So you've found out you're pregnant and, as most mamas, you're in a flurry of getting EVERYTHING ready:
the carseat
the crib
the perfect stroller
those IG worthy baby outfits
a lovely nursery
diapers, wipes, creams, baby shampoos
And, heck, maybe you've even started to get on some daycare lists!!
While this list could easily expand, let's stop there and consider one MAJOR thing most people's baby prep lists are missing:
YOU
It seems that society makes mamas selfless martyrs the moment baby starts growing in the womb. Yes, people will fawn over your pregnant belly, they'll have some random old wives tale about how to tell the gender, and will have all kinds of unsolicited comments about how you're so big, you must be having twins! (yeah, I may have heard that one a few times...).
HOWEVER, nobody is really having the conversation around you, your body, how to prepare your body so that it mains strong and functional for YOU
I am firmly in the camp that caring for mama's body must not only be considered, but should be an expected part of pregnancy.
Here's why:
There's obviously a ton of stress placed on your body as baby grows. As your body tries to adapt to these changes, that's where we can sometimes get those unwanted pregnancy aches and strains. If you are strengthening in a way that supports your pregnant body, it can help to mitigate these strains
Have you ever heard women laugh and joke about how they pee their pants after sneezing, coughing, running, etc after they had kids? While this is quite common, it shouldn't be an expected way to live the rest of your life. Maintaining a healthy relationship with your core and pelvic floor during pregnancy can once again mitigate those symptoms and have you on a better road to recovery postpartum.
Whether you have a cesarean or vaginal birth, that's a lot of stress on your body, but preparing appropriately can once again set you up on a better road to success. For vaginal deliveries, learning about things like birth position and how to push can save you from excess tearing and trauma to your pelvic floor.
And once you're postpartum, your needs are just as important as baby's so that you can get on the road to a strong and functional body.
I work with women every day who suffer the emotional toll of not having known they could do more than just kegels to resolve things like leaking, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain. They end up feeling foreign in their bodies, miss doing the sports and activities they love, and sometimes can't even play with their children they way they want to. To me, this is not okay.
The message needs to get out there that a number one priority for pregnant and postpartum mamas is to take care of themselves, so that they are better able to care for baby physically and mentally (along with mamas still knowing that they DO matter, that they can get back to activities they love, and that their needs are still important)
If you're pregnant (or even early postpartum!) right now, take a look at this video that goes through one of the foundational concepts you need to prepare your body for a strong pregnancy and delivery:
Want to learn more? Well, if you're in Thunder Bay, you're in luck! Join me for my Prenatal Flow Series, starting June 6th. It's 4 weeks of strength, mobility, and education. CLICK HERE for more information and to register.
To better births and recoveries, mamas