Perinatal Fitness Articles, Tips, & Information

PRE-CONCEPTION CHECKLIST

If you are planning to have a baby, getting ready begins even before you become pregnant! By following the suggestions provided in this article before you conceive, you can help to ensure a healthy pregnancy and a healthy, happy baby.

“BACK HEALTHY” BASICS FOR NEW PARENTS

Parents with infants and small children are particularly vulnerable to back pain due to the fact that interacting with their children involves a lot of bending, reaching and lifting. Such movements, if performed incorrectly day after day, can put great stress on the spinal structures and could possibly lead to injuries such as ligament strain, muscle tears or disk problems.

Fortunately, new parents can protect themselves from such injuries by adhering to proper body mechanics. Find out more in this informative article!

BIRTH BALL WORKOUT

Stability ball training classes are definitely on the upswing in gyms and healthclubs in the US. This “Birth Ball Workout” article, published in the February 2004 issue of ePregnancy Magazine, highlights a safe and effective Resist-A-Ball program for pregnant clients. Photos of actual exercises throughout the article!

JOGGING STROLLERS

The popularity of jogging strollers among parents has increased dramatically in recent years. They can be found in a variety of shapes, sizes and prices to match almost anyone's needs. This article provides tips on what features to look for when purchasing a jogging stroller as well as important safety issues to consider.

Read the article...
“Healthy Moms® - New Moms Growing Gracefully With Baby:
Great Posture and Fitness after Baby - An Obtainable Goal!”
written for CleverParents.com  ↓

by Marybeth Winstead of Healthy Moms®

Have you ever taken a close look at the other women around you while you were eating out? Chances are that many of them are “hunched” over and often complain of various body pain and discomforts. Hopefully, those most affected by musculosketal injuries, and/or predisposed discomforts due to heredity, are seeking the advice of a competent physician or licensed chiropractor. However, what I have observed from my experience as a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor (as well as, being a “forty-something”, mother of two!), is that so much of our aches and pains may be relieved by simply becoming aware of the many changes that our bodies go through during pregnancy and postpartum. Read the entire article at CleverParents.com

KEGEL EXERCISES

The “kegel” exercises are some of the most important, if not the most important exercises for pregnant women. Learning how to strengthen the pelvic floor can help alleviate or minimize problems such as “sagging” organs and urinary incontinence that many women experience during and after pregnancy when they sneeze, laugh, and cough. It is equally vital to learn how to relax these muscles in order for delivery to proceed smoothly.