if you were going to train physically for childbirth, what would that training consist of?

[swottybetty]

i remember after last time thinking that nothing could have prepared me for labour, but wishing i was fitter.

has anyone had dif levels of fitness for dif labours and noticed any difference? my sister reckoned she only started getting period pain after she stopped horseriding in her late teens. apparently that not uncommon cause of the muscles used.

so can certain muscles be stregnthened and which ones and do you reckon itd make any differnce? is it all in the pelvis with a bit of stomach?

also, my back was buggered up badly by pregnancy last time. it's got help labour having strong, flexible back (and kness too i guess)...

finally in terms of physical prep, i think i'd include that fanny massage. begins with p - perenneal?? i did not do that last time. 3nd degree tear. anyone do that and with what result?

[Pruners]

Message withdrawn

[findtheriver]

Walking and swimming. Also practised squatting without falling over (!) so that I could be in good positions during labour.

I know people have joked about the voice thing, but after my first birth I had an incredibly sore throat from screaming, so would definitely recommend deep breathing, and also expelling air in short puffs to avoid screeching.

Best way to avoid a tear is avoid an epidural, squat for second stage and have a controlled delivery.

[bikerunski]

DS is 4 weeks old. I was always very active and saw labour as an endurance event and trained as if I was preparing for a half marathon or long bike ride.

I walked miles and miles in the hilly countryside around me (stamina).

I swam a mile at least once a week (general cardio fitness).

I went to pg pilates and pg aquafit classes once a week (core strength).

(Also off piste skiing, mountaineering, huge mountain bike ride in snow and cross country running before I realised I was\pg).

Downside - stomach muscles so strong several midwives missed footling breech, so had an emergency c section at about 4 seconds notice.

Upside - have recovered from c section quickly. was walking around ward the same day.

Before the em c section, I had 7 hours of labour, which I coped with much easier than I thought I would, which I put down to all the exercise. Also, have put ob v little weight.

[Romney]

Lots of sleep!

Apparently the benefit of half of all training is in the recovery from the exercise.

[mckenzie]

I did my own very unscientific research (make that very very) into this and discovered the following...

If you are fit and have a tight muscular toned body (think Paula Radcliffe, Kelly Holmes, a top swimmer) then your labour/delivery will be harder but your recovery will be quicker.

If you are overweight and not toned, your labour will be easier but your recovery will be harder.

These results are very general and no, I cannot prove them .
This research was carried out very crudely using nothing more than my friends, family, gym members, clients and articles in the press (ie Paula's birth story).

[gabygirl]

Swimming is good I think, and antenatal yoga.

[zippitippitoes]

i did loads of squats all thru pregnancy

not sure if you should but it worked or at least didnt do any harm

[orangehead]

Pilates and swimming good. Others exercises I was told to do in preg. Pelvic floor, cat stretch, stand against wall with small ball in small of your back and do squats so you use the ball to glide you up and down, hip rotations, gently pull in the lower part of your tummy and hold

[BigTeuchLittleTeuch]

I'd second (third?) the suggestion of ante-natal yoga.

I reckon that half the battle is knowing when - and how - to relax as opposed to having the strength or flexibility.

[lauraloola]

I read somewhere that you use the same energy as you do if you ran a marathon! I was v.unfit during pregnancy and ate loads. Still managed labour - Often wonder if I could now run a marathon with no training

[dinny]

50 pelvic floor exercises every day - have done with my prev two pregnancies and never torn even a tiny bit

[gemmiegoatlegs]

i would stop eating fibre altogether so i could practice straining

[AnnasBananas]

Walk walk walk, that's my advice. Want to have an uncomplicated and fast labour?? Get a bloody big do who needs two long walks a day...worked in my case!!

I tore in my first labour with epidural but was DETERMINED not to for #2. Listened to MW did everything I was told, completely controlled second stage, slow and steady. Unfortunately I did still tear along the scar line from #1, but I do feel that was bad luck because I was 100% focused on doing the right thing. I can't recommend this enough.

[poisondwarf]

Agree with Umlellala on the arms. My overall general level of fitness wasn't great last time but I didn't feel like it made a difference for most of my body. After gripping the sides of the bed though I completely lost strength in both arms, to the point that I wasn't able to pick the baby up during his first night.

Actually if you're reading this Umlellala - just wanted to ask if you are still up for meeting up tomorrow (thread here). Sorry for hijack.

[sherby]

lol wmmc

so true

[FeelingLucky]

I was thankful for doing yoga which strengthened my thighs

[Umlellala]

try and strengthen arms I think.
For when you are gripping the bed very very hard - and for getting used to carrying a baby 24/7 afterwards...

[DisasterArea]

by using bigger and bigger courgettes to stretch a certain area until you can comfortably fit a marrow up there. in public. while screaming at the top of your lungs.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Umm taking a shit in public?

[Notyummy]

Well, I was pretty fit for my labour (ran up to 6 months pregnant/cross trainer 3/4 times a week until 2 days before delivery/weights and pilates plus aqua aerobics).

Did it make a difference....probably not I hate to say. I was induced. Forced to stay on a bed (got to kneel at one point whoopee..)

I have read there is research showing that very athletic women sometimes struggle more because their tight core abs work against the process if they don't relax enough. Paula Radcliffe had a fecking hard time apparently.

Fitness did help me with recovery I think, and with getting back into shape quickly, so I don't regret it all.

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

IME flexibility and relaxtion skills are more important than a good/high fitness level. Check out the ante-natal yoga classes near you, it covers both of my suggestions.

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

yes - I think the no tearing thing was more to do with pushing slowly rather than any previous half-hearted fanjo fiddling. I was in a supported squat too...

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

I did yoga last time, and regular swimming, was fairly fit (although a little overweight). I did perineal massage a bit, not religiously, and got away with a bit of a graze, no stitches.

This time, I have a toddler to look after, so I weigh less and am fairly fit from all the walking/heavy lifting (he's a chunky lad ) but haven't done any formal exercise since he was born, and can't find a pg yoga class that either has spaces or is on at a convenient time for women who already have children.

Got 3 months to go, and time will tell whether this will make any diff at al...