Question for cmoroney/cheryl

[briee]

Hi Cheryl, I was reading through your accounts of your labors and births. Very interesting and I have a question for you. Since, in my past labor length did not mean it was easier, I was wondering how you view the effects of working out in general with your deliveries in which you were working out. i.e. they may have been longer or shorter, but do you feel they were easier because you were in shape, or were they just as tough? Nothing can replace experience and I believe you are experienced in this area - yes? And yes I realize everyones different. My first four births were not fun, labor was unbearable (I never had drugs), but my last one was just awesome, I was in control the whole delivery and it was just so easy, I'd like to believe it was the intense exercise, but was wondering if this was the case for you? I realize position of baby, etc. all plays it's part, but generally speaking were they any easier?

Briee

 

[cmoroney]

Briee,

The thing with my deliveries is five out of the ten the babies were face up, which meant that I had back labor - which is totally different than when the baby is face down.

I can tell you a few things that might help - I do know with no uncertainty that working out did help me to endure the pain and the deliveries, even the ones that I had to push for over an hour on.

My easiest labors and deliveries were for #4, #8, #10, wich were all face down babies. I was more in control. With my last one I thought I was being a little babyish - but the intern present said she had seen women with epidurals who were totally losing it - she said I did an awesome job.

Labor is hard work - so I think as Cathe does endurance tapes - working out while you are pregnant is like that. If you go into labor out of shape, your endurance would be low and it seems you could not do as well.

Working out helped me get back in shape and to be able to take care of all the others I had at home too. Does this make sense?

Since this will be your 5th birth, I think you will do great - just knowing waht to expect helps. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

Keep working out as long as you can - there was one thing I learned while pregnant - which was there were certain things I couldn't control such as birth positions, etc. so I didn't worry about it. But I could make sure I was in good shape to endure it all.

The funny thing is all my odd number babies were face up (back labor) and all my even babies were face down. So, I don't know if you ever had back labor before, it is the baby pushing on the spinal cord. In normal labor you have time between contractions which with back labor it is constant pain in the back.

I never had pain medication with my deliveries either. I wanted one with my last - I made my mind up before I even delivered since I heard how wonderful it was - I actually wanted it for the pushing out part - which is the part I think hurts the worse. But I never ended up getting one, by the time I asked I went too fast. I went from 4 to 10 in about 15 minutes. Oh well, everything came out fine.

Good Luck, and I will keep up on your pregnancy on this forum.

Cheryl

 

[briee]

Cheryl, thanks so much for your information. I had terrible back labor with my 2nd birth, TERRIBLE and yes there was no let up. One contraction just seemed to flow into the next and I had dh push so hard on my back that after the birth, I was bruised for weeks on my lower back and yes she was face up. Actually this is baby #6 that I'm pregnant with. I worked out intensely with baby #5 and it was such an easy deliver, I believe I could have done it myself, which I practically did (I delivered at home). And I'm sure that it was much easier to go through as I was much tougher from the workouts. I just wanted to confirm this as you have had several more workout/births (shall we call them) than I have. When I did LL for the first time, my comment to dh was, boy that's quite a bit like childbirth - too funny!!!

I would love to have another #5 experience, but know this may not be the case, but at least I'll be better prepared for whatever occurs if I'm physically fit. Thanks again,

Briee