Building Strength in the Pelvic Floor: Pre & Postnatal by Annemarie Lepe

The pelvic floor is an essential part of core stability and strength, but is even more important during pregnancy and the postpartum period! Cultivating a connection to these muscles in pregnancy and postpartum will improve your ability to build and maintain strength and coordination for long term health.

One easy way to build awareness of the pelvic floor is to feel its natural rise and fall as you breathe; as you exhale, the pelvic floor contracts to rise inward and upward, and as you inhale it will expand downward and outward. If you are unsure if you are contracting and relaxing your muscles correctly, you can insert the tip of one finger and try to squeeze and then relax around it. Like any muscle, the pelvic floor must be both strong and flexible, so it is important that it not only contracts (like doing a “Kegel”) but also releases that muscle activity after you let go. Learn more at https://www.wellpelvis.com/what-is-it/.