A peanut ball during labor benefits may include support for labor positions and a possible effect on labor length. It can support a side-lying position and help mimic a squat-like hip position for someone with an epidural. [1]
These potential benefits may be useful when you want a supported position, but they are not a promise of a particular birth outcome. Research suggests labor may be shorter with a peanut ball, though results can vary. [2]
A peanut ball is shaped to rest between your legs while you lie on your side, giving you a way to hold a position without needing to balance on a round ball. [1] For example, you might rest with the ball between your thighs while your body stays side-lying. The ball’s shape also helps create a hip position similar to a squat, which may be useful when an epidural makes standing or squatting impractical. [1]
Research has linked peanut ball use with a possible decrease in labor length, but that does not mean it will shorten labor for you. [2] Labor can unfold differently from person to person, so it is best to view the ball as a positioning aid rather than a way to control how quickly labor progresses. Consider whether the supported position feels comfortable, and ask your care team for help if you want to try it.
How can positioning support labor?
Support between your legs can help you stay in a side-lying position during labor, including when an epidural makes moving around harder. [1] If you are resting on your side, the peanut ball gives your legs a place to rest rather than requiring you to hold them in position on your own. [1]
Making side-lying feel supported
A side-lying position can be easier to maintain when your upper leg has support. The ball sits between your legs, helping support you in that position. [1] For example, if you want to lie on your side while taking a break, your care team can help place the ball so your legs feel supported. The goal is a position that feels manageable for you, not to force your body into a particular shape.
You can tell your nurse or other care team member if the position feels awkward, uncomfortable, or difficult to hold. Ask them to help you adjust your legs or the ball, and let them know if you would rather try another position. Comfort can change as labor continues, so it is reasonable to speak up when you want to shift.
When movement is limited
An epidural may make moving around more difficult, so you may need help changing positions or settling into one. [1] A peanut ball can support a side-lying position in that situation, rather than requiring you to stand or move independently. [1] For instance, if you want to rest on your side, your care team can help you get positioned and decide whether the ball is useful for you at that moment.
You do not have to choose a position on your own. Your care team can help you weigh whether a position is comfortable and appropriate for your labor and current care. If it does not feel right, tell them; you can work together on a different way to rest or reposition.
What does research say about labor progress?
Research suggests a peanut ball may be linked with changes in labor progress, but the findings cannot predict what will happen in your birth. A 2023 review described the ball as safe and associated with a possible decrease in labor length. [2] A 2025 study summary reports shorter first-stage labor and lower cesarean rates among women with epidural analgesia. [3]
What the findings can—and cannot—tell you
These results point to a possible benefit, not a promise. A shorter first stage in a study does not mean your labor will be shorter if you use a peanut ball, and a lower cesarean rate among a study group does not mean the ball will prevent a cesarean for you.
Labor progress varies from person to person. For example, two people may use a peanut ball and have very different labor experiences; the ball cannot tell you in advance how quickly your labor will progress or how your birth will end.
How to use the evidence
Treat the research as one piece of information to discuss with your care team, rather than as a reason to expect a specific outcome. You can ask how the findings fit with your labor plan and what to expect in your own situation.
The practical takeaway is modest: the research describes a possible association with shorter labor, and a study summary reports outcomes among women with epidural analgesia. Neither finding guarantees shorter labor or prevents a cesarean for an individual. Keep your expectations flexible and focus on whether the option suits your circumstances.
Who might find a peanut ball useful?
A peanut ball may be worth discussing if you want support while resting on your side, especially if an epidural makes it harder to move around. [1] It is an option to consider with your labor care team, not something you need to use. [2]
When it may fit your preferences
You might consider one if side-lying feels like a position you would like to try, or if you want help staying settled while you rest. For example, you could ask your nurse or clinician whether a peanut ball might suit your preferences if you expect to spend some of labor lying on your side. The ball is used to support people in a side-lying position, including those who have chosen an epidural. [1]
An epidural can make some movement more difficult, so you may be interested in a positioning option that does not require standing or walking. [1] That does not mean you have to use a peanut ball: you can talk through your preferences with your care team and decide together whether it makes sense for you. A labor care team can offer it as an option during labor. [2]
Your comfort matters
People do not all respond to the same position in the same way, so a peanut ball may feel comfortable and helpful to one person but not suit another. You can treat it as something to try only if it feels right for you, rather than a required part of labor. If you are unsure, tell your care team what feels comfortable and ask whether trying a peanut ball fits your situation.
You do not need to make a decision in advance. Your preferences may become clearer during labor, and your care team can help you consider the option at that time. Choosing whether to try it is a personal decision to make with their guidance, not a measure of how well you are doing in labor.
What should you ask your care team?
Before trying a peanut ball, ask your care team whether it fits your situation and labor plan, what signs mean you should adjust or stop, and how they can help you position it comfortably and safely. You can ask these questions before labor or when the team offers the ball, so you know what to expect and whom to call for help.
Questions about whether it fits your plan
Ask, “Is a peanut ball appropriate for me right now, given how labor is going and the plan we’ve discussed?” If your situation or plan changes, check again rather than assuming the earlier answer still applies. You can also ask whether there are times when your team would prefer you not use it.
If you have a specific concern—such as discomfort in a position or difficulty moving—describe it plainly. For example: “This position is pulling on my hip; can we try a different setup?” That gives your care team a clear starting point for helping you decide what feels manageable.
Ask what to watch for
Ask, “What should I notice while I’m using the ball, and when should I tell you to adjust it or take it away?” You do not need to wait until something feels severe to speak up. Tell the team if the position becomes uncomfortable, feels unstable, or simply no longer works for you, and ask them to reassess.
You can also agree on a simple way to get attention if the team steps away. For example, ask whom to call and what to do if you want to change position before they return. Follow the team’s instructions about stopping or changing the setup.
Ask for hands-on positioning help
Ask a team member to show you how to get into the position and help place the ball, rather than trying to manage an unfamiliar setup alone. You might say, “Can you help me get comfortable and show me how to tell you if I need an adjustment?” If the first arrangement does not feel right, ask for a small change or a different position.
Before the team leaves, check that you know how to ask for help and that the setup feels comfortable to you. It is okay to change your mind; using the ball is a choice to make with your care team, not something you have to continue.
A peanut ball is an option, not a promise
The clearest practical role of a peanut ball is to support a side-lying position during labor. It may also help mimic a squatting position for someone with an epidural, but that does not make it a promise of faster progress. [1]
A review describes the ball as safe and associated with a possible decrease in labor length, so it can be offered as an option. [2] “Possible” is the key word: your experience may differ, and the ball cannot guarantee how your labor will progress. If you try it and it feels uncomfortable, tell your care team rather than treating it as something you need to push through.
Think of the ball as one way to make a position more supported, not a test you need to pass. For example, you might prefer side-lying with the ball in place, or you might find that another position feels better as labor changes. Your comfort and circumstances are a better guide than expecting a particular result.
Before deciding, ask your care team whether trying a peanut ball fits your situation and labor plan. You can make the choice together, then reassess if your comfort changes. The takeaway is simple: consider it for supported side-lying, while keeping any effect on labor progress uncertain.