Pre + Postnatal Movement

Pregnancy often comes with aches and pains, high blood pressure, swelling, and many other complaints. Far too many women experience birthing complications that lead to interventions like induction, forceps or vacuum-assist, or an emergent Cesarean section. Pregnancy and childbirth are natural functions that our bodies are designed to do—why then do we see so many complications and discomforts?!

There are many factors that influence pregnancy and birth experiences: the care provider, the woman’s preparation, her mental/emotional state, medical conditions, diet & exercise….My focus is on alignment and mechanical factors.  In our modern society we use our bodies unnaturally on a daily basis. We tend to spend large chunks of time sitting and wearing shoes. We suck in our stomach to look thinner or tuck our pelvis under to make our butt look smaller. Our habits cause tension and skeletal misalignment, which can interfere with our bodies’ ability to carry out natural functions such as pregnancy and birth.

These are things I incorporate into my exercise classes and prenatally with doula clients. 

Did You Know…

Many of the common pregnancy related issues  aren’t necessarily caused by pregnancy. They are the result of adding pregnancy to a misaligned skeleton. Improving your alignment can:

Reduce aches and pains

Reduce swelling

Keep blood pressure normal

Prepare the pelvic floor for birth & clear up incontinence

Treat and prevent diastasis recti (splitting of the abdominal wall)

Provide optimal space for fetal positioning

Increase space in the pelvic outlet

Maximize your chance of having a VBAC

Prepare the breast tissue for breastfeeding

Decrease recovery time after a vaginal birth or caesarean section

 Further Reading!

Click here to see relevant blogs and articles written by Katy Bowman, my colleagues, and myself.  I’ve selected a few favorites that are about popular topics and answer common questions.