Water Exercise Benefits Childbirth
Aquarobics Reduces Need for Pain Medication During Labor
Dec 9, 2008
Exercise has many benefits for women during pregnancy. Women who exercise during pregnancy often experience a reduction in pregnancy discomfort such as swelling, insomnia and depression as well as potential prevention of gestational diabetes. Now there is even more reason to include water exercise, or aquarobics, to your pregnancy exercise program.
Benefits of Aquarobics for Childbirth
A Brazilian study divided about 70 women into 2 groups. One group received 3, 50-minute sessions of aquarobics each week, while the other group was a control group and did not participate in aquarobics. The researchers looked at several outcomes including the length of labor, whether there was a vaginal or cesarean birth, the health of the baby as well as the use of pain medication. The only statistically significant difference between the group who was enrolled in aquarobics and the group that was not was in the use of pain medication.
Only 27% of the group who had participated in the aquarobics program requested pain medication. In the control group (the mothers who were not participating in aquarobics), 65% of the mothers used pain medication. This represented a 58% difference between the two groups.
While researchers do not know exactly how aquarobics may reduce the pain of labor, study author Dr. Rosa Pereira states that "we've shown that the regular practice of moderate water aerobics during pregnancy is not detrimental to the health of the mother or the child. In fact, the reduction in analgesia requests suggests that it can get women into better psycho-physical condition."
Ways to Use Water During Labor
For mothers who are interested in the use of water to reduce further the need for pain medication, using hydrotherapy (shower or tub during labor) or giving birth in a tub of water, known as waterbirth are all effective tools for pain relief. Check with your chosen place of birth and care provider to see if the use of water during labor is available.
Methods to Reduce Your Need for Pain MedicationIf hydrotherapy during labor is not available at your place of birth or you are not a candidate for waterbirth or using water during labor, there are many other ways to reduce your need for traditional forms of pain medication during labor. Some of these methods include breathing and relaxation techniques, massage, position changes, heat and cold packs and acupressure points. A birth doula can assist you in utilizing these techniques to reduce your need for pain medication. Don't forget that even choices such as going into labor spontaneously rather than having your labor induced may help to reduce the need for pain medication.
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