Is birth the same as running a marathon?

Is birth the same as running a marathon? The mindset training side of it, yes. Let me tell you why. Imagine being told you HAD to run for a marathon (that’s a whopping 26 miles) in 5 hours. That you had no choice in the matter. It would most likely be the worst 5 hours ever.

Now imagine…

You trained your body and mind for months, you bought the running gear, got some new trainers and completed a marathon. You had your family’s encouragement during training and they were there for you at the finish line, cheering you on. This would potentially be one of the proudest moments of your life.

You run the same race. Same length. Same time.

But… When you choose to do the race and prepare for it, you feel strong, powerful and proud. There’s a fine line between challenges in life being painful or powerful and often what makes the difference is CHOICE. Now I bet you are wondering, why are we talking about preparing to run a marathon? So…

Is birth the same as running a marathon…

You can prepare for birth, do the classes, learn about the things so you know your choices and options, do the exercises, listen to the audios and get the encouragement from your family.

Or you can endure it. Get through it. Feel like you have no control in it whatsoever and you just have to show up, do what you got to do to get your baby here. ⁣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Same contractions. ⁣Same length of labour. ⁣Same mode of birth. ⁣Same baby at the end.⁣

But…

Knowing your options in birth, choosing what’s right for you and your baby, having encouragement and support. You will feel strong, empowered and it will be a momentous time in your life. ⁣If you feel like birth is something that you just have to endure, “just get through” and that you have no control whatsoever in what happens in your birth, you’re likely to report it as more of a scary and painful experience.⁣

Remember there’s a fine line between birth making you feel powerful or it being painful, and often what makes the difference is knowing your choices and knowing what you can do to prepare. Knowledge is power after all.

Bump to Baby Graduate Vanda had a real life marathon baby when she gave birth on the same day as London Marathon. She had to navigate road closures, busy trains and tubes, all to make it to hospital to birth her son. Despite the chaotic build up, Vanda felt informed and confident throughout her birth and totally bossed it. Read Vanda’s London marathon birth story.

📸 @psplechta_birthphotography