BumptUpdates

Using a Birth Ball to Prepare for Labor

By Sara French, ACSM CPT, NASM CNC

November 1, 2024

Whether you call it a birth ball or a yoga ball, you might be surprised to learn just how much this tool can help to prepare your body for labor. Some people recommend incorporating it into your daily routine in the third trimester. I would advocate for using it all throughout pregnancy! Purchasing a birth ball is only a minor investment and can be found right on Amazon! Let’s dive right into how birth balls prepare your body, how to use one, and some exercises to try at home.

Monitoring Blood Sugar During Pregnancy

By Sara French, ACSM CPT, NASM CNC

October 25, 2024

Anyone who has ever been pregnant knows to expect a gestational diabetes test in the latter half of the pregnancy. To put it plainly, gestational diabetes is a condition during pregnancy when the body cannot make enough insulin. The placenta is a powerful organ that makes its own hormones to support your growing baby. Sometimes, these hormones make it harder for the body to use insulin. Gestational diabetes typically resolves itself after pregnancy, but there are definitely things you can do to help your body during pregnancy if you receive this diagnosis. In this article, we will discuss what to expect for the traditional screening, explore options outside of the standard glucola drink, and assess lifestyle changes you can make to improve your blood sugar during pregnancy. 

What’s The Deal With Pregnancy Constipation?

By Sara French, ACSM CPT, NASM CNC

October 18, 2024

Research shows that constipation affects up to 38% of women during pregnancy. If you’ve ever been pregnant and had to suffer through this annoying symptom, congratulations! You are one of the lucky 38%. Throughout this article, we will explore what can trigger constipation and discuss ways to relieve it. 

Kegels During Pregnancy – What the Latest Research Says

Sara French, ACSM CPT, NASM CNC

October 4th, 2024

What Are Kegels?

If you have ever been pregnant, you’ve probably been told to “do your kegels!”, but what are they? Kegels are a pelvic floor muscle exercise in which you tighten the muscles of your pelvic floor and then relax them. You may be coached to hold the contraction for a certain amount of time before relaxing or just squeeze and immediately release (sometimes called “quick flicks”). While they are incredibly effective at helping many pelvic floor symptoms, there are also situations when they are not helpful. Getting a more comprehensive exam by a qualified pelvic health physical therapist will equip you with more tools to prepare your body and pelvic floor for labor and delivery, including if doing kegels is right for you at this time.

Combating Round Ligament Pain During Pregnancy

By Sara French, ACSM CPT, NASM CNC

September 27, 2024

If you are in your second trimester of pregnancy, you are likely experiencing something called round ligament pain. While this may seem worrisome, it just means your body is making more room for that growing baby of yours! Throughout this article, we will discuss: what round ligament pain is from a physiological standpoint, how to alleviate it, and when to call a doctor.