Thoughts on Prenatal Exercise
I’ve always been hesitant to talk much about prenatal Pilates and other special conditions. At my core, I am a generalist and I love that. I love feeling as though I am skilled to work with any client who comes through the door, regardless of their situation. And if somebody comes in with a situation I am not or lesser familiar in, I do a very deep dive to learn everything I can.
I’m writing this as I finish up my third, to term pregnancy and feeling the desire to share some thoughts. This will be my final pregnancy (it turns out it’s true for me, you do just know when you’re done) but regardless, it is a little bittersweet.
Having one baby does not make you a prenatal expert. Having three babies does not make you an expert. Each pregnancy I’ve been through has been markedly different. It is incredibly short sighted to assume that your personal pregnancy experience will equip you with first hand knowledge to support any pregnancy. It will equip you to empathize and relate to others. Every pregnancy is an incredible gift and opportunity. It is unbelievable what our bodies do to make this happen and I am in continued awe and respect of this process.
If you do want to specialize in this population, seek out continuing education (my favorite is The Carolyne Anthony Method but I cannot say that I have done them all), keep up on research, build a network of related professionals, and gain experience!
What applies to one pregnant person does not apply to all pregnant people. In some pregnancies, a person will lose comfort laying supine in their first trimester. Go with what your client is comfortable with (plus what their doctor advises), not with an arbitrary rule.
The wedge is not all that it is cracked up to be. Try it out and see what you think. The wedge changes physics - your angles, lines of pull, where you can recruit and stabilize from. It is not a perfect substitute for laying on your back. Instead, work with your client sidelying, in quadruped, seated, kneeling, and standing. There is more than enough to do in those positions without having to use a wedge.
I mentioned above how all pregnancies are unique. In an ideal situation, a pregnant client could have access to individual coaching in order to serve their own unique needs. Of course this isn’t always possible. If you offer group classes, keep the class sizes small, get to know the individuals, and try to adjust for the individuals.
Exercise is a part of the equation for supporting pregnant people but not to the point where it should cause a pregnant person any degree of stress in their life. If I had to rank priorities, I would say:
mental health (seek out professionals, address unhelpful patterns, stress reduction)
sleep and rest
mindfulness (meditation, mindful movement, journaling, etc)
exercise (whatever feels right to the person and is safe and appropriate: cardio, dance, Pilates, yoga, strength training…)
Pregnancy is a profound experience for people. Some people love being pregnant, other people have more grueling pregnancies. Some people experience symptom remission when pregnant (if they have an existing condition), other people experience flareups. Some people love the sight of their growing belly, other people are triggered by it. Be flexible, supportive, kind, and listen. And when unsure, seek out guidance.