Yoga & Labor

I recently had a baby (he is almost 3 months old) and I thought I'd share how yoga helped me during my labor.

I went to my regular yoga class (I usually do Meg's Intermediate class on Wednesday nights at 5:30pm) until I was about 24 weeks and then started to do Susie's Prenatal class on Wednesdays at 5:45pm.  I did yoga up until I delivered my baby, and had a practice for about 8 years before.  I think yoga is so beneficial while you are pregnant, but I'll post about that another time.

My water didn't break when I had my son, Indiana, it was a "slow leak" that started around 8pm at home.  I was advised to head to the hospital within a few hours so they could get labor started for me.  I was against interventions, for myself, so I was kind of bummed that my labor wasn't starting on its own, but also like to follow doctor's orders so I called my mom to watch my daughter and headed in at about 10:30pm.

In order to start my labor naturally, I wanted to walk around and do some yoga poses.  They let me walk the labor/delivery halls and while I walked I skipped, did lunges, squats and some sun salutations with my husband.  They ended up giving me a pill to soften my cervix and once my contractions started I did lots of right angles at the wall (with a lower back massage), squats and forward bends.  Moving during labor is amazing, I have never been one to stay in my hospital bed and I think that's why I was able to breathe through my contractions.

Since I took the pill, I had to be monitored, so I asked for a "walking monitor" and they gave me one with a battery pack.  I walked, lunged, stopped to breathe and walked some more until I was so tired I had to lay down.  I delivered at 7am the next morning and yoga helped in pushing (your legs/hips should be flexible for you to hold back and sustain like that) and pranayama (breathing) is amazing for breathing through contractions and pushing/breathing out your baby.

I think that yoga helped me want to move, be in my body, focus on my breath and the poses helped me relax and feel "better" during some painful moments.  I think yoga is SO beneficial to practice during labor whether you are at home or at the hospital.

I would love to hear how you used your yoga practice during labor, comment below and tell us about it!

Here is my son's birth video, featuring some yoga that I did, for your enjoyment (yes, my husband is a nut!):

Allison