Myth:  Pregnant women automatically know how to be a mother.

As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child”, however, women often feel that they are expected to automatically know how to be the ideal mother, recover immediately, and quickly return to their pre-pregnancy selves. Pregnancy and motherhood may be joyful and challenging, but it takes work and patience to navigate through the physical and emotional changes that take place and to get back to “feeling like yourself again”. 

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Myth:  Pregnant women should not exercise.

Unless women are told not to exercise for medical reasons, it is helpful to stay active and prepare the body for labour and motherhood while pregnant.  However, it is important to understand and be aware of positioning and the impact of movement on the mother's core system because exercises that are safe for baby are not always best for the mother in the long run.  

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Myth:  Women who have C-section deliveries don’t have the same problems as women who have vaginal deliveries. 

Physical and emotional changes take place during pregnancy and delivery regardless of how a baby is born.  In both cases, they may lead to low back and pelvic pain, incontinence, separation of the abdominal wall muscles, and pelvic organ prolapse.  In fact, C-sections could increase recovery time for women because of the trauma to the abdominal wall. 

 

Myth:  There is a point after which bodies don't recover from pregnancy and delivery.

Whether you have just had a baby, or your "baby" has children of his/her own, it is never too late to care for your body and mind.  Human bodies are dynamic and are capable of reversing many of the physical and emotional changes that take place during pregnancy and delivery. Practicing intentional exercises will retrain muscles and nerves at any time after a baby is born.

 

Myth:  High impact activity is the best way to lose weight.

The physical changes that come with pregnancy and delivery take time to heal. The best way to lose weight is not always the fastest. It is important to develop a stable physical foundation before adding intensity and impact to exercise to prevent immediate injury and risk of future injury. Patiently and intentionally retraining core muscle strength and coordination before training with weights and adding forceful activity will reduce the risk of common postpartum challenges. These include low back and pelvic pain, incontinence, diastasis recti, and pelvic organ prolapse.

 

Myth:  Incontinence is normal after pregnancy.

Bladders are muscular and are controlled by our nervous system and our core muscles.  The physical and emotional changes that take place during pregnancy and delivery can affect this control system.  By understanding imbalances in the core muscles and emotional triggers, it is possible to live without incontinence. 

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Myth:  Women always look pregnant after having a baby.

Pregnancy and delivery is associated with increased strain on the abdomen and can have lingering effects on core muscle tone and coordination.  Improving alignment and retraining core muscles can eliminate pressure on the abdomen and reduce pooching of the belly.