November 2016 Moms

BTDT: Squats, Kegels, and Labor! Oh my!

I've been reading conflicting information on the interwebs about doing Kegels and squats during pregnancy to strengthen the pelvic floor to help make labor "easier." 

So for those of you that have been there, done that, did they help? If so, which did you do? What was your experience if you did take this advice? 

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Re: BTDT: Squats, Kegels, and Labor! Oh my!

  • whaatwhaat member
    I've never birthed a child but I also hear that stretching is just as important. Tightness does not equal strength, etc. I'm curious to hear people's experiences.
  • MollySmMollySm member
    I am no help.  I do a kegel when someone says (or writes) the word, but otherwise I never remember.  I do make sure to walk or exercise as much as possible since they say that can help.  No idea if it helps though, as I have nothing to compare it to. 
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  • leighryleighry member
    I never focused on anything specifically. I walk a lot and other than the various exercise I get with chasing the other kids around and playing with them outside I didn't fuss too much with it. My first I pushed out in 30 minutes. My 2nd was a section d/t fetal tachycardia  (which turned out to be nothing). My 3rd was a vbac.. and I only pushed 3 times for her and out she came. I was lucky in that respect. Hopefully 4 is another successful vbac.
  • I didn't read that whole reply, but I agree with what I saw. I suffer from an overly tight pelvic floor which I was diagnosed with after my second baby when I went to physical therapy because I was leaking pee. It turns out that doing kegels would have been a terrible idea for me. My pelvic floor was so tight I could not bend my leg to the side; I could not fully relax my pelvic floor to empty my bladder and I had to push for two hours with each kid.  So, like PP said, learning to relax your muscles is just as important.

    Also every women should seek out physical therapy after birth. Mine was in my OBs office and I learned so much about my body, but more importantly I don't have to wear a panty liner anymore for urine leaks. 

    my therapist had me do an exercise where I tighten three levels and then release three levels. It's kind of hard to explain. But keeping control while relaxing the muscles is much harder than tightening. She also showed me stretches. 
    My TTC History:
    2009: missed miscarriage #1 at 9 weeks (trisomy 16)
    2010: Infertility
    2011: Diagnosis and treatment (low sperm count, anastrozole for DH, clomid for me + IUI)
    2012: Baby #1
    2014: Baby #2
    October 2015: missed miscarriage #2 at 11 weeks (trisomy 22)
    March 2016 BFP#5, due November 2016.

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  • Honestly.... I never did any of it when I was pregnant with DD. I had a med free vaginal birth, no tearing or episiotomy... and I never experienced any issues after birth... 

    MMC 01/26/12 

    MC 12/25/12, D&C 01/05/13

    BFP 03/05/13, EDD 11/12/13. HB 175 @ 9w2d. Its a Girl!

    <3Madeline Lorraine H. <3 Born 11/12/13 @9:10pm, 7lb6oz

    DX with EA/TEF Type C & Tracheomalaysia
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    <3 Clint Kiszonas H. <3 Born 11/21/16 @10:38pm, 9lb11oz

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  • I don't know about preparing for labor, but do your kegels. For reals. I didn't and now I pee when I cough/sneeze/jump/laugh. Come to think of it, I need to be kegel-ing now. 

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  • I meant to do kegels last time...but didn't I'm also meaning to do them this time....but haven't.

    I pushed out my DD in 14 minutes without any "prep work". I do occasionally sneeze pee though, especially if I'm walking. It was better before I got pregnant again. #YOLO
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  • I started a habit last pregnancy just out of fun at first but it definitely helped and I just started it back up this pregnancy...every time I go to the bathroom at work I do 20 squats in the stall afterwards, soooo with peeing all day long that usually equals 120-140 squats a day :) 

    I pushed for 3 hours with my son and I think having that strength definitely helped 
  • I don't know about preparing for labor, but do your kegels. For reals. I didn't and now I pee when I cough/sneeze/jump/laugh. Come to think of it, I need to be kegel-ing now. 
    You should see a pelvic floor physical therapist. They can solve your problem for real. And kegels might not be what you need. ...
    My TTC History:
    2009: missed miscarriage #1 at 9 weeks (trisomy 16)
    2010: Infertility
    2011: Diagnosis and treatment (low sperm count, anastrozole for DH, clomid for me + IUI)
    2012: Baby #1
    2014: Baby #2
    October 2015: missed miscarriage #2 at 11 weeks (trisomy 22)
    March 2016 BFP#5, due November 2016.

    My Charts since 2009

  • @createillumination Thank you for posting that! Super helpful information!  :)
    **TW**
    Me: 35 | H: 40
    Married Sept. 2013
    DS1: Nov 11, 2016 <3
    MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d)
    CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d)
    BFP!  8/24/19
    DS2: May 10, 2020 <3


  • I do 150 a squats a day just to keep my bottom from getting huge and dimply. I'm happy to hear it's actually doing more than that. Thanks for the info @createillumination !!!
  • I don't know about preparing for labor, but do your kegels. For reals. I didn't and now I pee when I cough/sneeze/jump/laugh. Come to think of it, I need to be kegel-ing now. 
    You should see a pelvic floor physical therapist. They can solve your problem for real. And kegels might not be what you need. ...
    I was actually going to go to one when I got pregnant this time. I was planning to see one shortly after delivering this babe.

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  • hellopartyof5hellopartyof5 member
    edited May 2016
    Sometimes you're just lucky. I did have a second degree tear, but pushing wasn't hard and I have never peed when I sneezed or anything. But I wouldn't exactly bet on that. 
    DS  12-1-2014
    DD 10-29-2016
    #3 due 10-13-2018
  • RoxellRoxell member
    I never once did a kegel with my DD and she was 2 pushes...
  • @createillumination thanks so much for all of that information! Sounds like squats are my choice. :)

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  • I didn't read that whole reply, but I agree with what I saw. I suffer from an overly tight pelvic floor which I was diagnosed with after my second baby when I went to physical therapy because I was leaking pee. It turns out that doing kegels would have been a terrible idea for me. My pelvic floor was so tight I could not bend my leg to the side; I could not fully relax my pelvic floor to empty my bladder and I had to push for two hours with each kid.  So, like PP said, learning to relax your muscles is just as important.

    Also every women should seek out physical therapy after birth. Mine was in my OBs office and I learned so much about my body, but more importantly I don't have to wear a panty liner anymore for urine leaks. 

    my therapist had me do an exercise where I tighten three levels and then release three levels. It's kind of hard to explain. But keeping control while relaxing the muscles is much harder than tightening. She also showed me stretches. 
    Yes. Yes. Yes. Like @TheBorg7of9 said, this is invaluable. I had a wonderful, and necessary, experience and highly recommend this for all women post birth regardless of whether you are experiencing issues. @createillumination thanks for such a great response!
  • mz628mz628 member
    Didn't do the kegels but did squats. I think working out during pregnancy helps your stamina during labor, but not the actual delivery. I pushed my son out in 15 min. 
  • mz628mz628 member
    Plusalso, I never had urine leaks until now being pregnant with my second and it's only when I do a huge sneeze or do double unders on the jump rope.
  • I was a lazy pregnant woman the first time around. I was terrified to do "too much" so I did very little. I pushed 4 times in about 20 minutes and had first degree tearing. This time around I'm active and I'm doing squats regularly. I'm hoping if anything a stronger body will speed up labor. DS was 32 hours until I started pushing.
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