getting fit during pregnancy

[emmajlh]

hi all,

I'm 4 weeks along in my second pregnancy, (DD is 2.5yrs).I'm a size 18 and don't do very much excercise. I think these things were factors in my emergency c section and even though my diet is better now i'm still fairly unfit.
This time around i really really really want a natural birth and since my csection I have educated myself a lot more about active birth and about one intervention leading to another etc.
What i'd like to know is can i start a gentle excercise program to try to increase my fitness level which might improve my stamina for childbirth? labour with DD was 56 hours.

Anyone have any other advice or ideas or in a similar boat and want to be a buddy?

thanks

also posted in pregnancy.

[pasturesnew]

Is size 18 really that big for you? I wouldn't have thought your present size would be a particular worry for pregnancy unless the doctor says you're at risk of diabetes or something but diabetes is helped a lot by a sensible diet.

I wouldn't focus so much on size and would think more about exercise, in particular swimming is great exercise to prepare for labour and there are various gentle Pilates style exercises inc. using those big balls that help posture and baby positioning. Walking is usually good too. Can't see why you wouldn't be able to start exercising now, if you are worried you can ask your doctor first.

I put on a lot of weight in my last pregnancy as I was constantly starving but have lost fat this pregnancy as have gone off a lot of food. On the other hand, last time round I was strong and healthy and walking and swimming a lot whereas unfortunately this time my back has been terrible and I've been anaemic - you can't win can you? To some extent your pregnancy will just take over but at this early stage hopefully you don't need to worry too much about that yet.

[pasturesnew]

sorry forgot to say congratulations on your pregnancy!

[emmajlh]

thanks pasturesnew. in my last pregnancy i went swimming 3x a week which i really enjoyed. the gym i went to has closed but i might try out my local leisure centre.

As a family we walk a lot at the weekend but during the week, when i'm not at work or a toddler group i'm either watching telly or on the pc. I think i'm going to introduce swimming a few evenings a week and maybe pilates if i can find somewhere. I've ordered a yoga during pregnancy dvd.

in my last pregnancy i spent the whole time reading about the development of my baby - following it week by week, what was growing this week etc and i watched heaps of births on discovery health but i never really prepared myself mentally and physically for the birth. fortunately i was really mentally strong throughout the last labour and second time around i hope to be as strong but to also trust my body and try to avoid an epidural.

[pasturesnew]

That all sounds like good planning.

A lot of it is still luck, you know, so don't beat yourself up about the first birth. Hopefully this labour will be much better anyway now your body has some experience of it.

You can get the exercise balls from Argos and I think from the NCT too.