Birth Ball Exercises During Labor: A Narrative Review of Their Effects on Labor Duration and Mode of Delivery

Background: Non pharmacological interventions are increasingly used to improve maternal comfort and labor outcomes. Birth ball exercises are considered a simple and safe method that may facilitate labor progress. Objective: This study aimed to review the effects of birth ball exercises on labor outcomes, particularly the duration of labor and mode of delivery. Methods: A narrative review was conducted based on evidence from a systematic review and meta analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of birth ball exercises during pregnancy or labor. The included studies compared birth ball interventions with routine obstetric care and assessed outcomes such as labor duration and delivery mode. Results: The findings indicated that the use of birth ball exercises was associated with a reduction in the duration of the active phase of the first stage of labor. However, no significant effects were observed on the duration of the second stage of labor or the rate of Cesarean section. Variations in intervention protocols and study designs were observed among the included studies. Conclusion: Birth ball exercises may help shorten the active phase of labor and can be considered a supportive non pharmacological method during childbirth. Nevertheless, further high quality randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols are required to confirm these findings

کلیدواژه ها:

Birth ball ، Labor duration ، Mode of delivery ، Non pharmacological intervention ، Childbirth outcomes