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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Did yoga and/or being physically fit make an active birth easier for you?

61 replies

naturelover · 16/03/2007 18:09

I'm already quite fit but haven't started pregnancy yoga yet (am 17 weeks pregnant). Can anyone give me advice on having a successful active birth please? My aim would be to have as little intervention as possible (and hopefully a homebirth) though I realise this may not be possible!

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pelvicflawed · 17/03/2007 08:06

Yes and No! - I did pilates (not unlike yoga I guess) for 2 yrs before I got pregnant and carried on during the pregnacy. I still ended up with an induction and ultimately an epidural and only just thankfully managed to push DS out before being taken for a c-section. However I would say the classes helped me relax before hand, helped loads with rib pain I had in late stage pregnancy, and made me feel nice and supple. I think the breathing exercises did help in labour as I tried to forgo the epidural for quite a long time before I opted down that route. Personally I'd give it a go - any benefits, even if not directly in labour are worth it.

Pruni · 17/03/2007 08:29

Message withdrawn

Boobsgonesouth · 17/03/2007 08:46

why why why

Just the usual guidelines for activity and keeping fit so between 3 - 5 sessions of aerobic (so getting your heart rate up !!) sessions of between 30 - 60 mins....

Be cautious though, if you're not doing any activity then you shouldn't start doing 60 mins of fat burning exercise just because you are pregnant...if you're walking then continue with the walking....the fact that you are pregnant will make the workout earder anyway as the inreasing weight increases your workout load, if that makes sense.

As many have mentioned here activity such as yoga and any form of relaxation will also help

the rest will then very much be down to other factors in your labour (as mentioned before) such as the baby's position - did you know that there are more than 20 varying positions that baby can be in before labour starts...and these will have a bearing on the type of labour that you have.....

btw - I love this subject !!!

....and am qualified preg & PN fitness instructor, antenatal educator, birth doula...and sports coach !!!!!

lulumama · 17/03/2007 08:53

Boobsgonesouth...interested in your childbirth educator thing..are you signed up for CAT> >>

funnypeculiar · 17/03/2007 09:17

As others' have said, no idea on the statistical validity, but ime, good yoga classes can really help with relaxation in pg, thinking about comfortable positions for labouring, OFP and (for me, most important) breathing in labour. I did a FABULOUS yoga course with my first. Wasn't the sort of yoga I would normally have done - very much chakras and chanting. Loved it. Went into labour 4 weeks early, having not done any other classes (they were all scheduled a bit late!) and managed fine with gas and air, and used the breathing techniques I'd used a LOT. We also spent a lot of time in those classes mentally preparing for labour - eg just things like being very vocal (noises etc) in a group of strangers was a useful thing for me to have done.
Went again in my second pg - much less useful classes, but helped me remember what I'd liked the first time. Very easy labour - wasn't until I had dd in my arms that I remembered I hadn't had any pain relief!
Wasn't 'fit' either time, although I'm naturally fairly slim/high metabolism.
Ask around & find a good yoga class - ideally one that does a course. I know a great one if you happen to be in SW London

manicmuvvaof3 · 17/03/2007 09:45

Not had time to read all the above but please please be careful if you do yoga when pg. I still have spd 2.5 years after birth of my last dc and my physio has confirmed my suspicions that it could be down to over stretching during yoga classes when pg (I am naturally quite "bendy" lol!). I had attended these for 6 years and my teacher was always really careful but I am still suffering {sad}. Physio recommends pilates as a safer option. However I do agree that being physically fit definitely makes for easier birth and recovery, did lots of gentle swimming (even until day before) 1st birth 11 years ago and I really feel it helped.

Boobsgonesouth · 17/03/2007 10:05

lulumama...

did 18 months with the NCT then switched to something that I considered a little more balanced

\link[http://childbirthinternational.com/distance learning, details here}

Preg & PN fitness as an add on course ...qualified as fitness instructor in 92....

giving birth to my own babies triggered a real interest in the whole pregnancy/fitness/how women cope in labour thing......and have felt privelaged when doulering to see how the 'practical' fits with the 'theory' that you learn from a book.....but then you'll know all about that anyway !!!

lulumama · 17/03/2007 10:06

thanks boobsgonesouth! am torn between doing CBI and NCT , and veering more towards the CBI...would you mind awfully emailing me a bit more about how you found CBI course and if you are in the UK? would be much appreciated x

lulumama 21 @ hotmail. com

thanks

Boobsgonesouth · 17/03/2007 10:07

..will do...am in the UK btw (south west !!)

lulumama · 17/03/2007 10:12

thanks ! am in north west myself! x much appreciated x

Boobsgonesouth · 17/03/2007 10:14

just emailed you........

DivaSkyChick · 17/03/2007 10:30

FunnyPeculiar, I'm in SW London. Where is the yoga class you're so keen on?

Thanks

Beetrootccio · 17/03/2007 10:35

pregnancy yoga was my life saver in all my pregnancies - it helped witht he preganacy and with the home births...

feetheart · 17/03/2007 10:43

I was pretty fit for my first birth - cycled to work until my centre of gravity shifted a bit too much and I didn't feel very stable! Had a reasonably good hospital birth - in the pool for labour then out for delivery (I wasn't pushing hard enough apparently, too relaxed to be active maybe!!)
Second time around I was running after a toddler throughout the pg so was reasonably fit (especially in short bursts!) and I did a pregnancy yoga class. The yoga definitely helped me with the breathing/visualising side of things (and the grunting!) and I had a very active homebirth with TENS and minimal G&A. It was also very good to know that I had 1 1/2 hours a week to dedicate to me and my bump because he didn't get much of a look in for the rest of the week.

