Best Excersize to do pre-labour, to help WITH labour?

[Rairai]

Hi Everyone, Im currently in the WTT catagory, but as a chronic planner, Ive come here to ask... Did anyone do any particular excersize (sorry if spelt wrong) to help them during labour? Ive heard that swimming and yoga is very good... but I know its going to be the workout of my life, so any head starts would be greatly appreciated! Hoping to try in June/July xxx

 

[sg0720]

i did alot of walking...and when i got close to labor i bounced on a ball

 

[meow951]

I bounced on my birthing ball in the weeks leading up to labour to help get him in the right position.

When i was in labour i couldn't sit or lie down so spent the whole 5 hours walking in a circle. The only time i sat down was in the 10 minute journey to the birthing centre and literally as my waters broke and i started to push. I think that really helped!

I think the best exercise is swimming because it's low impact and your body is totally supported by the water.

 

[NewAtThis13]

In early pregnancy i did cycling, swimming, and walking. Later on just walking and bouncing on my birthing ball (still doing both now!!) Also I found that stair climbing and squats seem to produce some type of effects on my body.. I lost my plug last night after a large amount of all of later pregnancy exercises

 

[GingerNut]

My gran was a frequent swimmer and gave birth to my dad, who was 14lbs, without any trouble. I'd say swimming is probably good : )

 

[Kashmir]

I'd say any exercise that will increase your endurance- for me labor was a total body work out and looking back I wish I had been in better shape. It may have kept me from needing a vacuum assisted delivery, but who knows?
While pregnant I walked a lot but was put on bed rest at 29 weeks- if I had been in better cardiovascular shape before getting pregnant, those weeks of bed rest may not have affected me as much. But every labor is different and you may sail right thru it without doing anything special!

 

[babybefore30]

Lots of walking and bouncing on the birthing ball. I was the same as the previous poster I could not lie down in labour so just walked up and down my spare room and rolled around on my birthing ball.

 

[george83]

up until 7 months i kept going with my normal gym work out and then when i gave that up i kept walking everywhere, literally everyday i walked at least 1 mile including the day before i had my baby. i think it helped a lot as it was my first labour and only lasted 3 hours

 

[Hels_Bells]

We are taking classes via the Bradley method, and they have us do pelvic rocks, squats, butterflies, kegels, and relaxation exercises. You don't start that until the third trimester though. These train all the muscles (and the mind!) involved in labor.

 

[Rairai]

thanks! im not ttc til july but i will keep a note of it for when i need it!! (chronic planner) x