Four Simple Exercises To Prepare Your Body For Delivery Day

So, here I am again! I am very bored right now. Baby kicks from time to time, maybe getting into a comfortable position to sleep. Awwww.... Can't wait to see him.

Since I am bored, I was going through my wonderful book "Essential Guide To Pregnancy and Birth" and guess what? I found exercises that will help labor to go easier and less painful. This is what I really want. I actually found those exercises yesterday and already tried them out. They are not very hard and feel great! I will make sure to do them every single day until my labor begins.

So......

Exercise #1. Kegels.
Why? They strengthen pelvic-floor muscles and help shorten stage of labor.
How? You can actually do them any time and anywhere. But I must say it is not so easy to recognize whether you do this exercise right. This is exercise for the inner muscles in your vagina (the ones that help you not to pee when you want to). You need to squeeze these muscles for eight to ten minutes and then relax for few minutes and do them again. In order to make sure you are doing them right, place a hand on your belly while you are doing Kegels to make sure it stays relaxed, only muscles inside should work, everything else should stay relaxed.

Exercise # 2. Angry Cat
Why? It strengthens abdominal muscles and eases back pain during pregnancy and labor.
How? Get down on your hands and knees with arms held straight and spaced shoulder-width apart and with your knees spaced hip-width apart. Next, take a breath in, and exhale as you tighten your abdominal muscles, round your back and tuck your butt under. Then inhale and relax back into a neutral- but not a swayback- position. Repeat three times. Work up to ten repetitions when feeling stronger.

Exercise # 3. Squatting.
Why? It may not look elegant, but squatting is a time-honored way of preparing for and giving birth. Since pelvic opening is the widest when squatting, it can be a good position to use during the pushing stage of labor. Doing squats now strengthens legs so there will be an ability and stamina to use this position if need be when the big day arrives.
How? Hold on to the back of the steady chair for support. Stand with your feet spread slightly wider than hip-width and your toes pointed outward. Bend your knees and slowly lower your bottom toward the floor as if you were going to sit on a chair. As you lower yourself, contract your abdominal muscles, lift your chest and relax your shoulders. Most of the weight should be resting on the heels. Slowly return to standing. Repeat five times, or as many as you will feel comfortable with.

Exercise # 4. Tailor or Cobbler Sitting.
Why? This exercise helps to condition and increase the flexibility of inner-thigh muscles in preparation for birth and eases lower-back tension.
How? Sit either with legs crossed or with the soles of your feet touching each other and your knees are to the side, as well as make sure to maintain good posture. Stay in this position for as long as you are comfortable.

So there are the exercises. Hope they will help all the pregnant women and hope they will help me very much.:)

Well, I gotta go for now. I am going to go and bake some cookies. Mmmm.....