This post is for you: current mommas, soon-to-be mommas, and women that are considering becoming mommas.
Here are some of the points that Dr. Brooke, Sarah and Jessie Mundell make in this podcast that I wish to highlight today:
1. Listening to others' birth stories is a wonderful experience, but take caution because your birth story will be completely unique and unlike ANYTHING these stories or most likely what you would imagine birth to be.
Birth is very much an appropriate foray into the role of motherhood it introduces us to the concept that we can not control everything.
As a new mom (and not so new...)we will often feel like life is spinning out of control and nothing is going to plan-but it's normal and birth is often our first brush with this phenomenon.
Seek support from friends, family, your spouse, and groups of women in person or online!
So enjoy the stories!!!
Just know that you can't predict, plan or control birth, and if you feel disappointed about how it went, that's ok too.
It is a common experience for women and you're not alone in feeling that way. http://www.lalecheleague.org/nb/nbmarapr02p44.html
If you want to skip to the tips on fitness and pelvic floor health portion of the podcast, start at 38 minutes.
2. Like these women, I advocate safe pre and postnatal activity. There are some DANGEROUS trends in the fitness world that suggest and sometimes state that it's safe to return to whatever exercises you did pre-pregnancy when you feel ready or after your 6 week check-up.
THIS IS NOT TRUE!
Every woman should see a pelvic floor physical therapist and be evaluated for Diastasis recti, pelvic floor weakness (lack of ability to control your pelvic floor muscles) and organ prolapse before returning to exercise.
If you have any of these conditions and do not take the time to re-build strength or correct the problems, then exercise will almost certainly worsen your condition.
Yes you can exercise again and it's perfectly fine to have physique-related goals, but you absolutely must remember that you just grew, and birthed a human being.
You're body is never going to be the same and that's a beautiful things.
I know it's easy to feel bad about weight-gain, scarring, stretching, and the many changes that our bodies undergo, but the more you focus on trying to make your body what it used to be, the more disappointed and frustrated you will feel.
Blaze a new trail.
You are new and different, strong and awesome.
Take care of your new and different body.
So even if you skip ahead to minute 38 (although I recommend listening to the entire podcast when you have time!) please listen to what these fitness and health experts are saying because this is one of those topics that is NOT widely discussed, but is incredibly important.
If you have every been pregnant then you have been changed physically and emotionally forever.
More posts on this topic to come.
Please share this post either on your page or with mommas directly!
Thank you :) Here's the link again!
http://betterbydrbrooke.com/better-everyday-episode-19-pregnancy-pre-postnatal-expert-jessie-mundell/
I'm Sarah Smith! I am a fitness and lifestyle coach focused on whole-body wellness.
I help busy women feel strong, energized and happy in their bodies. I teach them to cultivate new skills for movement, exercise, healthful eating and self-care.
Click here to learn more about working with Sarah and Cultivate For Life!