Iām often asked about diastasis recti (the medical name for abdominal separation) by both pre and postnatal clients and do believe that education is key when it comes to both minimizing and rehabilitating this condition. If youĀ havenāt yet read Part I, you can find it here! Let’s get started with a bit of research: Boissonnault & Blaschak (1988) found that 27% of women have a DRA in the second trimester and 66% in the third trimester of pregnancy. 53% of …
Why aren’t sit-ups safe after birth?
Iām going to start by saying that the Fitness Industry, like many other industries, is an ever-changing one. Itās full of trends. Exercises come in and out of fashion, research is done to prove exercises safe or unsafe, and as Fitness Professionals, we listen and make changes to our program content accordingly. Sit-ups, or any variation of this movement where you go into forward flexion ie: when lying on your back, you bring your torso towards your knees to work …
Postpartum Exercise Guidelines: Return to Sport Safely
Exercise postpartum can be just as confusing as during pregnancy and maybe even a bit more overwhelming since you are now juggling motherhood and caring for your little one–whether it’s your first or your fifth! I remember being so anxious to move my non-pregnant body, but also being completely exhausted, overwhelmed and struggling to recover from a very physical birth experience. Ā I headed out the door for my first jog at 5-6 weeks postpartum and felt as though my pelvis …
Breastfeeding and Exercise Tips
Breastfeeding and Exercise Tips This topic has been on my mind as we are two weeks in to the May Mom & Baby Series. While instructing Mom & Baby, I always keep breastfeeding in mindāallowing fifteen minutes at the start of each class for preemptive nursing and of course, time throughout and following class as needed. As the mama of a boy who still nurses on demand at 18 months, I have had my share of breastfeeding and exercise related …
Diastasis Recti–An Overview
Diastasis Recti: Defined What is this big, scary sounding term and how does it or could it effect you, your pregnancy and ability to recover postpartum? Ā Diastasis Recti is a term for the weakening and subsequent separation of the connective tissue at the midline of the abdomen secondary to increased intra-abdominal pressure. Ā In simple terms, it’s the separation of the “six-pack” muscles laterally from left to right and is a symptom of a core that is not functioning well. Ā This …