Mercy's Dr. Tangela Anderson-Tull, OB/GYN, Discusses How Peanut Ball Can Shorten A Woman's Labor and Delivery

A peanut-shaped ball can really help a woman in labor.

"Most women today have an epidural, and so the peanut ball helps to mimic the moving around and opening of the pelvis as if you're rocking or standing. The peanut ball, we can place it in between your legs on either side just to help open your pelvis and allow your baby to come down in a good position," said Mercy Medical Center OB/GYN Dr. Tangela Anderson Tull.

There are various peanut ball positions, depending on the baby's position and stage of labor. According to Dr. Tull, delivery nurses have been propping patients' legs up with pillows for years. It's the same concept, only better.

"The idea of it is to help the baby descend down into the pelvis in the optimal position. So right now, Lindsey is sitting up, and if she's on our unit and she's laboring, then this helps to widen the angle of the pelvis and help the baby descend down," said Mercy registered nurse Christa Bamburg.

The peanut ball also makes the mom-to-be more comfortable and most importantly, decreases the risk of complications.

"It helps to shorten your labor. It helps to decrease your chances of needing other interventions, like a vacuum or forceps. Sometimes the baby is in the wrong position, then they end up needing a forceps delivery to help rotate the baby around to a better position. Using the peanut ball helps you prevent that," Dr. Tull said.

It may even prevent the need for a cesarean section. It's a simple device helping to avoid complicated problems.

To view Mercy’s Dr. Tangela Anderson-Tull’s interview regarding use of the peanut ball to shorten labor, click here.