It"s lovely to talk to you again.I also welcome the new members to the site.Although I don't know you personally I feel a special bond towards you as I can share my thoughts with you.
You will all agree that a lot of us lead a very sedentary life without realising it's fall out and implications. I may be busy the whole day but most of my time is spent sitting or standing and talking. These nonphysiological postures and workpattern put a heavy strain to our body physically and mentally. Have you ever wondered why other mammals and even primates do not need assistance for birth the way most humans do? Also why first births are apparently so much more difficult now compared to when your grandmother or great grandmother delivered?
Let me try to answer the first question first. Humans are the only mammals who are exclusively bipedal. This probably makes our pelvis narrower and less weight bearing. Also our brain size has been increasing over centuries and therefore the ratio of human baby"s head size to maternal pelvic diameter has been steadily increasing. This is a part of natural evolution and individually we cannot do much about it. The human birth is a fascinating phenomenon.The preparatory phase of labour starts days to weeks before the actual labour.To begin with the cervix or the mouth of the uterus starts loosening out .The connective tissue thins out and the cervix becomes softer and stretchable.There are some irregular uterine contractions (cramps)which may make you slightly uncomfortable.It is very important to wait it out and bear this slight discomfort. If you do regular exercise and walk for atleast 30 minutes a day your chances of going in spontaneous labour may increase.Besides there is medical literature to show that exercise can shorten labour and reduce your need for labour pain relief.
You will all agree that a lot of us lead a very sedentary life without realising it's fall out and implications. I may be busy the whole day but most of my time is spent sitting or standing and talking. These nonphysiological postures and workpattern put a heavy strain to our body physically and mentally. Have you ever wondered why other mammals and even primates do not need assistance for birth the way most humans do? Also why first births are apparently so much more difficult now compared to when your grandmother or great grandmother delivered?
Let me try to answer the first question first. Humans are the only mammals who are exclusively bipedal. This probably makes our pelvis narrower and less weight bearing. Also our brain size has been increasing over centuries and therefore the ratio of human baby"s head size to maternal pelvic diameter has been steadily increasing. This is a part of natural evolution and individually we cannot do much about it. The human birth is a fascinating phenomenon.The preparatory phase of labour starts days to weeks before the actual labour.To begin with the cervix or the mouth of the uterus starts loosening out .The connective tissue thins out and the cervix becomes softer and stretchable.There are some irregular uterine contractions (cramps)which may make you slightly uncomfortable.It is very important to wait it out and bear this slight discomfort. If you do regular exercise and walk for atleast 30 minutes a day your chances of going in spontaneous labour may increase.Besides there is medical literature to show that exercise can shorten labour and reduce your need for labour pain relief.
I wish more doctors in India (esp. in metro cities), were like you, who'd counsel their pregnant patients to exercise and would genuinely try for a natural birth. Thanks for sharing the blog.
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