Exercise and easier birth?

[crazycatlady82]

Hi

Did anyone find regular exercise made their birth easier?

I used to be very active then it dropped off over Xmas and just when I went to start TRX again I found out I was pg!

So thinking walking, yoga and pilates.

Also, no laughing now, I am considering using pelvic floor weights to strengthen my pelvic floor in the hope that the stronger these muscles are, the easier the birth will be any thoughts?!?!

xx

I stayed fit and active during both pregnancies and had textbook births.

Haha ooh get me. Not a brag, posted too soon.

Was going to say the idea makes sense to me and my midwife at the time agreed but I have never seen any evidence connecting the two.

It certainly helped me - did gym classes up to 38 weeks, then two weeks of pregnancy yoga and walking a mile to the studio everyday. Long first stage of labour but pushing him out was easy and I had the water birth I wanted. Left hospital with a stomach flatter than pre-pregnancy and was back in my skinny jeans within a fortnight. After a few months of breastfeeding a ravenous baby they were falling off me and I had to go down two sizes. I'm convinced that the exercise helped!

Oh but DS was a very difficult baby who never slept so I guess you win some, you lose some!

Played netball well into both pregnancies and worked in my hotel until I went into labour. Both very easy quick births . My daughter is also a netballer and had very easy births!

Did bollocks all for me. I was fit, did the raspberry leaf tea, everything you were supposed to. PMA, was determined to labour at home, it was going to go well!

Waters went at 38w, went in for induction, they found the baby in severe distress and EMCS it was.

Thing is there is no control, you don't know how it would have gone if you'd been fitter/unfitter. It's such an individual thing.

I don't even think it helps lose weight after the birth. My breastfeeding hormones meant I couldn't lose weight- once I stopped it started coming off. It depends on how your body works.

I was extremely fit throughout my pregnancy, and did a 16-mile hike on my due date - still ended up with a CS.