The Benefits of Lifting Weights for Women
Women Lifting Heavy? Until recent years women weren’t typically all about the barbells and squat racks. Even today, as weightlifting is becoming more normal for women, we are still surrounded by stereotypical ideas about what fitness should look like for us and we are faced with unrealistic ideas of …
How to Keep Your Feminine Rhythm without a Menstrual Cycle
You can use the following wisdom to create harmony within your body whether you’re pregnant, nursing or do not have a menstrual cycle for other reasons. Did you know that the phases of the moon mirror the phases of our cycle? We can tap into this celestial rhythm in order to …
Fitness Adaptations While Trying to Conceive
One season of the motherhood transition is preconception and/or trying to conceive. It is important to know that everything affects everything and the way we intentionally eat, think, and move plays a part in conception. So how does a woman who is actively trying to conceive approach this? …
#MOMCRUSHMONDAY: Meet Joanne
Mom Crush Monday #MCM Joanne walked into my office during her second trimester with her first child. She was a vibrant, funny, and determined soon-to-be new mom who couldn’t wait to bring a life into this world. Joanne initially presented to my office with the common musculoskeletal complaint of …
Train for Birth
As the mama of a toddler and also pregnant with number two, I am constantly staying active. My goal for exercising while pregnant isn’t to race in a 5K or marathon, lift heavy things, or even reach new fitness goals; it’s to train for birth. Birth is a mental and …
Symphysis Pubis Pain aka “Lightning Crotch” or Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy
Symphysis pubis pain is un-affectionately known as lightning crotch. It’s that feeling that 20% of pregnant women know all too well—the sharp and sudden pain deep in their pelvis. The feeling of their pelvis shearing, pain that can stop a mama mid-step or leave her gasping for air trying to …
What is IAP?
Key Differences between IAP regulation, Valsalva, and Bearing Down One thing active pregnant mamas constantly hear is to be careful not to increase intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) because it will cause a diastasis or pelvic floor disorders. This is most common in the mamas who lift and exercise during pregnancy. While …
Links We Love: Linking to Evidenced Based Research and Awesome Sites
At BIRTHFIT we believe resources that give up to date, unbiased, and inclusive information are the best. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of favorite sites and resources for your reference. This list is broken down into each pillar so that you can see how BIRTHFIT can support you in …
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Pregnancy
Have you ever experienced a numbing, tingling, or throbbing sensation in your thumb or first three fingers of your hand while pregnant or postpartum? Have you had trouble performing fine motor skills such as gripping objects or buttoning a shirt? Does it feel like your hand has fallen asleep or …
“Too Fit” is Not the Problem
Recently, I was attending a birth as a doula. You should know that at this point in my career, I only take on doula clients that do the work and choose to be “birth fit”. This means preparing mind, body, and soul for this monumental transition and planning for the …