How to have a baby – a training guide for every kind of birth plan
If you were getting ready to run a marathon you would have a training plan. Getting ready to have a baby is no different. You need a training plan!
How long is labor? The average labor is 8 – 18 hours, but it’s really not about quantity it’s about quality so let’s move on.
How long does it take to train for labor? The ideal training program is 9 – 12 months long. Don’t discourage though! Even if you only have a few weeks (or even days) left to train you can still significantly impact your labor by starting training now.
Exercise during pregnancy is about training for labor; an event that will require endurance, strength, patience, grit, flexibility, softness, and stamina. Just like any physical endeavor the better trained you are the more you will enjoy the experience. The more physically and mentally prepared you are the more likely you are to be happy with your labor and to recover with greater efficiency.
Why do I need a labor training plan? The body that you bring to pregnancy is the body that you bring to labor, make sure it’s ready!
That incredible body of yours that is growing a human life has a history to it. If you stop for a moment and think about it your body has been through a lot. Perhaps you are or have been an athlete. You’ve had injuries from your sport, maybe they were big or maybe they were small. Perhaps you’ve been in a car accident. Perhaps you’ve had your appendix removed, had an abdominal surgery, or a cesarean section. Maybe you have endometriosis, gastrointestinal (GI) distress, or painful menstrual cycles. Perhaps this isn’t your first pregnancy.
You have had an awesome life and your body is a road map of where you have been and what you have done. This map is your story and it proves that the human body is capable of incredible adaptation and perseverance. However, when it comes time to have a baby all of this adaptation can get in the way of having the child birth experience that you want. That’s where the training comes in!
How do I know what type of training plan to follow? The key component to any labor training plan is that it is a training plan for labor. A labor training plan should include education about what is happening to your body during labor and is focused on movements and exercises that support a laboring body.
This is an important distinction. There are many types of fitness programs for pregnant women that are more focused on keeping you in shape and assisting you to not gain too much weight. These programs can be good, but it’s important to understand the goals of the fitness program. If you do choose one of these training plans make sure you understand how to protect your loosening joints (thank you hormones) and avoid any exercises that create doming of your abdominal muscles (diastasis, no thank you).
What type of professional is best suited to provide me with a training plan for labor? Physical therapists who have specific training in pregnancy and pelvic health are your best choice. Some chiropractors also have training in this realm.
Which type of program is best for first time pregnancies? Any program that is training you for labor is perfect for first time pregnancies. With a first-time pregnancy the educational component of the program is even more critical so make sure this is a part of your training program.
I’ve already had one baby; do I still need to train for my labor? Yes! Yes! Yes! Your body has changed as a result of previous pregnancies and deliveries. Remember that road map we discussed? Labor may be smoother the second (or third time) around as your body has done this before, but that still doesn’t mean that you don’t need to train.
What are the components of a good labor training plan?
A good labor training plan will address the following components;
1. The pelvic floor - the pelvic floor is the stop light for birth. The tone in the pelvic floor both cues the baby to rotate and the pelvic outlet (the exit) to open. Too much tone can prevent the baby from turning all the way and can limit how much the pelvis can open to allow the baby to exit. The inability of the pelvic floor to relax can contribute to a more challenging and longer labor experience.
2. The deep core – core work during pregnancy is not about strength, it’s about maintaining tone and neuromuscular control of your deep core (diaphragm, pelvic floor, transverse abdominis and multifidi). This allows you to carry your baby more comfortably (think less back pain) and is a powerhouse for helping push/breathe that baby out!
3. The mobility of the hips and pelvis - there is this hormone called relaxin that loosens up all your ligaments for birth. Unfortunately, relaxin isn’t magic and a joint with limited mobility won’t yield to it’s wonders. Your training program needs to include movements you can do to help improve the mobility of your hips and pelvis.
4. Posture – the way your sit and stand impacts the position of your baby in your growing belly. This is especially important during the last month of pregnancy when we want the baby positioned in a good birthing position with their back facing out. When we sit in a slouched position gravity pulls the baby towards your back and can cause them to rotate.
5. Physical Therapy - A women’s health physical therapist who has been trained in prenatal care can further facilitate your pregnancy and L&D journey. Working with a PT will help you better understand your body and can ensure that your pelvis has the mobility necessary to birth your baby!
Are there ways I can start training for labor right now? Yes!
Here are a few tips to get you started. We would love to partner with you on this journey and make an individualized plan thats just right for you! Let us help you have the birth you want.
Make postural changes now … sit on your pelvic floor and avoid slouching
Coordinated diaphragm and pelvic floor movement
- Sit in a comfortable position (kneeling, on a blanket/yoga block)
- Inhale – bring your breath into the sides and back of your rib cage. Relax your abdomen, relax your pelvic floor (sit bones widen)
- Exhale – draw your pelvic floor up and in, abs pull gently in
- 10 breaths making sure to fully relax with each inhale and engage with each exhale
Keep your deep core stabilizers working
Deep Core Strengthening - Hands and Knees
- Hands directly under shoulders, knees directly under hips
- Round and arch your back a few times to find a neutral spine.
- On an exhale – draw your pelvic floor up and in and draw your belly button towards your spine lifting your baby closer to your body
- Inhale and fully relax your belly letting the weight of your baby move away from you
- 10 times.
Improve the mobility of your hips and pelvis – move every day
Work with a physical therapist that specializes in the treatment of pregnant women (hint: that's us!)