Will me not walking about cause a harder delivery?

[Leigh89]

I have been told that walking around a lot means an easier delivery? Is this true?? I'm really nervous about delivery especially now as I have broken my ankle so can't walk around at all. I was walking lots before I broken my ankle but now and right up to delivery I will be sitting all the time! Any tips/suggestions??

L x

Can you kneel on all fours? This helps take the weight off your back an dyou can delivery like this too.

Yes I can actually! Thank u x

If you can sit on a gym ball and rock side to side that will help too

I don't think I will be able to do that as I can't put any weight on foot so if I loose balance I will probably just fall. Was really hoping for a water birth but the hosp said it will be highly unlikely. I feel so down and depressed I can't believe I'm in a cast up to my knee when I'm a few weeks away from giving birth!

You poor thing.

Doesnt make it more difficult might just means you cant try various positions. I preferred standing leaning against DH and swaying.

On all fours and/or lean on a gym ball.

When it come to the actual labour your endorphines will kick in and you may want to stand up anyway. Trust me you want even realise your ankle is sore, you'll be away in la la labour land.

Good luck x

I was on my back due to needing continuous monitoring. However I had been listening to a hypnobirthing cd (I was massively sceptical about it) and I found the labour and delivery no bother at all.

Also get a tens machine, I found it helped.

Kneeling up and or kneeling on all fours and circling your hips will help with positioning and keeping your pelvis mobile in the run up to the birth. Kneeling leaning on a birthing ball can be great also for this - and for labour. It is rotten luck. Hope all goes well for you.

I have a thought. Can you ask, since you have a few weeks to go by the sounds of it, if you could be nipped down to the orthopaedic clinic and have your cast taken off for the (water) birth? Or could they fit you with something like this for the rest of your pregnancy? It seems a bit silly to fit a woman in late pregnancy with a fixed cast anyway as ankle swelling is quite likely in later weeks. If I were you I would ask your orthopaedic consultant whether s/he can help you. Or the plastering department.

Sorry, that was the wrong thing I linked there. Something more like this.

What about a Limbo for covering the cast to help with a water birth? Www.limbo products.co.uk. We use them at work. I guess the only problem might be that they couldn't get you out quickly, if need be.

Thank u all so much. I did ask if I could have a boot thing rather than a cast but they said at the moment the cast is best. Hopefully after the birth they will give me a boot. I ordered a cast protector from limbo products I can't believe I didn't think of it before! It will even allow me to have a bath without help. The situation doesn't seem so helpless now! Thanks xx

I think moving around makes it more likely you will have an easier delivery but it doesn't guarantee you will have one! I tried to stay upright in labour first time round but just couldn't do it. I had to lie in a certain position. Managed to stay happily at home for a bit then got to hospital where DS was born 21/2 hours later. Wishing you a speedy recovery and a lovely straightforward birth.

Thanks I feel like a big lazy elephant I have been sitting for past week with about 6 pillows under my leg, all I do is go from sofa to wheelchair so cannot wait to give birth now at least then I can hop about, I think I may even have a little dance to celebrate haha x