"The motivating force behind my work are those people I have had the pleasure to work with and care for over the years"
- Bridgette

Ante-natal courses involve supporting mother and baby through each trimester.

Ÿ        During the first trimester, mother is encouraged to learn Pilates exercises to help maintain a healthy and supportive pelvic floor, with effective deep tummy muscles helping to support baby. This in turn helps create good posture and aids lifting techniques reducing the likelihood of back pain as baby gets bigger.

 

Ÿ        Throughout the second trimester education continues to correct body alignment, developing pelvic awareness and keeping the stabilising muscles in the tummy conditioned to best support baby. Relaxation and breathing techniques are practiced.

 

Ÿ        During the third trimester mother is still exercising but at a lower level and is now encouraged to relax more and concentrate on her breathing technique in preparation for the birth. Bridgette’s policy is to support both mother and baby throughout, regardless of the type of birth chosen.

 

 

 

 

 

These start after the 6 week post-natal check.

Your post-natal programme will involve re-educating the pelvic floor muscles and learning to co-contract the pelvic floor with the deep abdominal muscles. This will help you to help re-gain your figure and a flat tummy. Changes in your body throughout pregnancy can leave you with a feelings of weakness, fatigue and emotional vulnerability. Gaining strength, stamina and a sense of control in your body will help you to cope better emotionally with the demands of parenting.

 

The following essay makes very interesting reading and can be found on the well being page.

 

 

Symptoms of urinary incontinence, need not affect your quality of life. Bridgette works daily with women to guide them through the necessary steps to improve bladder control. Having a healthy and toned pelvic floor will help avoid Pelvic Organ Prolapse. This can occur during:

 

Ÿ        Pregnancy

Ÿ        Vaginal birth

Ÿ        The aging process

Ÿ        Obesity

Ÿ        Repetitive heavy lifting

Ÿ        The menopause

Ÿ        Genetic factors

Ÿ        Chronic diseases

Ÿ        Smoking

Ÿ        Prior surgery

 

 

 

 

 

I am often asked “do men have a pelvic floor”. Yes, you do!

The most frequent difficulty for men is being able to locate the pelvic floor and co-contract into the deep abdominal muscles. This helps to stabilise the pelvis and spine. If you are working out in the Gym, practising a demanding sport, have a manual job that requires heavy lifting and carrying, or finding it difficult to do DIY and gardening without back pain, you need to give your pelvic floor some exercise. With a little guidance and some specific exercises from Bridgette to help re-educate this area of your body, non specific lower back pain need not affect the quality of your life.