A peanut ball for labor is a positioning support shaped like a peanut, with a narrower middle and rounded ends. It can sit between your legs to help support them while you lie on your side. [1]
Think of it as an optional support, not a tool that guarantees a change in how labor goes. It may simply give you another way to settle into a position; your comfort and care needs can guide whether you try it.
If you are curious about using one, you can ask your care team what positioning support is available and whether a peanut ball fits your situation. The sections below cover how it may be used, when it might be suggested, and what to ask before trying it—so you can make the choice with your care team rather than feel you need to use a particular tool.
How can it support labor positioning?
The peanut ball’s shape can support your legs apart while you lie on your side, and your care team can help adjust the position to fit your needs. [1]
How the shape supports your legs
When you rest on your side, the ball can sit between your legs so they stay supported and separated. This gives you a supported way to hold that position rather than needing to keep your legs apart on your own. [1]
For example, your nurse may help place the ball between your thighs and adjust how your legs rest around it. Small changes to where the ball sits can change how your hips and legs feel, so tell your care team if you need a different fit.
When changing positions feels harder
If an epidural makes it harder for you to change positions, a supported side-lying position may be useful. [1] Your care team can help you settle into the position and check whether it is comfortable for you.
You do not have to figure out the setup by yourself. Ask the nurse or clinician to help move the ball, support your legs, or try a different arrangement if the first one does not feel right.
Let your care team guide adjustments
Your care team can help choose and adjust your position based on your comfort and care needs. For instance, they can help you decide where to place the ball and make a change if your legs feel strained or unsupported.
Keep the conversation simple: say what feels comfortable, what feels awkward, and when you want help changing the setup. The position should work for you, not become another thing you have to manage alone.
When might your care team suggest one?
Your care team might suggest a peanut ball during labor as one option for supporting a position, including when you have an epidural. [1] Whether it fits your situation depends on your care needs and preferences, so you can treat it as one possibility rather than a required part of labor.
The ball may come up as your team discusses ways to position you during labor. For example, if you have an epidural, staff may use it to support a side-lying position. [1] You can ask whether trying it makes sense for you at that point, then let your team know if you would rather use another position.
Research has examined outcomes such as the length of labor and cesarean rates in connection with peanut-ball use. [2] Those outcomes are group-level research questions, not a promise about how long your labor will last or how it will end. Your individual experience can differ, so avoid treating the ball as a way to guarantee a particular result.
A peanut ball is only one positioning option. You might discuss it alongside other positions your care team considers suitable, and you can change course if your needs or comfort change. For instance, you could ask, “Could we try the peanut ball, or is another position a better fit right now?” Use the answer as a starting point for a conversation, not as a commitment to use the ball throughout labor.
Your care team can help decide when a positioning option fits your current care. If the ball is not useful for you, choosing another position is also reasonable. The goal is to find an approach that works for your situation, not to meet a target or achieve a promised labor outcome.
What should you ask before trying one?
Before trying a peanut ball for labor, ask your care team whether one is available, who can help you position it, and how to speak up if you need an adjustment. A quick conversation can help you understand what support is available and make a plan that feels comfortable for you.
Questions to ask your care team
Is a peanut ball available here? If one is not available, ask what other positioning support the staff can offer. You can ask before labor or when you arrive, so you know what options to discuss.
Can someone help me position it? Ask who to call if you want to try it or need help moving it. The ball can support a person in a side-lying position, so staff can help you discuss whether that setup fits your care. [1]
Which position makes sense for me right now? Tell your care team what feels comfortable and ask them to explain the position they recommend. Your preferred position may change, so you can check in again rather than feeling committed to one setup.
What should I do if it feels uncomfortable? Let staff know right away if you feel strain, pressure, or simply want a different position. Ask them to help adjust the setup or remove the ball; you do not need to keep using it just because you agreed to try it.
Keep the conversation simple: “Can you help me try this, and can we change it if it doesn’t feel right?” You can also ask for help getting settled again after a position change. Your comfort and care needs are useful information for the team as you decide what support to try.
Common questions about peanut balls
Is a peanut ball the same as a round birthing ball?
No. A peanut ball and a round birthing ball have different shapes, and their typical uses during labor differ. A peanut ball can support someone lying on their side, while the Jefferson Health description of a birthing ball does not specify how the round ball is used. [1]
If you are deciding which one to ask about, start with the shape and the support you want. For example, a peanut ball’s indented middle makes it visibly different from a round ball; your care team can tell you what is available and appropriate for you.
Do I have to use a peanut ball if I get an epidural?
No. Having an epidural does not mean you must use a peanut ball. It is one option to discuss with your care team, not a requirement; you can ask about other ways to stay comfortable and supported.
Can I decide later whether to try one?
Yes. You can bring up the option before labor or ask about it during labor, then decide based on what feels right for you. You do not have to commit to using a particular tool in advance.
What if a peanut ball is not available?
You can ask what other positioning supports are available at your birth location. For example, if there is no peanut ball, ask whether staff can suggest another option that fits your comfort and care needs. A specific tool is not the only way to talk with your team about support.
Make it part of a positioning conversation
Ask about a peanut ball and the positioning support available at your birth setting before labor, then bring it up again if your needs change. That gives you and your care team a chance to talk through what feels comfortable and fits your care in the moment.
You can ask during a prenatal appointment, childbirth class, or hospital tour: “Do you have a peanut ball, and who can help me decide whether to use it?” If you are already in labor, a simple question to your nurse or clinician can start the conversation. A peanut ball can support a side-lying position, but whether it is useful for you depends on your comfort and care needs. [1]
Keep the decision flexible. You might want to try a position with the ball, or you might prefer another option; you can tell your care team what feels comfortable and ask to adjust the plan. For example, if a position feels awkward or tiring, say so rather than feeling that you have to stay in it.
The main thing to remember is that the ball is one option, not a requirement. Ask what positioning support is available, and work with your care team to choose what feels right for you at that time.