does exercising regularly through pregnancy make labour much more easier?

Answer 1

They say that it does help with labor. Also helps you loose weight / tone back up quickly after you have had the baby.

Answer 2

I see a lot of people here saying yes but it wasn't true for me. I've basically sat on my behind through both pregnancies. The first labor was about 11 hours. Got the epidural at 3 cm, pushed twice and the baby was out in less than a minute. Actually she slid out because the nurse told me to stop pushing and I told her I wasn't.

Second pregnancy the labor lasted 5 hours and I really didn't believe I was even IN labor but went to the hospital just to be safe (baby was 17 days early). When I got in the room I was 4cm. 20 minutes later I was dialated to 10cm. No time for an epi and I still don't know what doctor delivered the baby. 3 short pushes and he was out.

Now I guess maybe exercise would help a person in the long run during delivery and recovery, but I am no proof to that theory. I am and always have been horribly out of shape. But I was up and walking around 3 or 4 hours after delivering the first (as soon as the epi wore off) and immediately after the second one.

Answer 3

I don't know about exercise necessarily. But according to my doctor and other people I have talked to staying active during pregnancy does make for an easier pregnancy and easier delivery. I guess I will find out come January if it is true or not. So far everything is going well. Good luck !

Answer 4

I didn't exercise for my first child, did for my 2nd. My first went way better, but that was the size of the child and the fact my 2nd was a premmie and couldn't help with her own delivery.

Your pregnancy may or may not go well with exercise, but will make you a much stronger person if you do and makes losing baby-weight easier after birth.

Answer 5

Yes, it really will. If exercise is something new for you, then I would just walk. Do not start something new and vigorous. However, if you have been exercising before your pregnancy, you will be okay to do whatever you were doing before. It will keep your weight down which will also make things easier during your entire prenancy and after.

Answer 6

i heard it does from quite a few people because you won't be so "out of shape". you will be able to handle more. it's like when you twist your ankle or something. it's never good for you to not walk on it at all. if you don't if will be stiff. you have to walk on it to work it out. i guess it's kind of the same with pregnancy. plus i heard towards the end of pregnancy walking will make you go into labor faster. i don't know if that's true or not. i don't know about you, but i'll try anything being this miserable!

Answer 7

They say it does. I wouldn't start working out when you are pregnant if you normally don't. I always stayed active during all of my pregnancies. I worked 50 hours a week, walked by children around the neighborhood daily, grocery shopped, cleaned the house, you name it. I still was in labor for 20+ hours with 4 out of 5 of my children. (The other one was a c-section)

Answer 8

I have always heard that. I stayed active and excercised with both my pregnancies. I wouldnt say that my labours were pleasant but both went well. I dont know if I was lucky but both lasted about 4 hours each,

Answer 9

if u were quite active before the preg, then continue. dont work out harder than u did before. remember ur centre of gravity (and hence, balance) also changes as the pregnancy goes on, joints are looser. monitor ur heart rate, be aware of ur energy levels. also check with ur doc!

if ur were sedentary before rather stick to walking or join a yoga r pilates class for pregnant women.

it's better that u exercise than not in pregnancy, unless the doc orders bedrest

Answer 10

I have heard that it does, but truly it is going to come down to your body, the size of your baby, the shape of your pelvis, among other factors. Exercising keeps you fit and helps keep off excess weight, so with your dr's blessing it is a great idea. Good luck!