I see a lot in my day-to-day statements like: “Wow, but did she do Pilates during her entire pregnancy and was unable to deliver normally?” Or: “I’m not going to do Pilates because I want a Caesarean, so it’s no use”. Situations that make me a little sad and very concerned about the amount of information that these people – most especially moms – have about Pilates during pregnancy, and I would therefore like to share some points on this subject. First, we need to understand that, pregnancy is a period of extreme changes in the body and spirit of women and that these changes happen naturally, but that they may come to bother, with regard to pain and discomfort and that must be, above everything, respected by the instructor when preparing the session for a pregnant woman.
Body Changes During Pregnancy
Skeleton Mechanics: they are due to hormonal actions that increase ligament laxity1 and promote biomechanical changes2 that cause structural changes in the static and dynamic of the skeleton. Walking (the way the pregnant woman walks): it is a simple activity of daily life and one of the main skills of the human being. Even though it constitutes a natural gesture, it is believed that differentiated patterns happen during its realization with the pregnancy process. These can cause pain and discomfort during other activities of daily and professional life. Balance: a good balance is essential for human beings, as it is present in day-to-day activities, with its control and correct functioning attributed to the sensory, motor, and central nervous systems. Adjustments in the postural system can be expected with pregnancy, resulting from the growth of the uterus (interiorized within the abdominal cavity), in addition to the increase in the weight and size of the breasts, which are factors that contribute to the displacement of the woman’s center of gravity to upwards and forwards, being able to accentuate lumbar lordosis and promote a pelvic anteversion and change in the support base5 causing pain, when the pregnant woman’s body is not prepared to receive such changes.
Pilates as a form of physical activity chosen during pregnancy has the main objective of taking care of the health of the mother and baby, offering greater comfort during this period keeping the mother active, whatever the type of delivery desired by her. Some women prefer to wait until the second trimester (12 weeks) to begin physical activity. In Pilates, we were able to work with this pregnant woman even before this period, with exercises aimed at body awareness, breathing, and contraction of the perineum, for example. In Pilates during pregnancy we work with pregnant women, strengthening and stretching in general, in addition to using breathing consciously to improve the baby’s oxygenation and the woman’s connection with body changes. We divide the classes with pregnant women according to each phase (trimester) of the pregnancy, adapting to each physical condition of the woman, which makes the session directed to pregnant women. That is, much safer than when shared with other patients who have other goals. The benefits for mothers during Pilates during pregnancy are several, and we achieve it through the method: Assist in Weight Control Improve Sleep Quality Improve and Relieve Circulatory Condition Relieve Constipation and Fatigue Reduce Muscle and Joint Pain that may arise, including and very importantly, from the pelvic floor musculature. In the literature, there are some studies involving exercises for the pelvic muscles during pregnancy. Improve Breathing Properly Guide More Comfortable Placements In the session aimed at this audience, in addition to interacting with other pregnant women, patients take their doubts, share yearnings and growth as mothers, which also contributes a lot to a healthy pregnancy. They learn a lot, as do we instructors because each pregnant woman and pregnancy is different from each other and we need to understand how it makes us grow as professionals. It is such a delicate phase and at the same time so exciting to work, that it allows us to have a finer relationship with the patient.