SETTING A NEW STANDARD OF CARE

When thinking about pregnancy and what happens to a woman’s body during this time, I think of it as one, long, slow-motion injury.  Yes, it is a beautiful thing to grow another tiny human.  BUT it changes everything- from the way we walk to the way we breathe.  Those adaptations make it possible to carry a bowling-ball sized baby but after birth, many women have trouble finding their way back to baseline.  I’m here to tell you that the adapted shallow breathing pattern during pregnancy is now affecting your recovery post-baby.  The diaphragm is connected to the pelvic floor and abdominals through fascia.  SO, with every breath you take, you can influence (in a good way or bad way) abdominal separation or diastasis recti and the pelvic floor.  The very first thing I teach clients is how to breathe again…it’s much easier said than done. 

So, if we think about pregnancy as an injury, why isn’t rehabilitation a standard practice?  You can find thousands of rehab protocols for ACL injuries, ankle sprains, labrum tears, etc… but the best advice you can find for recovering from pregnancy is to rest and take it easy.  Well, life with a newborn baby isn’t easy and restful.  New moms need to be able to pick up and care for their new bundle of joy without leaking, prolapse, back pain, abdominal separation, etc.  It’s time to set a new standard of care.  Moms deserve and need so much more support during their pregnancy and during postpartum phases to physically recover in order to tackle the newest and best adventures!