Category Archives: Uncategorized

What to Expect During Each Stage of Labor

By Sara French, ACSM CPT, NASM CNC

November 29, 2024

You’re nearing that time when it might be hard to tell if the sensations you are experiencing are false labor, often referred to as prodromal labor, or early labor. If you have been having braxton hicks contractions for a while, it might be even tougher to distinguish whether or not it’s go time! Let’s get into the nitty gritty on the different stages of labor, and what to expect for each one. My hope is that you will go into your birth feeling educated and empowered knowing what your body is doing in each stage. 

The Pros and Cons of Cervical Checks

By Sara French, ACSM CPT, NASM CNC
November 15, 2024

Routine cervical checks are often started toward the end of pregnancy, around week 36 or 37 of gestation. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam of your cervix in order to assess how “ready” your body is for labor. There are some pros and cons to these routine exams, which is what will be discussed in this article. 

Belly Support Tools During Pregnancy

By Sara French, ACSM CPT, NASM CNC

November 8, 2024

As you near the third trimester, you might be feeling the added pressure of your growing belly! Whether it’s simply uncomfortable or downright painful, we can all agree that it’s no fun. You might be experiencing round ligament pain, pelvic heaviness, or back pain. Thankfully, there are a plethora of belly support tools available for you to try! In this article, I hope to shed some light on belly bands and kinesio tape.

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.