The Birth Ball for Comfort in Pregnancy and Postpartum
If you've never been pregnant before, you might think of this round thing above as an exercise ball. I first heard it called the 'Swiss Ball' (which is odd because it is an Italian creation) and began using them in my massage therapy practice in 1990. That burst-resistant ball, created in 1963, was intended for use in gymnastics but was adopted by European physical therapists to help children who struggled with proprioception or balance issues. When it came to the US in the 80's it was quickly incorporated into the fitness industry. Birth Pioneer, Penny Simkin, a former physical therapist herself, is credited with bringing the ball into the birth room in the early 90s, prompting birth professionals and labor and delivery staff to call a...
