What mode of birth did you have? And were you very active in pregnancy?

[ZEWatson]

This is not an 'I'm better than you' post. Purely I'm interested to see if there's any correlation between level of fitness during pregnancy and the mode of delivery.

My question is what mode of delivery did you have?
Unplanned C section, planned C section, or vaginal (including forceps and instrumental).
AND
Were you very active into your 3rd trimester of pregnancy? I'm talking muscle building activities, high impact aerobic sport etc. Not regular walking or light exercise.
I've read there is a correlation between women who regularly do high intensity sport during pregnancy (weight lifting, sport climbing, fast running ) and how their body doesn't identify labour signs and changes of hormones due to the body being so adjusted to dealing with high stress activities and therefore higher levels of unplanned Csection.

I'll start- I carried on my usual sports during pregnancy of running 3x a week up until 41 weeks, climbing until 30 weeks and swimming until 42 weeks and I never went into labour, despite induction and had an unplanned C-section at 42+2.

Very active always, and very well during whole pregnancy. 'Surprise' transversal breech and emergenc C-section after 24 hrs in labour. Continued to be very active, very well during second pregnancy, and vaginal birth with a little help with forceps in end stage.

Oh wow! That must have been a surprise with the breech? Did you labour first and then find out? Or have a go a breech delivery. My little one was breech until 36 weeks and then flipped. I kind of this that she may not have fully rotated and that's why I didn't go into labour. She was never even engaged in pelvis!

I work withing midwifery services and I've not heard of many VBAC deliveries that aren't intervention free. Not sure whether to opt for Vbac or elective C-section next time. I really don't want forceps or ventous. And my C-section recovery was so smooth last time!

Two very easy natural births. Very poorly during pregnancy both times and I spent a lot of time sitting down during both of my third trimesters. I did do hypnobirthing both times which I think really helped me understand my body on the days of birth.

Was bed bound with DC1 and not much better with DC2. Smooth, fast labours without even a vaginal graze, never had a single stitch. So I prove your theory!

2 vaginal birth and just lightly active.

Emergency C-section at 42+1 following a failed induction. I was quite active during my pregnancy, predominantly swimming.

3x very quick vaginal births all 1-3 hours.
I didn't exercise at all from start to finish.

I'm a runner and ran during both pregnancies up to 28 weeks then just did youtube pregnancy fit videos and walking.

I had 2 vaginal delivers. No issues. My DD was 5 days early and DS was nearly 3 weeks early.

Very sedentary due to sickness, just light walking and yoga, plus hypno birthing. Both pregnancies went to 42 weeks and labour had to be induced, 1 emergency section and one VBAC with a lot of intervention.

A straightforward and very quick vaginal birth (I was pleasantly surprised, it was a lovely experience!) 4 hours from waters breaking (first indication he was coming!) to baby being born.

I did 0 exercise. Other than walking. I'm not an active person, other than I like to walk a lot. At work I was on my feet all day standing still.

I also had a very easy pregnancy. I was lucky. I can only hope I have the same experience again!

I’d say I was moderately active in both pregnancies - no high intensity workouts but I walked, swam and cycled throughout, including a 15km walk followed by a swim when 40+11 in an effort to avoid induction the next day! And with dc2 I cycled around loads with heavy toddler DC1 on the back of the bike until 38 weeks pregnant.

Both births were very fast and very easy - 1hr 45 and then 1hr 30 from first contraction to baby - both induced and both water births. I had a second degree tear both times as the babies were 9lbers. I was overdue with DC1 but DC2 was day before due date.

So I think disproves your theory?

I think births are just luck of the draw and probably more influenced by the position of the baby and your internal anatomy.

Two vaginal deliveries. First was back to back and over 24 hours, with an epidural, an episiotomy and a second degree tear. Agonising.
Second was several hours with two paracetamol and a diazepam. Another second degree tear.
Very sick throughout both pregnancies and due to this didn't work for four months. I didn't exercise as such but was pretty active at work when I returned.

Very active pregnancy worked full time until 37 weeks (planned to leave at 39 weeks).

Finished work Friday with a couple of niggles went into labour for 28 hours and had an 8lb 11oz back to back delivery via ventouse with legs in the air!

My after care was terrible and I do not look back fondly of my first borns birth - it was a harrowing experience and needed counselling..

My second born was also back to back but the midwives were amazing and I delivered him with zero pain relief because of their care and focus.

Very little activity, other than walking to wherever I needed to go.

One vaginal birth, and one emergency C-section. Both after early induction for pre-eclampsia.

I'd say I was doing light-medium activity levels in both pregnancies - lots of walking, bit of swimming/yoga but no serious exercise. Both vaginal births with not too much in the way of complications.

First pregnancy, regular gym goer until 20 weeks, nothing too intensive, mainly cross trainer. Bed rest from 31 weeks, straight forward spontaneous labour, small tear, just over five hours and no interventions.

Second pregnancy, ran 2-3 times a week up until 24 weeks, had a bleed and was made to stop, I did keep walking though regularly up until i was induced at 39 weeks, despite being induced and it being a bit stressful I managed to avoid intervention, it was a quick labour and no tears.

There's no real correlation (between fitness & levels & birth experiences) except that if you are very fit (like athlete level), vaginal birth can be a bit harder due to how developed your muscles are.

Obviously staying active is broadly good; as is continuing with your existing exercise, if you can.

I was active in my 3 pregnancies, more in #2 & #3, kept running as long as I could, some gym / weights, swimming & yoga. I had a straightforward vaginal delivery, emergency section (at 10 cm dilated) as breech, VBAC, which was medically straightforward but physically very hard albeit quick.

It's almost always a) genetics and b) luck of the draw.

Extremely active. Weight lifting and interval training, hiking, running.

Two very long labours and unplanned CS both times. Body had bog all clue how to birth a baby.

Hypnobirthing made shit all difference as well 😁

Both my sister and I are very inactive and between us have three natural and fast births with no complications

Sounds similar to me. And my PT and my pal who represents Canada for weight lifting also had long labour and emergency c section.
Interesting

@ZEWatson I had an intervention free VBAC 2 weeks ago. Spontaneous labour, in and out of the hospital inn12 hours! It was very quick!

Induced epidural and weirdly more active at 9 months than I have even been before or after pregnancy

Also very athletic and had a C-section. Baby never dropped. I remember they advised an epidural right off the bat because the abdominal muscles were tight.

Very active, age 45 when ds was born, natural birth, slow labour, and needed some help right at the end.

Ds arrived pink and wriggling, 50th percentile, all good.

Active throughout. Exercise bike daily, lots of long walks, weights etc.

Spontaneous labour at 38 plus 4. Dilated but dc1 was stuck on bone and couldn't be pulled or pushed out. Ended up with an emcs at full dilation following failed forceps. Apparently I have a sub optimal pelvis and he had a giant head (his body has caught up now).

Dc2 was also an emcs for the same reason.

I did however bounce back physically from both. Was back walking the 3 mile round trip to get dc1 to preschool by the time dc2 was 2 weeks old. Minimal pain (didn't take pain relief after either), could walk and pick both of them up with no problems.