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Does exercise really help with L&D?

stgn01stgn01 member
in 2nd Trimester
So I've heard this from a lot of people, that if you exercise it helps you be more comfortable during labor and delivery.  I'm trying to exercise as much as I can but wondering if it's really true.  I get the whole "it helps with your endurance b/c giving birth is like running a marathon" concept.  I wonder if it actually helps lower pain too?  Maybe that's just wishful thinking.  Any thoughts?  Did/Is exercise helping you?


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Re: Does exercise really help with L&D?

  • Stephanie2167Stephanie2167 member
    I just started back at the gym on Monday so I'm wondering as well how it will help me (I'm trying for 4 days a week). I know it also supposed to help you lose the baby weight after. We'll see.


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  • meringue57meringue57 member
    It's not so much that it helps lower the pain level, it's that the recovery is a lot easier/faster if you're in shape.  Though I do know women who've run marathons and then had 36 hour births with no meds...so maybe the endurance part comes into play?  My doc also said, the more in shape you are, the less likely you'll experience weird complications.
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  • AmandaJane1AmandaJane1
    My friend is an L & D nurse, and she says that the women she has encountered who said they exercised (especially yoga) have had easier, more comfortable births. She was telling me the other day that one woman told her she did prenatal yoga religiously, and was going to squat to give birth and no joke, baby's head was out in 3 pushes!  Now I KNOW that every woman is different and this may not be the norm across the board but its enough to convince me- I do 1.5 hours of yoga every night and I walk everywhere and take the stairs a lot. It certainly can't hurt if you don't over do it and your doc says its okay
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  • stgn01stgn01 member
    That makes me want to look into prenatal yoga!  I've been doing just a regular prenatal workout DVD when I can and trying to walk the mall when it's snowing.  But 1.5 hrs of yoga a night?  Where do you get that kind of time?


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  • AlilivAliliv member

    I can only speak from my own experience, but I do think that it helps.   Not lower the pain, but with breathing through the pain (especially if you do yoga and/or pilates).    Helps with recovery and overall health.   It certainly doesn't hurt to exercise!

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  • DorisLevineDorisLevine
    I hope so!!  I'm a marathon runner/former yoga instructor and am keeping my fingers crossed for a relatively smooth delivery!!
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  • cutie420311cutie420311
    I'm a distance runner, and I hit the gym 4 days a week and do an hour of yoga a day, so hopefully it will help. It can't hurt!
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  • Dutchlish918Dutchlish918

    This is why I'm working out with this pregnancy!

    I had a relatively easy labor with DS (didn't work out ONCE) but he ended up being delivered by c-section after 4 hours of pushing. 

    I am working out (lots of yoga!) because my MW said that she sees a difference in women who have done yoga during their pregnancy versus women who haven't.

    If nothing else, exercise is good for you and the baby (if you don't overdo it) and it will help you get back to your pre baby weight quicker.  

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  • MorissaWMorissaW

    WIth my first pregnancy I did nothing. With my 2nd I walked 2-3 days a week for 30 minutes. Delivery and recovery were MUCH better with #2.

    Needless to say I am walking this pregnancy. I usually walk 3-4 days a week for 30 minutes. I am hoping for a super easy L&D.

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  • MrsEmmMrsEmm
    I walked a lot during both of my prev pregnancies and ended up with 2 quick & 'easy' deliveries. It may have been genetics or may have been the walking - as far as Im concerned it was both. The baby was engaged & ready to go before labor even started. I think it helps a LOT.
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  • *speedracer**speedracer* member
    i felt like prenatal yoga really helped me.  it felt good to go once a week and i used some of the poses to stretch out near the end and when i was in labor.
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