Proactive Prenatal Preparation: Movement

In this article, I share what I believe creates some of the most optimal conditions for you and your baby to navigate your birth experience with the least chance for intervention.

Please note that the nature of birth is unpredictable, and nothing is guaranteed. However, I have witnessed this work in my own body, with women I have walked alongside in birth and studied under birth workers who have seen this over and over with their clients.

I am passionate about changing the narrative around birth. I don't believe pain in pregnancy needs to be a rite of passage. I have witnessed a transformation in my own pregnant body that led to a low discomfort pregnancy and natural birth. Intentional movement in pregnancy can decrease or eliminate common but not normal pregnancy symptoms of lower back pain, shortness of breath due to the growing baby, heartburn, pelvic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, and more. Aligned movement can decrease the chance of diastasis recti, which is the unnatural separation of the abdominal muscles. It can also support a second pregnancy better if a DR already exists! All of the movement input we provide our bodies to support our pregnancy also supports our birth process. This intentional movement is designed to help the baby navigate the pelvis more efficiently because our tissues are balanced.

I think of our bodies as experts in adaptation. When we are inactive they adapt quickly. I think we have all had the experience of a period of inactivity followed by a renewed dedication to exercise that leaves us struggling to sit down on the toilet the next day. Just me?

It is easy to see adaptation at work here. With each day of exercise, you can feel yourself more easily support the load you place upon it, and after a few weeks, you might even notice a change in the shape of your body.

Observing the chronic changes we have adapted to over long periods is more challenging. These adaptations I am referring to here often result from our modern lifestyles, athletics (including yoga!), compensation from injuries, and even trauma. Our bodies were meant for movement but some movements provide more beneficial input to our tissues than others. Repetitive movements and postures will undoubtedly lead to physical and measurable changes in the body. The leg you always cross, holding your baby on your right side each time you pick them up, and walking the flat surfaces of our concrete jungles will influence your soft tissues which influence your bony structure. Yes, that is correct. Your soft tissues are what hold you in space, not your bones. And these soft tissues are incredibly adaptable, which is great news! Your pelvis needs to change shape when in labor. What is even better, it is designed to do so. However, if it hasn't had the input of a variety of movements it might be harder to access when you need it. That is why I believe movement is one of the most proactive things we can do for our birth process.

I have already mentioned that not all movement is created equal. Sometimes I feel like that statement still stings a bit. But our bodies, just like our minds, crave new input and experiences. The adage 'use it or lose it' does apply to our mobility and range of motion. Most of us, myself included, spend the majority of our time moving through our days in the same "shape(s)". Arms out in front, hips flexed to 90 degrees and when we get up to move we are walking on a flat surface. A 30-minute workout is great, but how many of those minutes are we experiencing a different input to the tissues by targeting our mobility in all directions and at its fullest potential? How does that compare to the rest of our days??

"Birth techniques which draw upon our bodies mobility are so beautifully designed to support and assist us in birth, however, our bodies might not respond optimally if they haven't been allowed to feel this safely up until this point"

The body's tissues are designed to lengthen and shorten and should be able to do so reflexively all day long. For this to happen we have to often show the body all the ranges of motion available to it because we've been living in a restricted state for any number of reasons. This is why movement is an essential pillar of success when it comes to intervention-free birth.

How does this take shape in real life? Does that mean you need a gym membership? My answer is a resounding no! The goal isn't to add more to your already full plate. I want you to know feminine alignment and I want you to move in a way that supports the womb-from the whole body.

Here's how you can work with me on this:

PowerFULL Pregnancy

This three-month mentorship will take you through a personalized alignment assessment and access to my guide "Power in Posture." Exercises for embodiment and re-patterning your alignment are included. You will also receive movement routines to open and balance every level of the pelvis for birth.

Power in Posture

You can purchase this guide right now and affordably get started on your journey into feminine alignment for the womb!

If you are ready to schedule or want to book a connection call contact me directly at danielle@mothernurturedlife.com