A University of Michigan research revealed that giving birth is harder on the human body compared to running a marathon. For perspective, the distance of a marathon is 42km – the length of 1,463 basketball courts!
Childbirth may seem to require less effort because one does not have to move as much externally but the body is required to undergo a lot of internal changes during labor and delivery. To be able to compare the two activities, scientists employed the same equipment and techniques that are used for diagnosing sports injuries. The post-childbirth injuries they found were similar to sports-related stress fractures, severe muscle strain and even included pelvic muscles that fully detached from the pubic bone!
Preparation
Like any endurance sport, preparing oneself for childbirth through proper diet and exercise is a great idea. Swimming and yoga are good ways to exercise during pregnancy. Kegel exercises are also recommended before and after giving birth, but Dr. Janis Miller, associate professor at the U-M School of Nursing notes, “Many women do these exercises religiously but don’t heal as they’ve been told they would.”
Recovery
The key message of the study is that recovery is unique for each woman and each pregnancy. Forcing recovery based on a fixed schedule is akin to forcing a birth based on due date. For some, full recovery may take up to eight months. So if a woman feels that something about her recovery is off, she should not be afraid to ask her doctor or consult with a specialist.
How long did it take for you to recover after giving birth?
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Also read: Dad tries birthing pain simulator