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How Long Till I Get My Body Back After Delivery?
You worked out consistently throughout pregnancy, stuck to a healthy diet, and did the hard work of delivery, so what now? What can you do to expedite healing and recovery so that you look and feel like your pre-pregnancy self? How long will it take? Women typically bleed for four to six weeks after a vaginal delivery and the uterus takes the same amount of time to contract back to normal size. C-section deliveries can take about four weeks to heal at the external incision, though the scar may take up to six months to fully mature. Some women experience birth trauma, whether physical, emotional, or both. Though it is easy…
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4 Tips for a Happy and Comfortable Pregnancy
Rapid changes are taking place in a woman’s body during pregnancy. Skin and muscles are stretched, hormones have increased, organs and bones are shifting, etc. Just because all of this is happening at once doesn’t mean she must suffer. Though our bodies don’t speak to us using language, there are other clues to indicate to us when something is off. Pain and discomfort demonstrate which part of the body is in need of attention. Supporting the body’s tissues can minimize or eliminate discomfort, even during this rapid change. Strength training is my number one recommendation to women who are either trying to conceive or who are already pregnant. Strong muscles…
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Making Healthy Changes When You’re Conflicted
Health is so important because the quality of life is directly dependent on it. Everyone knows why they need to be healthy and most people want to be healthy. Why then is it so difficult to make adjustments that will create more health, energy, happiness, etc.? The simple answer is that we are attempting to make lasting changes with the logical, or conscious mind when the emotional, or unconscious mind is calling all the shots. Robert Anthony likens the unconscious mind to a tape player. I love this analogy because it makes clear why we are so resistant to change and explains why we often repeatedly fail to meet goals.…
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Minimize Pregnancy Related Weight Gain
What does it really take to minimize weight gain, especially during pregnancy and after delivery? Many women struggle with unwanted weight gain during and following pregnancy. Women sacrifice a lot when they decide to become mothers but their body doesn’t have to be on that list. You’re busy. You’ve tried diets and routines that left you confused. Your confidence in yourself is gone and you feel inadequate. You feel less worthy, stop loving yourself, and doubt your ability to be a good mother and partner. That sexy dress you used to feel great in is a distant memory. Levels of despair increase every time you try a new program and…
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Should You Limit Carbs While Pregnant?
Low carbohydrate diets seem to be the talk of the town. Are they right for everyone? Are they a good idea while pregnant? Carbohydrates have a bad reputation and perhaps rightfully so when generally referring to the type of carbohydrates consumed in the SAD (Standard American Diet). It is easy to label all carbs as bad and write them off but perhaps we should understand the role they play in the body, specifically while pregnant. What exactly is a carbohydrate? Simply put, carbs are a source of energy used by the body and can either be simple or complex. The quality of carbs matters and should be considered when deciding…
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Why You Should Eat Organic Foods While Pregnant
Pregnancy is such a unique time in a woman’s life. Her body is busy building tissues of her developing fetus so the foods she eats are, in part, fueling her baby’s growth and development. This fact makes the quality of the mother’s diet very important. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Unfortunately, many farmers use harmful chemicals to treat their crops in order to control weeds or deter other pests from destroying their harvest. The CDC states, “Some pesticides have been linked in human studies with problems including miscarriages, birth defects, and learning or developmental disabilities in children. Some pesticides also may pass into breast milk.”…
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Why You Should Strength Train During Second Pregnancy
Strength training is one of the most useful forms of exercise for humans, but especially for pregnant women. Though it may have been traditionally thought of for men, research now shows us how beneficial it is for everyone. On average, women are waiting longer now to conceive, making strength training even more helpful during pregnancy and in recovery. When a woman becomes pregnant, her body must adjust to the physical, hormonal, and emotional changes taking place. The uterus will expand, abdominal muscles stretch, ribs can push out, extra pressure is on the pelvic floor, among many other changes. Strength training can improve the strength and length of muscles and tissue…
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Pregnancy Nightmares
Everyone dreams, even if you don’t remember your dreams. Humans spend a great portion of life sleeping, thus dreaming. When sleeping, people cycle through periods of deep rest and REM (dream) sleep. Because we experience many bouts of REM sleep, multiple dreams are had each night. There are many theories about dreams and their purpose. While it is easy to blame pregnancy nightmares on hormones, it might be worth taking a deeper look. A new perspective may change your whole outlook and experience while dreaming and may impact waking life too. Substances, like alcohol, can interfere with not only the sleep cycle, but also our ability to recall dreams. When…
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Hysterectomy After Childbirth-Is It My Fate?
A hysterectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgeries on women, second to a C-section. The National Women’s Health Network states, “By the age of 60, more than one-third of all women have had a hysterectomy.” While there are completely legitimate reasons to have a hysterectomy, such as cancer, not all circumstances warrant one. Prolapse is a common justification used by doctors in performing this surgery, but jumping into surgery for this reason, without first rehabilitating the pelvic floor muscles, along with addressing postural and breathing patterns, is a mistake. The majority of women will give birth at some point in their life (about 85% of women). The uterus…
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The Cost of an Unhealthy Lifestyle
In life, most things we want have a price tag, including our health. It’s no secret that the more unhealthy someone is, the more frequently they must go to the doctor, especially as they age. This article states, ” A 65-year-old, healthy couple can expect to spend $266,600 over the course of their retirement on Medicare premiums alone.” The standard American diet causes many costly health problems and most trendy diets are hard to stick to, so many people find themselves yo-yo dieting, which can also cause tons of health issues. Strict or extreme diet protocols can leave many feeling defeated. I have heard some people say that they are…
