Pilates when you’re pregnant? Here’s why it’s a good idea.
Let us say we are sitting together over a coffee, let’s say we’re two mums, united in sleep deprivation, at some playgroup or soft play and we have bypassed the small talk and we’re onto the nitty gritty of pregnancy. The audacity of it all, the enormous boobs, the strange urge to crunch ice or drink the water at the bottom of the dishwasher and which particular cream to use on those most unwelcome of guests, haemorrhoids.
I might anecdotally tell you that Pilates helped me restore my pelvic floor after pushing out two generously-sized babies, that during both labours I was using movements I learnt in my classes to keep baby in the best position for birth and that when my body aches from all that motherhood throws at it (and boy does it throw A LOT) it is everything I learned about my own body from Pilates that means I can ease those aches through movement. At this point you might think me one of those Pilates bores you meet at parties and you would be right! But listen, it’s not just me. Scientific research backs me up,
“The practise of a programme using the Pilates method supervised by a professional expert, obtains major improvements in the pregnant woman's physical condition, such as blood pressure, flexibility, spine curvature, and the parameters in birth, with fewer episiotomies, less analgesic usage and lower new born birth weight”
Rodríguez-Díaz L, Ruiz-Frutos C, Vázquez-Lara JM, Ramírez-Rodrigo J, Villaverde-Gutiérrez C, Torres-Luque G. Effectiveness of a physical activity programme based on the Pilates method in pregnancy and labour. Enferm Clin. 2017
Major improvements! Fewer episiotomies! Coupled with what we know about how exercise benefits our state of mind, makes us happier and less anxious the question becomes not ‘Why would you do Pilates when you’re pregnant?” but “Why wouldn’t you?”.
So forgive me if I bang on about it but Pilates can dramatically impact your pregnancy, your baby and your labour. I am passionate about supporting women through this monumental time in their lives so if you see me chewing someone’s ear off at Jungle Adventure then you’ll know what it is I am whispering.
Laura teaches Pregnancy Pilates on Saturdays 9am GMT at The Old Joinery Studio, Birch, CO2 0LT, you can also join online. Email laura@colchesterpilates.com to book a £10 taster session.
About the author: Laura Harding is a Pilates teacher based in Colchester, Essex, UK. laura@colchesterpilates.com
Instagram: @colchesterpilates
References:
Rodríguez-Díaz L, Ruiz-Frutos C, Vázquez-Lara JM, Ramírez-Rodrigo J, Villaverde-Gutiérrez C, Torres-Luque G. Effectiveness of a physical activity programme based on the Pilates method in pregnancy and labour. Enferm Clin. 2017.