BACK TO FITNESS AFTER BIRTH

Author: Alex Stronach

Medicine in Motion Health Group is a team of dedicated Allied Health Professionals who are passionate about using exercise as medicine to help you reach your health goals. Servicing the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions across multiple clinic locations, we have Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists who, since having babies of their own, have developed a keen interest in Women’s Health. In particular, empowering women to engage in pre & postnatal exercise, and assisting them to do so in a way that is safe and appropriate for their individual health needs.

We see pregnancy as a ‘window of opportunity’ for adopting healthy lifestyle habits. Which can influence not only current health status, but the long-term health outcomes for both mothers and babies. Exercise during pregnancy can help to:

• improve or maintain physical fitness and endurance for active labour and birth.

• increase energy levels for activities of daily living (ADL) and decrease stress and anxiety.

• prevent or manage gestational diabetes.

• prevent and treat musculoskeletal pain (back, hip and pelvic pain).

Women’s Health Exercise Physiologists are Allied Health Professionals with additional training in how to prescribe exercise to support women, during pregnancy, post-partum, chronic disease management (including gestational diabetes and mental health) and injury rehabilitation.

Women’s Health Physiotherapy is a specialised form of physiotherapy focusing on the evaluation, treatment and education of health-related issues in women. Women’s Health encompasses a huge variety of conditions that may affect women throughout their life.

Around 1 in 3 women will experience incontinence or prolapse in their lifetime. Many women are not aware of the role physiotherapy can have on the ability to improve symptoms of both incontinence and prolapse. Physiotherapy is now recommended as the first line treatment for the management of both prolapse and incontinence. This means it is important to access physiotherapy services before medication or surgery.

Our Women’s Health Physio is qualified o assist with

• Postnatal Screening Checks

• Pelvic Floor assessments with Real-Time Ultrasound

• Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

• Pelvic & Lower Back pain during pregnancy

• Bladder and Bowel Incontinence

• Pelvic Organ Prolapse Management

Why are we different? We employ a collaborative approach between Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology to promote the benefits of movement and exercise during pregnancy and post-partum to assist mothers to get back to the active lifestyle, sport and exercise that they enjoy most! Whether they are seasoned athletes or completely new to exercising.

What do we offer? We are proud to offer the South Coast’s first Physiotherapist-led Return to Run Program! This program has been developed by our Women’s Health Physio, Rosie Nicholls to support women back to sport and an active life after having a baby. Returning to running after having a baby can be challenging and confusing without a good plan. You’ve done all your pelvic floor exercises but don’t know where to start; you’re tired; fearful you might make something worse and everything just feels different. The Return to Run program breaks it all down for you and gives simple directions on where to begin. It takes a holistic approach to a safe, graded return to running and impact that works towards your goals the way that suits your body. Our practitioners are also qualified in clinical Pilates, offering pre and postnatal Pilates classes and clinical Pilates in their individualised treatment plans. In addition, our Physio’s and EP’s can assist with exercise programs tailored to suit your personal health goals.

For more information visit:

Lisa is an experienced naturopath, nutritionist and feeding therapist, dedicated to the health and wellbeing of the children she cares for.

She is the founder of The Paediatric Naturopath, one of Australia’s leading online Naturopathy clinics focussed solely on the needs of children.

With 3 children of her own, Lisa weaves together the technical know how with the practicalities of family life to ensure achievable positive outcomes for children.

3 ways to work with me:

1. Join my membership for Fussy Eaters for an affordable solution to bring back mealtime joy.

2. Work with me one-on-one using my Fuss No More method for problem eaters.

3. Book in for individual consultations for other health issues such as eczema, constipation, anxiety or immune support.

0400 408 781 admin@thepaediatricnaturopath.com.au www.thepaediatricnaturopath.com.au

@thepaediatricnaturopath

/ThePaediatricNaturopath Free Facebook group: The Fussy Bunch

Wet Weather Days

With La Nina outstaying her welcome and hanging around longer than anyone really wanted we seem to be having more wet weather days than we would like. While we are happy to see a rainy day occasionally a few strung in a row can be a nuisance and bring inconveniences for families with young children, nothing more frustrating than the dreaded question of ‘what am I going to do with the kids inside all week’? Coal Coast Baby has put that question to several mums across the Illawarra and here are some of the best recommendations to help you pass time as the rain continues to drizzle down.

Preparing and Delivering Homemade Nourishing Meals and Snacks for the Fourth Trimester and Beyond.

Delivering direct to Mumma’s doors in the Sutherland Shire, Macarthur, Wollongong & Surrounds.

Made with Love using Quality, Clean, Organic Ingredients wherever possible.

Gift Vouchers Available www.nourishingnewmummas.com.au

@nourishingnewmummas

Take the kids to the library, read and borrow books, play with new toys and puzzles but be sure to check out your local library children’s timetable. Libraries across the Illawarra offer a range of programs and activities for kids including baby beats, baby bookworms, wriggle and jiggle, toddler-time, drop in Duplo and preschool story time. All free of charge.

Wildhood Bush Kindy is an outdoor adventure play group for children to have fun and be free. All weather play might mean raincoat, gumboots and a carefree attitude but turn to pg 16 for more information.

Make a date to play with friends, invite them round and bring snacks to share for morning tea. Share your toys with a buddy, playing with friends, sure beats playing alone.

Build an Indoor Cubby house – think dining table, chairs, sheets, pegs and cushions. A kids little escape where they can read, have a picnic lunch, play with dolls/toys, snooze, watch a movie or just let their imagination run wild with their own little escape.

Bunnings was a surprising crowd favourite –Apparently you always need something, or you can just grab some supplies for a DIY art & craft activity. With a playground and café, add in a mini trolley and you can’t really go wrong!

Get wet and grab some fresh air. Pop your gumboots and raincoat on and go for a walk, find some puddles to jump in, find a playground (you’ll have it to yourself) and return home soaking wet, jump in the bath to relax, refresh and unwind. When you are prepared to get wet it’s not really that bad.

Indoor play centres and pools are another popular activity with parents along the Coal Coast. Favourites include Go kids play, Discovery space and Beaton Park indoor heated pool.