My Pregnancy Loss Stories and Pregnancy After Loss
You always hear and read that pregnancy loss happens in 1 out of every 4 pregnancies. But, you don’t always hear from someone who has had a loss. It almost feels like we are supposed to keep it a secret–I mean, we are told to not share about your pregnancy until you’re in the “all […]
Open the Pelvis: 4 Labor Positions
Open The Pelvis: Often, we are asked “what positions should I do during each stage of labor?” Do you need to do squats during early labor, then lunges in active labor?! Not necessarily! First, there is no one movement that will open the entire pelvis (squats will not open the top, middle, and bottom of the […]
Labor Preparation – The Missing Movement: Internal Rotation
When we think of labor preparation movements, typically we think of deep squats with really wide knees. You may have been told it’s important to be able to squat because squatting helps with labor progress. Preparing for labor?? Deep squats. In labor?? Deep squats. Pushing?? Deep squats. But… there is more to birth than deep […]
1st Month Postpartum Recovery Approach
The first month postpartum requires a lot of patience! You may feel anxious to get going on your recovery and may rush the process which may cause more issues in the end. Let’s break down some things that you can actively do during the first month to enhance your recovery but honor the healing process. […]
Healing DRA (Diastasis): 3 Ways
Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) is the thinning and stretching of the linea alba, which is the connective tissue between the six-pack abs, or your rectus abdominis muscles. This is a normal adaptation to pregnancy because the tissues need to stretch and expand to accommodate babies’ growth. Almost everyone who carries their pregnancy to term will […]
Exercising Throughout Pregnancy: Placental Benefits
Did you know that exercising in the first half of your pregnancy can positively impact your baby’s placenta function? But, how can you feel confident about exercising during pregnancy with all the myths about the safety of exercise? The good news is that exercise is generally very safe throughout pregnancy, to include in the first […]
C-Section Birth: Advice from Fellow C-Section Mothers
For many, c-section birth is not the expected birth path. There are a few different types of c-section birth: unplanned, usually happening after labor has begun; scheduled, usually happening prior to labor for various reasons such as placental disorder, breech positioning, or elective; and emergency, which can occur either prior to labor or during labor. […]
Pelvic Floor Quadrants and Stance Influences
The pelvic floor can be thought about as having four quadrants: left and right, front and back (anterior/posterior). Our stance and general posture can influence the tension in the pelvic floor. We are meant to move, so having the pelvic floor be in a certain position during moving is not an issue. It becomes an […]
7 Tips to Enhance Pushing with an Epidural
An epidural is a great tool to use during labor if you need rest and/or relief from contractions. But epidurals can make movement slightly more challenging during labor and while pushing. We can still move, but we may need more support, and depending on the density of the epidural, we may be limited on movements. […]
Faster Labor: 3 Exercises Throughout Your Pregnancy
Faster Labor : One of the benefits of exercising throughout pregnancy is that labor tends to be a little faster. Now, if you exercise, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you are guaranteed to have a fast birth, but it could increase the likelihood. But why?? When we exercise throughout pregnancy, including resistance training and aerobic […]
7 Breathing Drills: Move the Pelvic Floor
7 Breathing Drills One of the first core exercises we can do postpartum is Breathing Drills! During pregnancy, these drills are great to help you learn how to shift your pelvis around. This will ensure that you have the required range of motion in your pelvis to help baby descend and rotate through the pelvis with […]
Understanding Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia is a birth emergency when baby’s shoulders are caught above the pubic bone after baby’s head has been born. If shoulder dystocia happens to you, it is important to follow the immediate instructions of your provider and medical staff to resolve the dystocia. Please note that this blog is not medical advice, and […]