Navigating the Postpartum Healing Journey

In many European countries, birthing bodies receive prescriptions from their OBs to see a Physical Therapist after giving birth. Through the simple act of receiving a prescription, each person is given PERMISSION to slow down and heal. There is more to learn and more to do before jumping back into a busy and active life.

Here in the States, it’s very different. There is something called “clearance” that doctors give at 6 weeks. Some more mindful doctors recommend starting back with movement slowly, while others suggest jumping back into whatever you were doing before getting pregnant. Many people feel at a loss of what to do and aren’t given a direct path toward healing. They lace up their running shoes much too early and end up hurting themselves or just realizing they can’t do what they used to, so... now what?!

This is the main reason I have a new offering at the studio. It feels important that the studio becomes a direct path toward healing for people who are pregnant or have given birth. I want to answer the ever-present “now what?!” in an informative, compassionate, and empowering way.

We have always been a studio that works with clients who are overcoming injuries or want to keep injuries at bay, and I’m realizing now more than ever that being pregnant or giving birth needs just as much attention and care as healing from an injury.

In my own postpartum healing journey, I’m slowly getting stronger. My 16lb four-and-a-half-month-old certainly requires that I keep my strength up. I’m still learning what my body is and isn’t capable of — I tried to branch out to hot yoga (umm… whoa) and came crawling back to Pilates.

And guess what? I have an abdominal diastasis but I do flexion. Gasp! That’s the biggest no-no, but I know how to engage my abdominals to do flexion (think: head curls or crunches) in a safe and supportive way. If you’re pregnant or postpartum and you don’t know what any of this means but want to learn, email me. I can’t wait to share everything I know so you can truly understand exactly what you need in your new (amazing and capable) body.