Ante natal care
Pregnancy is a very special time for women. It is also a time where the many changes within a woman's body can sometimes result in lower back pain, or general instability in the joints. The best solution to overcome these musculo-skeletal problems is to exercise. Ante natal exercises are designed for the pregnant womans body, and are absolutely safe if performed correctly. At the OHC, under the guidance of our professional team of female osteopaths and physical therapists, a pregnant woman can maintain her strength and cardiovascular fitness right through her pregnancy.
The Benefits of Pre-natal exercises:
- Improve cardiovascular fitness
- Improve muscle strength and endurance
- Increase energy levels during pregnancy
- Improve posture and biomechanics
- Improve circulation
- Improve moods
- Improve self-esteem
- Improve sense of well-being
- Improve recovery time after birth
Exercise can help decrease or prevent:
- Constipation
- Swelling of extremities
- Cramping
- Nausea
- Varicose veins
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Back pain
- Gestational Diabetes
- Pregnancy induced hypertension
- Diastasis Recti
- Pelvic and rectal pressure
- Unrinary incontinence
- Post partum weight retention
- Anxiety
- Depression
Contraindications to exercise:
Under certain conditions exercise can be contra-indicated, and could be harmful for the mother to be. please read the following list of contraindications to ensure that you are safe to exercise. If a pregnant woman were to have any of the listed symptoms we would advise her to get clearance from her gynaecologist before starting an exercise programme.
Absolute contraindications
- Hemodynamically significant heart disease
- Restrictive lung disease
- Incompetant cervix
- Multiple gestation at risk for premature labour
- Persistent second or third trimester bleeding
- Placenta previa after 26 weeks of gestation
- Premature labour during the current pegnancy
- Ruptured membranes
- Preeclampsia/pregnancy induced hypertension
Source:American College of Obstertricians and Gynaecologists,
Exercising during pregnancy and the post partum period committee;
Opinion Number 267 January 2002 |
