Exercise Won't Decrease Your Chances of Cesarean

by Kim Neyer | More from this Blogger

Go ahead and exercise during your pregnancy, but don't expect it to increase your chances of having your "dream birth." That is one conclusion drawn from a recent research study by Dr. Ruben Barakat and his colleagues, at Universidad Politecnica de Madrid in Spain. The study followed 142 women for the second and third trimesters. Half of them followed a moderate exercise plan and the other half exercised very little or not at all. While the study confirmed the health benefits commonly associated with exercise during pregnancy, it did not confirm the previously held assumption that women who exercise are more likely to have a vaginal delivery. In fact the cesarean rates between the two groups were identical. Exercising women had fifty-one vaginal deliveries compared to fifty and ten instrument deliveries compared to nine. In both groups, eleven women had cesareans. Both groups had similar rates for epidural usage. Their labors were also similar in duration.

The study did not indicate the affects of prenatal fitness on postpartum healing and recovery or weight loss. I am guessing that the benefits of exercise during pregnancy are more long term. From personal experience, I know it's hard to get back into an exercise program after a nine-month break. Seeing as the women in the study who exercised were not found to suffer any adverse effects, it proves that exercise is perfectly safe during pregnancy. (Women in the study did resistance type exercises to strengthen and tone mainly their arms, legs, and pelvis.) In addition to prenatal fitness classes, there are many prenatal fitness DVDs out there to choose from. Check with your doctor if you are not sure whether a particular exercise program is appropriate for your pregnancy. Usually, most exercises are fair game as long as you do not strain yourself too much or jump up and down.

Learn more about Kim Neyer

Kim is a freelance writer, photographer and stay at home mom to her one-year-old son, Micah. She has been married to her husband, Eric, since 2006.

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