--- title: Little Baby Lump | Pregnancy and Baby Blog | week 31 description: week 31 | Follow my journey through pregnancy (twice!) and motherhood. --- [![lbl-masthead.png](https://www.littlebabylump.com/hs-fs/hub/188884/file-312550222.png?width=1504&name=file-312550222.png "lbl-masthead.png")](http://littlebabylump.com) ### Follow Me: ## [What I Learned At Childbirth Class: That Exercise Ball Is Actually A "Birthing Ball"](https://www.littlebabylump.com/blog/bid/219586/What-I-Learned-At-Childbirth-Class-That-Exercise-Ball-Is-Actually-A-Birthing-Ball) Posted by [Pamela Vaughan](https://www.littlebabylump.com/author/pamela-vaughan) Nov 13, 2008 12:05:56 PM [caption id="attachment_370" align="alignleft" width="194" caption="Birthing Ball"][![Birthing Ball](https://www.littlebabylump.com/Portals/188884/Images/birth-ball.jpg "birth-ball")](http://www.awakentoheal.com/yogapics/Yogapic11.jpg)[/caption] James and I attended our first of two [natural childbirth classes](http://www.isismaternity.com/classes/type/naturalchildbirth) last Sunday at [Isis Maternity](http://www.isismaternity.com/).� Before we went, I was thinking the class would either sell me on or deter me from my decision to birth Baby Lump naturally.� The verdict?� It's still a "go." If you're thinking there is still a possibility the second class will make me rethink my decision, it's very unlikely.� The first class was devoted to the particularly scary stuff - we watched a pretty rough video, which was basically a compilation of unedited footage of women in labor.� Next class we're focusing on more pleasant things like breastfeeding. [caption id="attachment_371" align="alignright" width="259" caption="Birthing Ball - Alternate Use "][![Birthing Ball - Alternate Use ](https://www.littlebabylump.com/Portals/188884/Images/birth-ball-2.jpg "birth-ball-2")](http://www.awakentoheal.com/yogapics/Yogapic15.jpg)[/caption] So far the class has done a good job of preparing us preggo students for the [three stages of labor](http://www.babycenter.com/0_the-stages-of-labor_177.bc), suggesting various relaxation techniques and positions for coping with the pain.� During the [early phase of labor](http://www.transitiontoparenthood.com/ttp/parented/laborbirth/early.htm), many techniques involve using what the obstetrics community calls a "[birthing ball](http://pregnancy.about.com/od/laborbirth/a/birthball.htm)," which every non-pregnant woman in the world knows as an exercise ball.� So for all you fitness enthusiasts out there who are planning to have a baby at some point in your life, that exercise ball you've been using for your crunches is going to come doubly in handy some day.� Messing around with that "birthing ball" was my favorite part of class - I've already ordered my own, and it's on its way. Oh yeah, and our instructor is also quite a hoot.� Her name is Sandy, and she had absolutely no reservations about getting down on the floor and demonstrating different birthing positions.� She is currently a nursing student who is planning to become a [midwife](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwives).� We think she's great. **Baby Lump's stats for week 31:** *Measurement/Weight: *Baby Lump should now weigh about 4 to 5 pounds and measures approximately 16� 1/2 inches.� He/she will continue to gain about a half pound per week until shortly before birth - Yowzers! *Other Highlights: *Baby Lump is beginning to develop immunity to mild infections, his/her appearance is similar to what it will be at birth (sans some weight) and he/she may start to be getting into position for birth (head turned down toward the pelvis). We're down to a single digit countdown now - only 8� 1/2 weeks (or fewer) to go! **Oven Timer: **31 weeks, 3 days [more](https://www.littlebabylump.com/blog/bid/219586/What-I-Learned-At-Childbirth-Class-That-Exercise-Ball-Is-Actually-A-Birthing-Ball) Topics: [Weekly Updates](https://www.littlebabylump.com/topic/weekly-updates), [natural childbirth class](https://www.littlebabylump.com/topic/natural-childbirth-class), [week 31](https://www.littlebabylump.com/topic/week-31), [stages of labor](https://www.littlebabylump.com/topic/stages-of-labor), [Isis Maternity](https://www.littlebabylump.com/topic/isis-maternity), [birthing ball](https://www.littlebabylump.com/topic/birthing-ball) [All posts](https://www.littlebabylump.com/all) Search ### Subscribe by Email ### [![rss](https://www.littlebabylump.com/hs-fs/hub/188884/file-313297286.png?width=34&height=36&name=file-313297286.png)](http://littlebabylump.com/rss.xml)   RSS Feed ### Recent Posts ### Popular Posts ### Posts by Month - [January 2014 (1)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2014/01) - [December 2013 (2)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2013/12) - [November 2013 (3)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2013/11) - [October 2013 (2)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2013/10) - [September 2013 (1)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2013/09) - [January 2011 (1)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2011/01) - [November 2010 (4)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2010/11) - [October 2010 (1)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2010/10) - [September 2010 (2)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2010/09) - [August 2010 (2)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2010/08) - [July 2010 (1)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2010/07) - [June 2010 (2)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2010/06) - [May 2010 (3)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2010/05) - [April 2010 (1)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2010/04) - [March 2010 (1)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2010/03) - [February 2010 (2)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2010/02) - [January 2010 (5)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2010/01) - [December 2009 (3)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2009/12) - [November 2009 (3)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2009/11) - [October 2009 (5)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2009/10) - [September 2009 (6)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2009/09) - [August 2009 (3)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2009/08) - [July 2009 (4)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2009/07) - [June 2009 (6)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2009/06) - [May 2009 (8)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2009/05) - [April 2009 (6)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2009/04) - [March 2009 (8)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2009/03) - [February 2009 (8)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2009/02) - [January 2009 (7)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2009/01) - [December 2008 (7)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2008/12) - [November 2008 (5)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2008/11) - [October 2008 (7)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2008/10) - [September 2008 (8)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2008/09) - [August 2008 (10)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2008/08) - [July 2008 (4)](https://www.littlebabylump.com/archive/2008/07) [See All](https://www.littlebabylump.com/topic/week-31#)