No Result
View All Result
BellyBelly
  • Home
  • Getting Pregnant
  • Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Articles
    • Pregnancy Week By Week
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Pregnancy Calculator
  • Birth
  • New Mothers
  • Baby
    • Baby Articles
    • Baby Week By Week
    • Baby Sleep Articles
    • Your Baby’s Starsign
  • Breastfeeding
  • Toddler
  • Child
  • Men
  • Parenting
  • Health & Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Recipes & Cooking
    • Relationships
    • Family Travel
    • Men
  • Home
  • Getting Pregnant
  • Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Articles
    • Pregnancy Week By Week
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Pregnancy Calculator
  • Birth
  • New Mothers
  • Baby
    • Baby Articles
    • Baby Week By Week
    • Baby Sleep Articles
    • Your Baby’s Starsign
  • Breastfeeding
  • Toddler
  • Child
  • Men
  • Parenting
  • Health & Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Recipes & Cooking
    • Relationships
    • Family Travel
    • Men
No Result
View All Result
BellyBelly
No Result
View All Result
Home Pregnancy

Exercise During Pregnancy Could Shorten Your Labour

by Fiona Peacock
Last updated April 16, 2018
Reading Time: 2 min
Exercising During Pregnancy Could Shorten Your Labour Time

How you look after yourself during pregnancy can affect what happens at the birth of your baby, and beyond. It makes sense.

In the past pregnant women were told to avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting.

Today, however, women are encouraged to eat a balanced diet during pregnancy and to exercise regularly.

Exercise During Pregnancy Could Shorten Your Labour

Women are encouraged to stay generally active during pregnancy. Regular exercise during pregnancy can reduce the risk of risk of constipation, aches and pains, and help you to sleep better at night.

A new study published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology concluded exercise during pregnancy might also have an impact on the duration of labour.

The randomised clinical trial aimed to investigate whether there was a link between exercise during pregnancy and the length of labour.

Over 500 women took part into the study. Half of the participants were assigned to a moderate aerobic exercise class for the duration of their pregnancy. This consisted of three weekly sessions led by an instructor.

The control group was simply given the standard information about the importance of exercise and good nutrition, but participants were not enrolled into any specific exercise programs as part of the study.

Researchers found women in the exercise group, when compared with the control group, had a shorter first stage of labour (an average of 53 minutes shorter).

These women also experienced a shorter total labour time.

Women in the exercise group had an average labour time of seven and a half hours, compared with almost eight and a half hours for the women in the control group.

The researchers also found women in the exercise group were less likely to have an epidural for pain relief during labour. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was a higher rate of neonate macrosomia (aka ‘big babies’)  in the control group.

The researchers believed the improved muscle strength in the exercise group probably played an important role in securing shorter labours for the participants.

Yoga, swimming and brisk walking are popular exercises for pregnant women, although many women continue to lift weights and run marathons throughout their pregnancy.

The research team is now expanding its work to assess whether or not exercise affects the development of the placenta during pregnancy.

Recommended Reading:

  • Diet & Exercise Can Cut C-Section Risk, Study Says
PREGNANT? In MELBOURNE? JOIN US at
the BellyBelly Birth & Early Parenting Immersion
.
MAXIMISE your chances of getting the birth you want… MINIMISE your chances of
a disappointing or traumatic birth experience. Learn from some of Australia’s
best educators – you’ll feel MORE CONFIDENT heading into birth.
BOOK NOW!
Previous Post

Baby Wipes Linked To Food Allergies, Study Finds

Next Post

4 Things You Can Do If You’re Not Ready To Wean

Fiona Peacock

Fiona Peacock is a writer, researcher and lover of all things to do with pregnancy, birth and motherhood (apart from the lack of sleep). She is a home birth advocate, passionate about gentle parenting and is also really tired.

Next Post
4 Things You Can Do If You're Not Ready To Wean

4 Things You Can Do If You're Not Ready To Wean

Recommended

hard spot in my abdomen

Hard Spot In My Abdomen – Is It Baby?

Last updated January 11, 2021
evening primrose oil to induce labour

Evening Primrose Oil To Induce Labour – Does It Work?

Last updated January 11, 2021
static electric shock while pregnant

Static Electric Shock While Pregnant

Last updated January 8, 2021

Trending

how to conceive a boy

How To Conceive A Boy – 6 Expert Tips to Have A Baby Boy

Last updated January 8, 2021
conceive a girl

How To Conceive A Girl – 9 Tips To Conceive A Baby Girl

Last updated January 18, 2021
cervix dilation

Cervix Dilation – 9 Signs You’re Dilating

Last updated January 18, 2021
BellyBelly

We’re passionate about women and men feeling informed, confident and prepared for pregnancy, birth and early parenting.

  • Home
  • Getting Pregnant
  • Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Articles
    • Pregnancy Week By Week
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Pregnancy Calculator
  • Birth
  • New Mothers
  • Baby
    • Baby Articles
    • Baby Week By Week
    • Baby Sleep Articles
    • Your Baby’s Starsign
  • Breastfeeding
  • Toddler
  • Child
  • Men
  • Parenting
  • Health & Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Recipes & Cooking
    • Relationships
    • Family Travel
    • Men
  • Pregnancy Symptoms
  • Pregnancy Week by Week
  • Baby Week by Week

OUR NETWORK


  • bellybelly.com.au

  • www.aroundtheworldpluskids.com.au

  • www.doula-training.com.au
  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise

© Copyright 2002–2021 BellyBelly, All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Getting Pregnant
  • Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Articles
    • Pregnancy Week By Week
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Pregnancy Calculator
  • Birth
  • New Mothers
  • Baby
    • Baby Articles
    • Baby Week By Week
    • Baby Sleep Articles
    • Your Baby’s Starsign
  • Breastfeeding
  • Toddler
  • Child
  • Men
  • Parenting
  • Health & Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Recipes & Cooking
    • Relationships
    • Family Travel
    • Men

© Copyright 2002–2021 BellyBelly, All Rights Reserved.

Get Expert Advice and Tips Straight Into Your Inbox: 

Close