What's the deal with walking?

[AmyC]

So I know walking is heavily recommended to bring on labor or get things moving or whatever. But what's the deal with it?

Earlier in pregnancy, too much walking would bring on Braxton-Hicks and I always read to slow down, drink, rest. So is it the opposite when you're term? Well, you still stay hydrated....But is it a matter of continuing with the exercise in hopes that the contractions build up?

Is the point of walking to bring the baby's head in contact with the cervix and exert favorable pressure to help things along, or is exercise some kind of irritant (like earlier, when it would stimulate contractions that went away with rest) that leads to contractions? And what are you supposed to do when you're contracting uncomfortably but manageably while walking?

And is early labor the same thing as prodromal labor? What should I be looking for, here?

An update on me is that I went for acupuncture yesterday, went for a BPP and NST this morning, fended off more induction offers from my OB, then went walking along a wooded trail and began contracting within five minutes. I basically contracted (uncomfortably, not just tightness--"menstrual cramps" and lots of pressure) the whole time. This continued, but less regularly, after I got back to my husband's office and rested a bit. Contractions start up every time I walk (even just from the car to a restaurant) and infrequently while I'm doing whatever (eating, sitting in car, squatting here at the computer.)

It is super-hard to walk after I've been sitting at all, but then I hit my stride and get along okay (albeit slowly.) Until then, I'm practically limping, or just unable to move much.

I am assuming that this is predominantly work to accomplish effacement of the cervix, and that we have some time ahead of us, but it's definite action (which I haven't had. Seriously, almost zero uterine activity, and a stoic cervix. Very effective at getting twins to term! )

I was thinking of resting, then going for a walk down our road and looking at the woods and the cows around. Is there some reason I should NOT try to rest/nap, assuming that things (uterine-wise) may quiet down during that time? That should be okay, right?

And the point is to keep walking even though I'm contracting, right? Not to (like earlier in pregnancy) take a break and calm things down, right? I mean, taking breaks as needed, but not stopping activity because of contractions.

[madiesmommy]

I don't know why, but I took a walk last night and established some uncomfortable contractions - the point I did not think I could walk the 2 blocks home. I am not sure if you kept walking if these would be productive or practice ctxs - you might not help yourself as much as you think. But I really don't know the answer...

[finnegansmom]

I think it helps with the cervix dilating, by pressure and moving your hips and pelvis. Unfortunately, at this point, I am so uncomfortable and having so much pressure, I need a shopping cart to push or a walker to move more than 20 feet. I imagine standing might do the same thing, or chasing a toddler, climbing stairs, laundry, cooking, cleaning... you know, the usual stuff....

[Kidzaplenty]

I can't really answer either. Any time I walk, I get cx. The more I walk the stronger they get. But when I do finally give in and take a break, the cx do too.

So, I can tire myself out and keep cxing or I can rest when I have to and not. If I knew the cx were productive, I could probably keep it up for hours, but since I don't really know if they are really doing anything, I just rest when I can.

And believe me, I am SO tired from all the cx that I end up resting a LOT. But it is very frustrating.

[foodislove]

I am interested in this too, and here are my two cents. Hubby and I walk 3 miles every night. we have been doing this for about 3 months. We walk briskly and part of it is uphill. I am one week from my due date, and I am measuring completely closed and hard- no effacement. I do the walking mostly to stay strong, and that part has really worked. I have almost no pain or discomfort, and I feel like I have a lot of 'umph' going into labor. I would be lying if I wasn't hoping in the back of my mind that it would have helped my progress, but I am thinking now that it doesn't work that way.

I am totally just guessing here, but I think that when the baby is ready and labor starts- from that point, I think that walking can probably help with effacement and dilation, but in my experience, it probably won't do much beforehand besides take your mind off of things and keep you fit.