Chinese balls during pregnancy

👉Can I use Kegel balls during pregnancy?

The use of Kegel balls during pregnancy is controversial. Ideally, you should do Kegel ball exercises before becoming pregnant and again after delivery and the postpartum period. Although the use of Kegel balls is generally not recommended during pregnancy, maintaining strong and toned pelvic floor muscles is advisable in many cases . You should always consult with your gynecologist and assess whether the use of Kegel balls during pregnancy is advisable for you.

🤦 Benefits of Chinese balls as a preparation for childbirth

• Optimal preparation for childbirth thanks to the development of greater control over the muscles directly involved in giving birth
• Less likely to develop urinary incontinence (urinary leakage when coughing, sneezing, etc.)
• Minimize the risk of urge urinary incontinence (feeling the need to urinate but not being able to make it to the bathroom in time). This is a common effect during late pregnancy due to the pressure exerted by the baby on the bladder. Kegel exercises help prevent continued incontinence after delivery.
• Vaginal balls help prevent pelvic prolapse
• Less chance of tearing or episiotomy during delivery.

If your gynecologist doesn't see any contraindications, you can do Kegel exercises with Chinese balls during the first weeks of pregnancy. However, after 32 weeks, you should stop doing them due to the risk of triggering contractions. It's essential that you refrain from doing so if you're experiencing a threat of premature labor, unidentified bleeding, or a placenta previa.

Some professionals advise against using Ben Wa balls during pregnancy due to the risk of vaginal infections. This could directly affect both mother and baby. These infections could occur from using poor-quality Ben Wa balls or from not washing them properly. Therefore, when choosing quality Ben Wa balls, I recommend choosing approved ones. And to avoid infections, you must pay special attention to hygiene and maintenance standards. There are products, such as antibacterial cleansers, specially designed for this purpose.

You can learn more about how to clean your Chinese balls in the following blog post:

How to clean your Chinese balls?

👉When should you start postpartum Kegel exercises?

The first 6-8 weeks are your recovery period. They're the foundation for finding balance after pregnancy and childbirth.

However, 48 hours after delivery, you can begin Kegel exercises without Chinese balls . These are performed by contracting the pelvic floor muscles during exertion and abdominal contraction. For example, before picking up the baby, coughing, sneezing, or standing up. You can begin with hypopressive abdominal exercises (posture and breathing exercises). Hypopressive exercises do not require sudden movements like traditional abdominal exercises, which postpartum women should avoid.

To begin using postpartum Chinese balls, you will need to be evaluated by a specialist: a gynecologist or physiotherapist specializing in obstetric physiotherapy to assess the pelvic floor muscles.

👉 Recommended Chinese balls and pelvic floor recovery kits

At Pelvia, we recommend the following kits to help you recover your pelvic floor after childbirth:

If you want to know which type of Chinese ball is best for you, you can find our guide here:

Types of Chinese Balls - Everything You Need to Know

❤️Where can I buy the right Chinese balls for me?

At Pelvia.com, we care about your health, and that's why we offer a selection of approved Kegel balls made from 100% hypoallergenic material.

And that's all. I'd love to hear your comments.

Beatriz Belmonte
Pelvic Floor Care Specialist