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Pregnancy Pilates
Current Pilates Timetable
The Physiotherapy Clinic offers Physio Pilates classes specifically for pregnant women. You can start Physio Pilates Pregnancy classes from 12 weeks into your pregnancy. The classes are run as a block of 5 weeks of 1 hour classes.
Classes are strictly limited to 7 participants and so bookings are essential. Contact our office for current class times and availability. Most health funds offer a rebate under your Physiotherapy Cover for Physio Pilates Pregnancy classes.
Some women need specific permission from their Obstetrician to ensure they can safely exercise. If you have a history of placenta praevia, cervical incompetence or recurrent miscarriage please get clearance from your doctor before starting Physio Pilates. If you are at all unsure about whether it is safe for you to exercise, please check with your Obstetrician.
All Physio Pilates classes are taught by Physiotherapists with a specific interest in Obstetrics, to ensure a high standard of instruction, supervision and expertise. Where necessary, our Physios are able to adapt the class structure for individuals with a history of pain or pathology. It’s unusual for a Physio Pilates class not to contain someone with a history of pain, especially sacroiliac, low back or pubic symphysis pain.
Why do Physio Pilates Pregnancy Classes?
Physio Pilates Pregnancy classes are designed to help your body adapt as it changes during the rest of your pregnancy, labour and the post natal period. These three phases have different physical demands which need to be addressed.
During pregnancy there are changes in body shape, posture and flexibility. As the pregnancy progresses your belly expands to accommodate the growing foetus, placenta and amniotic fluid. Your belly grows, your ribs are pushed apart and your pelvic floor is under a much greater load. Your body may need help adapting to these changes to prevent pain and/or incontinence.
Pregnancy hormones alter the viscoelastic properties of the ligaments, muscles and other soft tissues of the body. It is not entirely clear exactly how this happens or what exact hormones are responsible, but relaxin and estradiol seem to be implicated. Relaxin is linked to alterations in collagen from large to small diameter fibres. We do know that there is an increase in the laxity of the pelvic joints (sacroiliac and pubic symphysis) as the pregnancy nears full term, although this may start as early as 12 weeks. Good gluteal, abdominal and pelvic floor muscles help reinforce these areas to prevent pain and dysfunction in the pregnant pelvis. We specifically target these areas in Physio Pilates Pregnancy classes.
Labour is an incredibly physically demanding time. We tend to give birth to larger babies at a later age than women did in previous generations. For the first stage of labour, while the cervix dilates, strong and well controlled core and leg muscles help you get to second stage. During second stage of labour good endurance, strong abdominal, gluteals and pelvic floor muscles are needed to help you push the baby out. We work on all these areas in Physio Pilates Pregnancy classes.
Immediately following delivery your pelvic floor and abdominals begin their recovery. Knowing how to work these muscles before you deliver makes it much easier to use them accurately after the baby is born. Activating your pelvic floor after delivery may help reduce the swelling of the perineum associated with delivery trauma.
After delivery, your focus shifts to the baby. This ‘little’ baby weighs on average about 4kg and gets heavier and wrigglier every week. Learning to move well with the baby to prevent injury and use your body appropriately is important. As well as the functional benefits of Physio Pilates, it helps you get your pre-pregnancy body back. Getting your abdominal and gluteal muscles stronger helps regain a sleeker shape! For best results start our Physio Pilates Post Natal Classes 6 weeks after delivery, following your 6 week Obstetric check up from your doctor.
Contact The Physiotherapy Clinic for further details, bookings or to talk to one of our Physios tel: 02 9387 1011