Is giving Birth easier when you are very fit??

[only1mica]

Hi all

Just new here and I am loving all of the info from all the different posts.

This maybe a little silly but I have always wondered about being very fit before/during pregnany and if it actually makes things a little easier during birth or not.

I have all intentions of being 'healthy & active' - just wondering how active I should aim for.

Thanks :)

[nkenward]

Hi there,

They say if you do some exercise like walking everyday then labour may be easier on you.

However, having said that, I was playing netball up to about the 8th week, but stopped, and I tried to walk a couple of times but really couldn't be bothered. So, I don't think I would call myself extremely fit. I think I just had a high pain threshold, and excepted the fact that it was going to hurt - lots. But, I didn't have any pain relief at all, and my labour went for 9 hours, but as much as it hurt, I have been told I didn't really scream, and I said to everyone afterwards that it wasn't too bad, I would be prepared to do it again.

I think it all depends on you as a person, how active you want to be during the labour and determination. But by all means, exercise will help and get you into a good routine for after pregnancy.

[poshBecks]

HI!

I think it must be (although i don't quite know just yet!)

I was extremly UNFIT when i was preg with ds & i had an aweful pregnancy & TERRIBLE 22hour long labour! :o

I swore i would lose weight & get fitter for my next pregnancy. I did i lost 16 kg . So far my pregnancy has been A LOT better. I didn't get as sick & my back hasn't been anywhere near as bad either :D .
Now i'm just hoping that the labour will be better too :rolleyes: .
I've got my fingers crossed. LOL

Good on you for being a fit woman!!!!

[kimmy]

yeah they say that walking is good, i walk with both mine cause i had no car & they ***** only 4 & 5 hours,so i dont now if thats got any thing to do with it but i thought it was pretty good.

[mumhoney]

Hi,
I don't know that I would have said I was an olympic athelete, but I played regular sport before i fell pregnant and then I started going to ante-natal aqua aerobics and I went for my last class 4 days before I went into labour at 38 1/2 weeks with my first baby. My labour was only 4 1/2 hours and i had no pain relief ( although I have a higher pain threshold ). You really need to be fit just to get through the first few months with little sleep and the big change to your life. It gives you a good head start!

Lou, mum to DD 10 1/2 mths

[DoulaFelicity]

Labour and birth are the ultimate endurance marathons. Your body works at its peak capacity, and that means hard work, no matter what. Like any physical activity, your body is better able to capably and efficiently do the work required of it, if it is at peak nutritional and physical health.

So, yes; your body is better equipped to labour and birth if you give it the sustenance and exercise it needs to be a well run machine. Whether having a "good" labour necessarily means having an "easy" labour...well, that's something only you can know about your own body. The two are not necessarily the same thing. :)

[Rainbowbrite]

Thats a toughy. I'm not very fit and during pregnancy the only exercise i could do was hydrotherapy due to pubic pain. Walking was out of the question. I had a great labour IMHO other than DH being posterior, 10.5 hrs, no tears only 40mins of pushing.

The woman who ran the hydro classes was a fitness junkie & had a 30 odd hour labour, tore, got stitches etc and had a long recovery.

RB

[aardvark]

Personally, I'd say yes, because I went swimming a lot while pregnant, went into labour immediately after a swim with #1, 4.25 hours later, it was all over. With #2, I swam further, and went into labour while swimming, 4.5 hours later, it was over again.

I'm swimming still through this pregnancy, and I honestly feel I'd be much worse off without it.

That said, my best friend from school was ultra fit, doing body building before baby, and she had in excess of 50 stitches, lost so much blood she needed a transfusion, and had huge problems with her stomach muscles.

I think body building might not be as compatible with the whole business as swimming or walking.

[jaydensmum]

I honestly dont think being fit or not makes the whole process any easier. Its hard work for anyone, but they do recommend that some exercise helps!

jaydensmum

[wattle]

It might help for stamina during delivery, but I think it's probably more useful for recovery afterwards.

I remember going to a physio class a few days after and other girls were swinging away on balls and doing squats and stuff, I was lucky to be able to put my shoes on!

