Does being very fit help with childbrith?

[mckenzie]

I have always been fairly fit, running regularly and having regular personal training sessions in the gym, and I kept up my fitness throughout my pregnancy although I obviously toned it down and stopped running altogether after about 5 months.

Anyway, I had a hell of a long and arduous labour and my ds took forever to come out and having since spoken to some other mums, I'm wondering if being fit and very toned up doesn't actually hinder giving birth. I would still do the same next time I think as I do believe that being fit helped with the after birth recovery period and also possibly gave me the stamina to cope with the hellish labour.

Does anybody else have any thoughts on this?

I was also quite fit before ds, I cycled 800km across Spain and Portugal when 3 months and carried on cycling to work (20km trip) until I fainted and fell off. I was induced, labour lasted about three days and ended up with ventouse and episiotomy. I could cope with the contractions with just gas and air and managed to push for 2 and half hours and would have pushed longer if they hadn't decided to use the Ventouse. I was back in my jeans about three days later. I think some of the problems were that ds was quite big (9lb) and have heard that women who do lots of exercise during pregnancy end up with big babies (lots of extra blood flow to uterus or something) so maybe that adds to the problems when giving birth as well as working against contractions. Not so fit this time (got more lazy about cycling due to winter and having to take ds to childminders),we'll see if this labour is easier or the baby any smaller (though the scans so far show its another big headed baby!)

Thats really interesting - my ds was 8lbs 14oz and his head circumference was on the 90th centile.

Dear KeepingMum. I shouldn't laugh but it sounds funny when you say 'until I fainted and fell off' Hee hee! I like your spirit. I remember taking someone out on a fairly arduous bike ride the day before I gave birth and it felt as if I was sitting on a huge watermelon.

SallyJGP, I went through a bit of a fainting phase, when the baby was sitting on a blood vessel or something, which put a stop to cycling for a few weeks. I'm impressed at an arduous ride the day before going into labour and agree about sitting on watermelons, I contemplated cycling into the hospital for my induction, but then thought the chances of me being able to sit on a saddle for a while after were slim (not to mention where to put the baby - would have been interesting to see the reaction though).

I remember cycling to my antenatal classes at the hospital and receiving some very weird looks as a result! (I think some people thought I was just faking the pregnancy and attending the classes for kicks). Had to give up long bike rides in the last month though as I have a rather forward reaching mountain bike and the position just did not work with the bump.

Anyway, although pretty fit prior to and in early stages of pregnancy (cycling and distance running a lot) I too had a long labour (30 hours plus). Small to medium baby, though. I snapped back into shape very quickly but did anyone else find that lack of sleep was a total killer? I guess I need my sleep to fuel the high metabolism.

I have not been pregnant or given birth but the people around me that have it generally seems to be the stronger minded that have easier births. So I think kind over matter is equally as important as your physical fitness.

Also, the ones that did no prep at all seem to struggle more post delivery.

Not sure if that counts for anything...

This thread is 16 years old. Where on earth did you dig it up from - OP could be a grandma by now!

Lmao I didn't even realise! I have no idea I think I was googling something hehe

I am going to go against the grain I was very fit, gym 3 or 4 times a week and weight training up until 3 weeks before labour and I found childbirth manageable. Defining fit I was both strong and with a sort of cross fit physique.

I had a vaginal birth and my son was born very quickly, whether this is pain threshold, mental strength or knowing pain in your own body through exercise but I felt very I control mentally and that really helped!

There a lot of things I’ve read though about being too fit to labour as it hinders your delivery for various reasons and personal experience obviously contradicts that but can see why it would be difficult.

Last week I saw a zombie thread from 2003.

Now we're back to 2002!!!

Bizarre. And I remember this thread when it first came out! Makes me feel so old 😟