As women, we need to use a coach who specialises in mums. I am so INCREDIBLY passionate about this. Our society mainly the media has created this unrealistic expectation of what our bodies should look like after birth! There is no surprise that mums become totally overwhelmed when it comes to choosing the right programme for health and fitness post-baby.

It is so important that you choose a coach that specialises in this area so you can have the utmost trust that you are being coached effectively but most importantly safely! Many mums are walking around wearing pantiliners after having their children years ago. This is not ok ladies and it doesn’t have to be this way.

I can completely empathise with you all after witnessing first-hand the lack of information and support given to new mums post-birth. No wonder we have so many women engaging in unsafe exercise and problems with their pelvic floor much later on in their post-natal journey. This is why it is so important you seek the correct information and support before returning to exercise after having your baby.

I have compiled a list of 5 (of MANY) reasons why women who have children should be working with a coach who specialises in their specific needs:

1. Post Partum is forever

   Yep, you read that right! Pregnancy changes your body, and sometimes those changes do not just “disappear” at your 6-week check-in… Heck! These changes might not even disappear YEARS after you have a baby.

   This is also true regardless of how you delivered your baby: C-section or vaginal delivery. 

   They both create significant changes in a woman’s body. From the abdominal separation that needs to happen to create space for the baby and the added stress to the pelvic floor due to the weight of the baby to hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy. 

   The truth is that we assume that everything just goes back to “normal” as it should after their baby is born; however, that is not always how things go. 

2. Incontinence

   Across a range of UK studies, the prevalence of any incontinence averages out at around 40% for women. Women don’t need to stop doing the things they love because they have incontinence, women do not need to just wear black when they work out because they are afraid of peeing themselves mid-workout, women do not need to pretend nothing is happening when they pee a bit every time they sneeze. 

   There are things that can be done to improve your quality of life, you just have to find a professional that knows how to modify and coach you properly so you can learn how to properly move when you have these symptoms. I have collaborated with Clare Bourne Physio who is a specialist in women’s health.

3. Diastasis Recti. This is the abdominal separation and/or the thinning of the connective tissue that runs down the midline of the abdomen which happens more frequently to women during pregnancy to make room for the growing baby. This thinning, along with the weakening of the abdominal muscles, can lead to bulging. With proper breathing and pressure-control techniques, exercises can be completely and 100% safe. 

   The issue is that given the amount of conflicting information online, and the lack of information and education in regular personal training courses, most coaches do not know how to properly adapt routines and properly cue women to train safely when they do have Diastasis Recti. 

4. Understanding timing limitations. Before I had children I used to think about what is the excuse. I had little understanding of the little time most mums had. For many the thought of training 3-4 times a week alongside caring for their young baby may be too overwhelming, so being told this from a coach that has little understanding of the ‘struggles of a new mum’ is not what a new mum needs. The truth is that sometimes it can be very hard for someone who hasn’t walked in the shoes of a tired, sleep and time-deprived parent to understand the daily struggles and limitations we have.

This post was in no way to criticise other methods but for new mums to understand the importance of choosing a coach that has walked their walk and has expert knowledge in post-natal fitness.

For more information on my post-natal services click here