Preparing for Pregnancy
A new trend.
A new trend we have observed in the clinic is young women are preparing themselves for pregnancy. They find their sedentary computer based job is having a negative impact on their postural muscles and feel disconnected to these deep muscles of which the pelvic floor muscle is one. They are concerned that this decreased mind body connection and ‘core postural’ tone could negatively impact on their physical health during pregnancy and beyond.
Clinically we have observed with women who have a computer based job and sit on a supportive ergonomic chair that their deep abdominal muscles get under used and the muscles of their upper back between their shoulder blades over recruited. This movement pattern which the brain starts adopting as normal is not ideal for the manual handling of motherhood and the physicality of pregnancy.
We refer to two postures one is the computer posture and the other is the ancient posture of motherhood before we had technology overwhelming our lives. Women preparing for pregnancy are educated how to ideally sit, stand, and sit to stand, bend and walk. Learn ideal sitting which they can integrate into their work place. Stop ignoring the tight upper back and tense shoulders and rely more on the deep postural muscles.
We initially make sure the pelvic floor muscles are correctly recruited along with the abdominal cylinder, back and scapula muscles, encouraging ideal movement patterns. We may use mirrors, real-time ultrasound biofeedback, and cognitive functional therapy. We want you to initially understand the correct motor control pattern of the pelvic floor muscles and how they interplay with the ‘core’ muscles of the abdomen, back and diaphragm. This session or sessions is referred to as Prep for Pilates.
Women can then partake in pelvic floor safe Pilates in our exercise studio either one on one or in groups. Our vision is all women enjoy pelvic floor fitness and optimal recruitment of spinal stability muscles for pregnancy, bladder, bowel and back health.
Did you know? It is important to remember that you are not alone if you have incontinence issues.
- 4.8 million Australians suffer from incontinence
- 65% of women and 30% of men sitting in a GP waiting room have some form of incontinence
- 70% of people with urinary leakage do not seek advice and treatment for their problem
- 1 in 3 Australian women suffer from urinary incontinence
- 43% of subjects with incontinence and prolapse depressed their pelvic floor on ultrasound when instructed to lift (straining strategy)
- A recent study from the Continence Foundation of Australia “Young mums risking pelvic floor health” looked at 1000 mums and mums-to–be found that despite being in a high risk category for developing incontinence, 98% failed to do the daily recommended level of pelvic floor exercises, 42% of women felt their doctor or nurse did not adequately inform them during their pregnancy about pelvic floor muscle exercises
Preparing for Pregnancy strategies may include
- Musculoskeletal assessment to identify any areas of discomfort that may need treating
- Real-time ultrasound biofeedback to teach optimal motor control of the pelvic floor muscles, abdominal cylinder control ‘core muscles’, deep back muscles and diaphragm
- Pelvic floor strength exercise program
- Education on how to maximise the function of the pelvic floor muscles in everyday life by connecting to the abdominal cylinder muscles commonly referred to as ‘The Core’, the deep back muscles and diaphragm.
- Clinical Pilates program with a safe pelvic floor exercise focus to bridge the gap from isolated strengthening into everyday function
- Whole body functional strengthening to prepare for the physical demands of motherhood