Prenatal and Postnatal Fitness
Prenatal Fitness
Jenn is a Pre and Postnatal Certified Trainer that can keep you healthy and fit during and after pregnancy whether you've exercised previously or not.
The ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), the standard setter for pregnancy guidelines, recommends pregnant women exercise at least 150 minutes per week. The risks (when done safely - this is where Jenn comes in) are minimal and the benefits substantial.
Just some of the benefits of exercising while pregnant are:
- Reduces back pain
- Improves posture
- Decreases risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, need for c-section, and other medical conditions
- Promotes healthy weight gain during pregnancy and easier weight loss after pregnancy
- Eases constipation
- Helps with swelling and bloating
- Strengthens heart and blood vessels
- Improves circulation which helps prevent hemorrhoids, varicose veins, leg cramps, and ankle swelling
- Strengthens the skeletal muscles and those of the pelvic floor for easier mobility and comfortable pregnancy
- Heightens mood and sense of well-being
- Increases energy
- Easier delivery- can shorten labor, have fewer medical interventions, and less exhaustion
- Allows for a quicker recovery post delivery and strength and fitness to care for baby
- Helps you sleep better - and we all know pregnant women are in desperate need of that!
- Reduces the risk of developing diastasis recti (abdominal separation)
You get the idea. So talk with your doctor and lets get you moving to a better, happier, more comfortable pregnancy today!
Postnatal Fitness
Did you know most women can start working on their pelvic floor muscles right after birth (read: kegels and "tail tucks") and are cleared for exercise in a few short weeks? As important as it is to stay fit and active during pregnacy, it is just as much so after! Now you have a brand new, living, breathing sweet little bundle to take care of, so staying healthy, strong, and energetic is paramount.
Your body has completely changed by this point - many suffering from diastasis recti, weakened core and pelvic floor muscles, surging hormones, organs trying to settle back in place, blood vessels shrinking, etc. It may be hard to muster up the energy to exercise with all this going on, not to mention the new adventure your life has taken on, but as soon as you have clearance from your doctor you should do your best to begin. You will want to be safe and use guided instruction in your exercise and ab work to keep things healing efficiently and properly.
Benefits of Postnatal exercise:
- Elevates mood to be more patient with new baby
- Combats postpartum depression
- Helps urinary incontinence
- Increased energy to care for baby
- Gets your body back to a healthy weight more quickly
- Eases daily activities
- Deeper sleep during those few precious hours
- Increased muscle strength to pick up and care for baby
- Plus all the wonderful benefits of exercise in general!
You will want to be safe and use guided instruction in your exercise and ab work to keep things healing efficiently and properly.
