Does exercise really induce labor?

tigerlove85 · April 2012

My SIL said she went for a 2 mile walk, climbed her stairs (2 steps at a time) and her water broke that evening. Is there truth to this or any other tricks? TIA!

catmtl · April 2012

When my sister was pregnant with my niece, she said she had gone on a full day of Xmas shopping then had her water break when she got home that evening.

easjer05 · April 2012

My sister spent 5 weeks exercising (from 37 to 42 weeks) - long walks and light jogs through hilly areas, hikes through the woods, yoga, swimming - you name it. At least an hour a day in the interests of starting labor.

Her induction for post-dates lasted 4 days and ended in emergency c-section after no progress from 3 hours of pushing and showing signs of a fever.

So, in my anecdotal experience, no. There is very little you can do - sex, spicy foods, exercise, etc. - to start labor if your body/baby are not ready to start labor. Is it possible that exertion or something else could help a little if your body is near that point anyway? Maybe. But the basic biological function needs to be there too.

hewinked · April 2012

I think babies come when they're gonna come and anything done to push labor along is just coincidence. I'm so sore from just doing the dishes, so I'm sure not going to engage in extra exertion for a maybe.

kdjudd · April 2012

In some ways exercise such as walking can help, but only if your cervix is ready. Basically the movement along with gravity can help the baby drop a bit, but unless you are already dilated it won't do much good!

SallySunrise · April 2012

kdjudd:
In some ways exercise such as walking can help, but only if your cervix is ready. Basically the movement along with gravity can help the baby drop a bit, but unless you are already dilated it won't do much good!

This.

IF your body and baby are both ready, then yes, it can help. With DS I went on long walks twice a day starting at 37w, and started having sex every night at 38w. He was born at 38w6d, but he was 9lb7oz, so whether I did those things or not, he was definitely done cooking!

Sawyerplus1 · April 2012

kdjudd:
In some ways exercise such as walking can help, but only if your cervix is ready. Basically the movement along with gravity can help the baby drop a bit, but unless you are already dilated it won't do much good!

This. It wont induce labor but it can be good for getting baby into a good and low position and perhaps put pressure on your cervix. But as with anything, nothing will "work" if your body and LO aren't ready.

JG362009 · April 2012

Not in the slightest for me. I ran almost every single day of my pregnancy and was still running about 4 miles a day past 41 weeks. I was induced at 41w3d, it failed, and I had a c-section

04TerpBride · April 2012

Hasn't worked with any of mine. Always exercise up until the end, on top of taking care of my house and 3 little boys (chasing them around outside, diving for balls they toss down the hill, you name it) and I always end up a week overdue. This is on top of a pregnancy worth of working in a job on my feet and lifting heavy patients.

garnet10 · April 2012

I work retail and my daughter came at 38 weeks after a 3 mile walk. Spontaneous water breaking, too.

JuneBugBaby2012 · April 2012

In our prenatal swim class they are always reminding us to keep working out, even up to/over your due date (of course without complications) because it can help cut your labor by a few hours. I don't know if it will kick off a labor, but it's supposed to help shorten it.

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