WE THOUGHT 2022 WAS A BIG YEAR …

Hayden and I have exciting news to kick off 2023. We are delighted to be expecting in July not just one, but two Baby Buckmans! We are filled with excitement, hope and joy. I spend most days talking to expectant mothers and now experiencing pregnancy myself, I have realised how it feels to be on the other side, and the sense of surrealism, worry and doubt that comes along with it. I will be relying heavily on the experts around me, other women, mothers, fathers and health professionals and I feel very lucky to be surrounded by a lot of support. Working as a women’s health physio you understand that you have in-depth knowledge about a specific area of pregnancy. Every day I talk to expectant mothers about how to manage their pregnancy and best prepare for labour, and here are my top tips as a women’s health physio about how to approach pregnancy. If I see you over the next few months, be prepared to be asked about your experience and what your top tips are: Hayden and I can’t get enough!
·      Understand how your pelvic floor functions
The pelvic floor plays an essential role in both bladder and bowel control but also during labour and delivery. In fact, the baseline resting tone and ability of the muscles to relax under strain has a direct correlation to time spent in second stage labour and risk of tearing. It is important to understand the pelvic floor muscle function exists on a spectrum, from weakness and poor coordination to overactive, tight and difficult to relax. It can be difficult to know where our own pelvic floor sits and even though it would be easier to advise a general pelvic floor exercise program for pregnancy, what is appropriate for one person can aggravate the next. A pelvic floor assessment in the second trimester allows you to understand your pelvic floor and how to best prepare for both labour and recovery.
·      Create an exercise program that works for you.
Pregnancy changes the way our body feels, especially true while exercising with changes through our centre of balance, joints and breathing. The guidelines for exercise during pregnancy are 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercises per week (about the same as when you’re not pregnant). There are a lot of old wives’ tales, myths and outdated information circulating around about exercise in pregnancy, which can make it daunting or scary to approach. It is important to do what works and what you are comfortable with – my favourite so far has been Pilates, swimming and walking.
·      Learn strategies to minimise pelvic girdle pain.
Pelvic pain is the biggest reason I will see women in clinic during their pregnancies and that is because it can be awfully debilitating. Hormonal changes soften ligaments around the pelvis for a very good reason, to allow it to expand and open during labour. However, some women can be adversely affected by these changes, even early in their pregnancies. The softening of the ligaments can make simple things like rolling over in bed, standing and walking very painful. There are many strategies we can use to minimise and manage pelvic pain including taping, braces, hands-on therapy and specific strengthening exercises.
If you have any questions please come check in with Bec or myself at Physique. We love treating pregnancy and post-natal. (Plus the front desk girls can’t get enough baby cuddles).