Give Birth With Balls 
Peanut balls are the newest labor and delivery tool, and they’re being used with great success.
What is a Peanut Ball?
The peanut ball is an exercise or therapy ball that is shaped like a peanut: oblong shaped, larger on each end and slightly narrower in the middle. Peanut balls can be used for a variety of strength training or physical therapy needs as well as by laboring women.
Peanut Ball as a Birth Tool
Peanut balls are the latest birth tool to hit the birthing world. Although they have been around awhile, they are really taking off this year (2014). Andrea Lythgoe, LCCE and doula, in her article for a recent Science and Sensibility article shares,
“The peanut ball is most commonly used when mom needs to remain in the bed, whether because of epidural use, complications, or simply because mom is exhausted” [i]. The peanut ball is placed between the laboring woman’s legs, opening the outlet to her pelvis while she relaxes.
Research on the Peanut Ball
While there is not much research on the Peanut Ball’s use in childbirth, one study offers compelling suggestions that the use of the peanut ball may significantly reduce labor length. According to Tussy and Botsios, “The use of the PB during labor for patient with an epidural, as compared with standard nursing intervention, did significantly reduce the length of labor, without adverse neonatal outcomes” [ii]
How the Peanut Ball is Used
Peanut Balls are typically used two ways primarily:
1. The laboring mother is in a semi reclined position, with one leg over the ball, and the other leg to the side of the ball. The doula, nurse, or other support person pushes the ball as close to the mother’s hips as is tolerable to her. Many feel this position promotes dilation and descent with a well-positioned baby.
2. While the mother is in a side-lying or semi-prone position, the peanut ball is used to lift the upper leg and open the pelvic outlet. Many feel this position helps rotate a baby in a less-favorable posterior position to a more favorable position for delivery.
There are now over 50 peanut ball positions. For the best tool, take a look at The Peanut Ball Book
Meet Your Mentors

Cheri Grant
Founder

Tiffany Graves
Owner
Mission Statement
To provide excellent educational resources for nurses, doulas, doula trainers, childbirth educators, and hospitals so they can provide excellent care to their clients.
Vision
To see that every labor and delivery unit at every hospital and birthing center in the United States has a peanut ball and an illustrated positional chart that shows correct positioning in an effort to lower the C-section rate in the United states and to expand these products internationally.