Weclome to Pre, During and Post Pregnancy Support
To enable your pregnancy experience to be calming, healthy, and something special.
The Priority One Health Centre offers a range of offerings reaching out to families and hence the concepts of a pre and post pregnancy care services with a difference. We provide end to end services that blend in and work well with your obstetrician services.
The services are designed to support you whether you are considering becoming pregnant or are actually pregnant or had a baby! You can choose the A-Z or a specific element that meets your needs right now.
- Initial consultation with Pregnancy coach
- Obstetrician referral services
- Health and fitness assessment
- Pregnancy personal training
- Pre - getting ready
- During - Keeping healthy and preparing for labour
- Post - safe approach to your pre baby figure or better.
- Nutritionist assessment and guidance
- Pilates Consultation and programs
- Chiropractic Consultations, associated adjustment, post birth adjustment for mother and child/children
- Massage – Prior to chiropractic appointments , immediate pre and post birth.
EXERCISE DURING PREGNANCY
An informed and sensible exercise program can be both enjoyable and beneficial during pregnancy.
Women who are physically active previous to, and during pregnancy gain less weight during their pregnancy. There is also evidence to suggest that they tolerate labour better. However, they do not necessarily experience less pain or a shorter labour, as they may believe!
Physical benefits of exercise during pregnancy:
• Maintenance of fitness level
• Relief of some discomforts (varicose veins, muscle cramps, clot formation)
• Promotion of good posture
• Increased energy levels
• Quicker recovery from labour and pregnancy
Some psychological benefits as a result of exercise include:
• Feelings of well being, which relieves anxiety, stress and fatigue.
• Increased self esteem
• Greater self image (very important during pregnancy due to the many obvious changes to a woman's physique)
• Feelings of control over her body
• Social Interaction (considered to be an important aspect in reducing the onset of Post Natal Depression)
Managing changes during pregnancy and exercise implications
The changes that women experience during pregnancy affect the way a woman will respond to physical activity.
The most obvious change is increased weight and change of body shape. These can alter a woman's sense of balance and co-ordination, so it is important to avoid activities that increase the risk of falls or injury to the abdomen.
Throughout pregnancy, the body releases a hormone called Relaxin. Relaxin softens the ligaments, allowing the pelvis to expand and preparing it for birth. However, all the joints become less stable, and the risk of injury to the joints increases.
Did You know?
- Pregnancy places extra demand on a woman's heart. More blood is pumped around the body each minute to ensure an adequate supply of oxygen to the baby. The resting and exercise heart rate increases throughout pregnancy.
- As pregnancy progresses, the expanding uterus pushes the diaphragm upwards. This crowds the chest area making breathing more difficult. Women will feel short of breath during training especially in their last trimester. (Hormones released during pregnancy can also contribute to breathlessness)
- Core temperature of the body rises about 1 degree during pregnancy. This along with an increase in core temperature during exercise means we must be cautious that the client does not overheat. Prolonged and excessive overheating can be harmful to the foetus, especially in the first three months.
Be aware that many pregnant women will feel they can continue with a vigorous exercise regime in these first few months, and will be advised on exercise modifications to reduce overheating.
Exercise Programming.
We provide you with a tailored plan providing guidelines and recommendations for exercise during pregnancy. No two pregnancies are alike hence the need for tailoring. We consider
- Frequency :
- Intensity :
- Safe Strenuous activity levels,
- Resistance Training,
- Cardio Training and;
- Aqua based Activity.
