorized Peanut Ball Trainers
Duncan, Heidi. (2017). Peanut Ball Positions for Labor & Birth. Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Ellis, Xena. (2025) Peanut Ball Basics – Nurse and Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Fauver, Kathryn Buerkle. (2022) Helping Moms Have a Shorter Labor & a Quicker Birth Using Peanut Balls Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Honaker, Megan. (2020) Using the Peanut Ball to Promote Vaginal Birth Nurse and Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Irby, Mandy. (2017) Shorten Labor Faster with Peanut Ball. Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Irby, Mandy. (2019) What Does It Look Like to Push with Peanut Balls? // Peanut Balls in Labor Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Patrick, Brandi. (2022) Peanut Ball Tutorial Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Proctor, Wendy. (2023) Peanut Ball Videos
Propp, Kelby. (2021) Peanut Ball Training Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Scott, Marques. (2017). Labor With Peanut Balls. Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Turner, Heather. (2015) Four-Part Video on How to Size the Peanut Ball Correctly for Your Client Trainer. Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Whitlock, Emma. (2018) Peanut Ball Uses in Labor at Home and in the Hospital. Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Williams, Aubrey (2022) Peanut Ball 101 with Aubrey the Doula Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Loveland’s McKee Medical Center. (October 2, 2013). Using the Peanut Ball During Labor & Delivery.
Mercy Medical Center- Des Moines and other Banner health facilities. (August 30, 2011). The Peanut Ball.
Mount Sinai Hospital (2023) Peanut Ball Training Video – Nurses Discussing Internal and External Rotation of Hips Using the Peanut Ball. Authorized Peanut Ball Trainers.
Olson Center for Women’s Health. (September 13, 2012). Midwives Demonstrating Relaxation Techniques for Labor.
This is a 4-Part Video on How to Sizing the Peanut Ball Correctly for Your Client by Heather Turner Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer
Using the Peanut Ball by Your Birth
Using the Peanut Ball During Labor & Delivery. (2013)