Exercise for Pregnancy and Postpartum
More than your pelvic floor and abdominals
Pregnancy and birth is a big time of change for your body and you don’t have to go it alone, or sift through the overwhelming amount of online information knowing what’s right for you and what’s not.
Exercise that’s evidence based and safe for Mum and Bub
Growing and birthing a baby, while ‘natural’ can be physically and mentally taxing. Some women seemingly sale through and others, not so much. Whichever way it goes for you, I’m here to help you manage changes in posture, pelvic floor function, posture, abdominal function, pain, and overwhelm. I can help you prepare for your birth and begin your postpartum rehab- without waiting for the ‘magic’ week 6 mark. I will provide you with strategies and adaptations to exercise to keep you moving through pregnancy, postpartum and beyond.
If you have:
Pregnancy related pain (round ligament, pubic symphysis, sacroilliac, back or other)
Persistent musculoskeletal pain (anywhere from head to toe)
Incontinence, prolapse or other pelvic floor dysfunction
DRAM or hernias
Hypermobility
Birth trauma
Infant loss and want a private place to access postpartum care
Want pregnancy safe exercise
Want to begin healing and moving postpartum
It’s important to participate in exercise that is both safe and effective for you at whichever stage you’re at in your journey.
What to expect (aside from a bit of fun):
Step 1
Firstly, we begin with an initial assessment. We start with a chat to get to know each other and I learn all about your circumstances, health status, signs, symptoms and most importantly, your goals. I collect relevant measures such as blood pressure to ensure you’re safe to begin exercise. Then with your consent I take photos and videos of your posture and a few movement patterns (nothing strenuous) for later analysis and comparison. I complete any necessary physical tests that help me to get an overall picture of your body.
Step 2
We discuss the findings of your assessments and how they may contribute to your signs and symptoms and movement recommendations. Knowledge is power and it often really helps for you to understand the mechanisms behind your experiences and strategies outside of exercise (or adaptations to your current exercise) to help manage them. It’s often hard to absorb and remember everything we discuss, so I will email you a summary after your appointment. Bring all your questions to the appointment or email me after.
Step 3
Together, we make a plan that suits you. I understand that time and money can make accessing healthcare difficult, but that you also might need that ‘supervision’ and accountability of exercising one-one with me. Most clients choose a combination of home exercises and in-clinic sessions, but whichever way you go, know that you are never on your own between appointments. My exercise delivery program provides comprehensive videos and instructions and allows you to contact me with questions and feedback.