[Manxie]

Hi

Sorry jaydensmum have to disagree with you :D

" honestly dont think being fit or not makes the whole process any easier."

I think it definately makes being pregnant easier . Being pregnant puts a huge strain on your body in particular your cardiovascular system, if you are overweight and unfit to begin with your already at a disadvantage.

I was by no means superfit but was probably the fittest I'd ever been when I fell preggers, am convinced this was part of the reason why I conceived after 2 years ttc. I had a dream pregnancy despite doing shift work and being on my feet all day. As for the birth...not quite as planned but did manage a 20+ hour labour with just gas & air prior to an emergency c-section!!

In my opinion every little helps!

[only1mica]

Hey Wattle...Hope you dont mind but this made me laugh... :D
I remember going to a physio class a few days after and other girls were swinging away on balls and doing squats and stuff, I was lucky to be able to put my shoes on!

Anyways thanks girls - I am trying to get a bit fitter now...so at least I am sorta in shape when (fingers crossed) I get preg.
And I think I will keep it up to some extent throughout - but not over do it.

Thanx again :D
Mica

[eslay2005]

I've always exercised and have been told and read that exercising while pregnant will help with labour and recovery. Also it will be easier to get back to your normal weight afterwards.
I try to go to the Gym at least 3 times a week, doing a program the YMCA made up for me and swimming once a week.
Swimming and walking are two of the best exercises you can do when pregnant even if you have not exercised before. If you have not been exercising start with walking. I wouldn't suggest starting on something new at the Gym at this stage.
There's also Yoga for pregnant women you may want to take up.

Good Luck!

Eslay

1st BUB due 27th January 2006! :p

[leabdea]

Yes, both regular exercise, for stamina, and some stretching exercises, to prepare your body for labour, will help during pregnancy and birth.

Walking or swimming are the two favoured by most pregnant women (yoga is great too). As well as preparing your body for the very physically demanding event that labour is, regular exercise will help you to feel more comfortable in pregnancy, will reduce stress, and help your body to function efficiently.

Stretching exercises done daily (tailor sitting, squatting, pelvic rocking on all fours and kegel exercises) help to prepare your body for birth and also keep you more comfortable during pregnancy (esp. pelvic rocking as it takes pressure off your lower back, opens up your lower back so it can rest while you sleep, helps with digestion etc).

All of the above stretching exercises also help with encouraging the baby into the easiest position for birth. The tailor sitting because you are leaning forward a little as you do it - esp. if you put your elbows on your knees. The squatting because you are also leaning forward. Squatting also helps to prepare your perineum to avoid tearing. Pelvic Rocking also encourages heaviest part of baby (back of head and spine) to move towards your front. And kegel (pelvic floor) exercises encourage the baby to put it's chin on it's chest which means the easiest presentation.

So along with a healthy well balanced diet (as Felicity said) with lots of protein, exercise is the next best thing you can do for your baby and you during pregnancy. Both of these help you to stay healthy during pregnancy and this means you have more choices when it comes time for your birth. The less healthy you are the more you are likely to be labeled 'high risk' (what a terrible term!) and you will be pressured to accept all sorts of interventions and procedures.

[only1mica]

Thank you Ladies!!!

esp leabdea

you are all very helpful :D

Mic

[GIZMOE]

Hello - I was very active before I fell pregnant but I found the first 3 months of pregnancy I was extremely tired and had no energy to even go for a walk. I think it is a personal thing. Although I have to say if you didn't excercise much before you got pregnant I wouldn't jump into any fitness program without consulting your Doctor first. I have heard that swimming is really good and so is belly dancing??

[LittleBoysRock]

I have to say that I was overweight before I got pregnant and not fit at all.

I found pregnancy hard as I was so heavy myself and then carrying more weight. I gained 8 kilos which was all baby/fluid/placenta etc and was 15 kilos lighter than my pre-pregnancy weight within 2 weeks. (Not sure how).

Now I excerise everyday (even if it is just a walk around the block), I go to Ante-natal excerise classes and I have not felt so good for a long time.

I found Labour difficult but I dont think it would be any easier being fitter. I hope to be fitter for my next pregnancy!! :)