I would echo the others about not ruling anything out but also be ready to complain, loudly if necessary, if anyone keeps insisting you need to be on that bed

Good luck with it all and ENJOY IT, its very, very special.

BlueberryPancake · 17/03/2007 11:54

Good question. There are so many factors involved. I am in my second pregnancy, which is very different from first one - for first baby, just a year and a half ago I was quite 'active' physically but I put on over 45 pounds (I stopped counting at that stage). I was so swollen with water retention, my face, neck, hands and legs were huge. I had a long labour, mainly because I was induced and the baby was 'back to back'. Ended up with c section.

Second pregnancy is a breeze. I'm 35 weeks and have no swelling, I look great, not much weight put on at all and I have lots of energy.

I really don't know if being fit before the pregnancy helps, but it would certainly help with physical stamina required during labour. BUT other health factors just take over sometimes and have a massive influence on the outcome.

I remember reading about Paula Radclife who had a baby last year and had a very long and difficult labour. Makes me think that even if you are super super fit, there's just no guarantee.

LittleSarah · 17/03/2007 12:04

Well there are no guarantees but I was fairly fit, did ante-natal yoga (which I loved) and had a relatively 'easy' labour at home.

Of course still painful but was up and about, kneeling and so on and I think it helped.

May have just been lucky of course!

handlemecarefully · 17/03/2007 15:53

"remember reading about Paula Radclife who had a baby last year and had a very long and difficult labour. Makes me think that even if you are super super fit, there's just no guarantee. "

Perhaps she has a really high bmi - (Ruthchan's theory),lol

skerriesmum · 17/03/2007 16:09

No... I did pregnancy yoga both times and was reasonably fit, but first time had an assisted delivery, (episiotomy, ventouse) and second time emergency section. Sometimes it's just luck; of course still do the class if you like, it helps with the pregnancy as well as just the delivery.

toadstool · 17/03/2007 18:51

I would recommend antenal yoga because the breathing techniques helped enormously to calm me down and to get me through (induced) contractions, and I recovered from the birth quickly, with no backache or reduced flexibility. I'm deliberately not mentioning the birth itself as I think that's just a matter of luck. Yoga classes emphasised an open mind on that front, and that was invaluable, too.

MadamePlatypus · 17/03/2007 19:13

I have no idea if this would work for everybody, but I got through my 2nd labour by using my yoga breathing. Because of a combination of arriving at the hospital too late for an epidural/hating gas and air, the only pain relief I had were a couple of paracetamol. However, with every contraction (and with some help from DH and the student midwife) I pretended I was back in the yoga studio doing my final relaxation breathing. I don't think this would work for everyone, and it didn't work with every contraction, but it really, really, really helped.

OzJo · 18/03/2007 08:06

Pregnancy yoga made sod all difference for me, but I made a couple of good friends, and it was really good to see other pregnant people, at all stages, ie, people that looked 5 months that were in fact about to drop, people that looked about to drop that were only 5 months, etc. It was really good to see how different peoples bodies were.
I tried for a home birth, & it didn't work out, but I think it's always worth a try. Good luck!

Swizzler · 18/03/2007 08:54

I kept reasonably fit (used gym till 6 months, pool till 7) and had a quick labour. But so did my sister with her 2 (inc no 1 w an epi) and she sat on the sofa for 9 months, so I think it's mostly genetic.

Birdly · 18/03/2007 18:12

I did pregnancy yoga with DD (now 3), and although I enjoyed every minute of it I don't think it helped with the birth. I had a painful induced labour and it would have taken many years of regular yoga practice and a mind of steel for it to have been much practical help for very long.
Didn't do yoga while pregnant with DS (2), as obviously I had a baby to look after! However, I took up yoga again a few months after he was born as I had a lot of back problems during that second pregnancy and my physio thought yoga might help. I think she was right, too - it's definitely helping keep my 'slippery' back under control, as well as all the other benefits it offers.
Can't offer much to the yoga/fitness/length of labour debate. I'm fairly unfit (obviously very active with two such young children, but not really what you'd call properly fit) and had an 18-hour labour with DD (pool, gas and air, meptid, epidural) and about a one-hour one with DS (only just got jeans off in time!).
I think that, most of the time, babies come when they're ready, regardless of how many miles we've jogged, how many lengths we've swum or how many times we've performed the sun salutation!

newgirl · 18/03/2007 18:35

i loved the classes - lovely mums and gave me time to think about being pregnant and the growing baby

however, being fit and large hips (!) it did not help me - c-section/breech, 10 lb-er

luck of the draw

good luck x

Original poster

naturelover · 18/03/2007 19:52

I really appreciate all the points of view, in particular the advice from several of you to keep an open mind about the birth itself. But I will try to stay fit and will definitely start yoga soon, as much for own enjoyment as anything. So far I'm having a great pregnancy and I'd like to think it's because I'm eating well and exercising... but it might just be luck or genetics!

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