Does Exercise Make Labor Easier
3 Replies
|
|
|
|
|
|
Does exercise help make labor easier or does it just make you feel a bit better during pregnancy? I've never been into much exercise and at the beginning of my pregnancy I started walking and doing simple exercises because it made me feel better. Now I feel pretty good (just more tired now) so there's not much persuasion to get into exercise again.
I did hear that exercise helps make labor easier, but I don't know if that is a myth or not. If it makes labor easier I'll do it more often again but does anyone know for sure?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I thought it would. I ran for the first 5 months of my last pegnancy, then walked once or twice a day after the first 5 months...because run and ning was too hard. I felt GREAT during pregnancy and never had any complications. When it came time to have dd, my labour didn't go as planned and therefore...I don't think it made a difference. I had to be augmented with oxytocin and ended up pushing 4 hours...not what I'd envisioned!! My dr. also said on runners the perineum can be very tight...making things difficult. Not sure how true that is. I think it's great to exercise throughout your pregnancy...for you and the baby. But since there are NO guarantees with labour...you'll just have to wait and see. Good luck!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I agree with nancy37...if you feel up for exercising during pregnancy you definitely should. With my first, I was at the gym the morning that I was induced (I didn't know at the time I was going to be induced later that day!). While I did push for 1 1/2 hrs and it was one of the physically most demanding things I've ever done, I think being in shape made it more manageable and I also think it helped tremendously with my recovery. Right now I am 9 weeks preggo with #2 and still in the severe, puking several times a day phase so I haven't done much but plan to get back into a good routine as soon as I feel better (which was 16 weeks with my 1st...I hope this one pa__ses a little sooner!).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I also think doing yoga can be a good thing. I had a 46-hr labour with my first and also needed to be augmented with oxytocin, so it didn't help in terms of making it go faster, but I think it helped me to focus through the contractions. I didn't get an epidural until 40 hrs in, and I found the pain manageable. It also helps me feel less sore as I'm getting near the end of pregnancy (I'm 36 wks with my 2nd), ,but doing aerobics and strength training like I used to do usually causes unbearable back pain at this point.
|
