Natural birth after not being active during pregnancy

princessthecat22

I was a full time online student for most of my pregnancy. I will be 8 months next week. Has anyone had a successful natural birth after not being very active during their pregnancy. 

KateLouise

I guess being "inactive" is relative. I'm a teacher so I'm on my feet a lot, but not doing anything particularly strenuous.

Beyond that I basically do no exercise when pregnant, and put on a boatload of weight. Obviously with DD2 I was also running around after a toddler.

I've had two easy natural births.

I think a lot of the stamina comes down to luck in terms of the length of your labour exhausting you. But even then I think mental toughness is as, if not more, important than physical fitness.

aylafsu88

I agree with PP that the term "inactive" is relative. I did not work out per say during pregnancy. I did lots of walking due to my job but no pre-natal yoga or regular exercise. I did some reading in my free time and took the Bradley class. Overall I had a great natural birth. Like PP said I think mental toughness is more important than physical strength when it comes to labor. Labor is just as emotional as it is physical and our bodies were made to give birth. If you can overcome the emotional side and are prepared for it that is most of the battle.

boogerbearoriginal

I never "exercised" meaning going ot the gym or anything. Although I did take the dog for a walk in the evenings, but I have a desk job while I get up on occasion, I'm pretty sedentary if I'm being honest.  Now I am chasing after a crazy toddler, so it's less restful but I also don't take the dog for walks regularly so it's probably balanced out lol.

Obviously don't know what'll happen with #2, but my first birth was quick/easy/med-free. I think it was luck as much as anything else.

insertclevername

I was put on pelvic rest for two months at my 20 week appointment when pregnant with DS1.  I was so nervous that I stopped exercising as well and I had a sedentary job.  By the time I was taken off pelvic rest I felt gigantic and exhausted and did not resume exercising.  The lack of exercise and the "eating for two" mentality led to 60lbs of weight gain.    I was still able to have a med and intervention free labor and delivery.

sschwege

I'm a pretty healthy eater, but have never been good in the exercise department and being pregnant didn't change any of that.  I still had two med-free births without any 'real' exercise to speak of.  I do go for a walk every day, but it's pretty much a stroll and always involves a stop at Starbucks so I don't think that counts. 

kat45

I pretty much stopped exercising and ate loads of bread and pasta.  I had a successful med-free birth, and I was only in active labor for 4 hours.

HannahsHope

I am a plus-size mom. My first pregnancy, I did almost daily prenatal yoga from 23wks onward. And ended up with an epi and super long labor (31hrs). My second labor, I didn't do my yoga and had a harder pregnancy in general. However, that labor was much better and med-free. 

rooftop

I was super sick throughout my pregnancy, severe morning sickness until 36 weeks, so I stayed in bed 18+ hrs a day. Had a very tiring labor (75 1/2 hrs) due to baby's position. But in the end I did it. If you put your mind to it, a med free birth is very possible. GL

DebateThis

I was on activity restriction after IVF through 12 weeks,  bedrest from 18-21 weeks, severe activity restriction from 21-34 weeks, and back on bedrest from 35w to 37 weeks and I delivered med free. My pregnancy and labor were bizarre, but I basically was a couch potato for 10 months and had no issues physically laboring. The mental hurdles were much harder.

lizztheo

I just wanted to chime in and say I had a natural birth with my son and I was pretty inactive before & during my pregnancy. I was under doctor's orders not to exercise from 12 weeks to 28 weeks because I had placenta previa. Before and after that, the most exercise I would get was walking the dog once a day. It wasn't easy to do a natural birth but it was possible

shiway

You can do anything! Trust your body! It is definitely easier if you have been active and are "trained". But also good diet and knowledge play an equally important role! Use the time you have left to go for easy walks, start doing squats when you pick things up off the floor. Do cat cow exercises. The Bradley method had some great ways to help. Even in the last month it's not too late!

shiway

Oh and see a good prenatal chiropractor

L0L0

I'm a lawyer and I sit at a desk all day, and I had no specific exercise regime, though I tried to walk the dogs regularly. I took no classes but I read a lot. I credit my doula with my successful natural birth. It was 11 hours, and afterward I said I felt like I ran 10 marathons. Of course I've never actually run even one. I don't think you need to be a fitness queen to do a natural birth or any kind of birth. The baby has to come out. You can do it!