The use of birthing balls during labour: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Birthing balls have emerged as a valuable alternative in childbirth care, promoting not only pain relief but also a more positive and empowering experience while minimizing the need for invasive medical interventions. This holistic, woman-centered approach can positively transform the experience, contributing to healthier and more satisfying maternal and neonatal outcomes. Objective: To analyze the evidence on the influence of using a birthing ball on pain relief and the progression of labor. Methods: Systematic literature review; the search was carried out in the Medline, Scielo, Cinahl, and PubMed databases, using the Boolean search method “AND,” and “OR,” using the descriptors DeCs/MeSH. Results: Applying the defined criteria, five articles published between 2018 and 2023 were selected and analyzed. The authors highlight that, despite concerns about pain and the duration of labor, the results show that the use of birthing balls provided a positive experience and pain relief. Conclusion: Through the analysis of the articles, it is clear that the use of birthing balls contributes to a more positive childbirth experience and maternal empowerment while minimizing the potential risks associated with drug interventions. It was observed that using birthing balls also affects the duration of labor and the incidence of instrumented deliveries.

Keywords

• natural childbirth; labor, obstetric; labor pain; pain management; complementary therapies