Giving Birth is like Running a Marathon...more like 4 to 6 Marathons!
Dec 14, 2019By Kim Vopni, The Vagina Coach — Certified Pelvic Floor Fitness Specialist · Published December 14, 2019
Direct Answer
Giving birth is like running a marathon, and really more like 4 to 6 marathons, so it should be trained for. Without physical preparation the body cannot keep up with the demands of birth and injuries can occur. Pre and postnatal fitness prepare your mind and body for the big day and for recovery.
Key Takeaways
- Birth is rarely looked at as an event that needs to be trained for, yet mind and body both need preparing.
- Someone who has not trained well would not do well in a marathon, and the same simple concept applies to birth.
- In a Jagiellonian University study of 62 marathon finishers, most underestimated their pain when asked again three to six months later.
- Remembered pain stayed high for runners who also reported negative emotions such as distress and fear.
- How you prepare affects both your perception of pain and how your body responds to the demands of birth.
We've all heard the saying that giving birth is like running a marathon. Really it is like running 4-6 marathons and unfortunately, birth is not looked at like an event that needs to be trained for. Mind and body need to be prepared for the big day and also for recovery. Pre and postnatal fitness are imperative.
Researchers from the Institute of Psychology at Jagiellonian University studied how marathon runners felt after they crossed the finish line and found striking similarities to childbirth. Is this interesting. Runners train for months, if not years, to prepare for the big race and to cross the finish line no matter what. Well, training your body to go through the birthing process should be considered in the way, but we – as women- often think of birth as a natural process that simply happens on its own.
True, birth happens on its own but how we prepare for it makes all the difference. Someone who hasn’t trained well wouldn’t do well in a marathon. Her body wouldn’t be able to keep up with the physical demand and injuries would occur. The same simple concept occurs with birth. Without physical preparation, we would not be able to keep up with the substantial demands that the birthing process puts on the body.
The Institute of Psychology at Jagiellonian University lead researcher, Przemyslaw Babel, surveyed 62 marathon finishers who ran the Cracovia Marathon in Poland. Babel asked them to rate the intensity of pain they experienced, the unpleasantness they felt, and the positive and negative emotions they were going through at the moment. Three to six months later, he asked them the same questions, and a majority underestimated the pain they first reported. One runner, for instance, reported a pain intensity at 5.5 out of a 7-point scale, but six months later recalled a 3.2 level of pain.
The pain memory they recalled later remained high if they also reported feeling negative emotions, such as distress and fear. From a psychological standpoint, memories of pain are exacerbated if the pain was the focus of the experience because it was influenced by the context of a runner’s emotions. The same is applied to women in labour. Isn’t this interesting?!
Preparing your body for birth, and going through the experience for the first time or as a second or third pregnancy, all impact not only the perception of pain we have as women- but how our bodies actually respond to the physical demands of the birthing process and our very own perceptions, fears, etc.!
Are you ready for your birth marathon? Check out my Buff Muff Prenatal Program - a program designed to get your mind and body ready for the big day!
Recommended Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is giving birth compared to running a marathon? Birth places substantial physical demands on the body, really more like running 4 to 6 marathons. Like a race, it goes better when the mind and body have been prepared for the day and for recovery.
Do you need to train for birth? Yes. Birth happens on its own, but how you prepare makes all the difference. Without physical preparation the body cannot keep up with the demands of the birthing process and injuries can occur.
What did the marathon pain study find? Researcher Przemyslaw Babel surveyed 62 finishers of the Cracovia Marathon about their pain and emotions. Three to six months later, a majority underestimated the pain they first reported.
Why do some people remember pain as worse? Remembered pain stayed high in runners who also reported negative emotions such as distress and fear. Memories of pain are exacerbated when the pain was the focus of the experience, and the same applies to women in labour.
How can I prepare for my birth marathon? With pre and postnatal fitness that gets your mind and body ready for the big day and for recovery, such as the Buff Muff Prenatal Program.
Kim Vopni, known as The Vagina Coach, is a certified fitness professional, menopause support practitioner, women’s health educator, and author specializing in pelvic floor health. For over 15 years she has helped women worldwide address issues like incontinence, organ prolapse, pelvic pain and core dysfunction through fitness and education. Kim is the creator of the Buff Muff Method and founder of Pelvienne Wellness Inc., and co-founder of Buff Muff Wellness Inc where she provides online programs, in person professional teacher training, and other resources designed to help women build lifelong pelvic health.
- Creator of the Buff Muff Method™
- Founder of Pelvienne Wellness Inc.
- Co-Founder of Buff Muff Wellness Inc.
- Creator of Kegels & Cocktails™
- Certified fitness professional specializing in pelvic health
- Certified Menopause Support Practitioner
- Author of multiple books on pelvic floor health
- Speaker and educator featured on prominent media, podcasts and health platforms
Related Reading:
Pregnancy Fitness - BE SPECIFIC
The One Exercise for Every Pregnant Woman
Importance of Having a Fit Pregnancy
Position Yourself for the Best Birth Possible
My Top Tips for Creating a Birth and Recovery Plan
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