During pregnancy, and the period that follows it, a lot of changes will occur in a woman’s body, some of which can be painful or uncomfortable. The hormone levels fluctuate, the weight of the baby places stress on the spine and lower limbs and fluid retention is also common. This can result in swollen legs, low back pain, pelvic pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Looking after yourself during these times is very important and a good exercise program and balanced diet are always recommended. Physiotherapy is useful to treat and manage pregnancy induced pains. Your physiotherapist can also prescribe exercises that can be done safely, even late into pregnancy. This helps keep mother and child healthy, maintain a healthy weight and decrease problems such as low back pain.
Pre and Post Natal Yoga and Pilates classes are a very good and safe form of exercise during and after pregnancy when conducted under the supervision of reliable and expert instructors.
