We’ve all heard that exercise is great for pregnancy but there are so many options out there it can be hard to determine what type of exercise is best. While I’m certainly biased, but many doctors would agree, Pilates is one of the most effective and beneficial forms of exercise to accommodate a healthy pregnancy along with a healthy delivery and recovery. How Pilates Can Help You Prepare For Pregnancy: 1. It builds strong abdominal muscles to support your back, hips and spine while carrying around the extra weight and mass of a growing baby belly (which will also pay off when you’re constantly carrying around 8+ pounds when baby arrives) 2. Many women suffer from back pain while pregnant which is often caused by an underlying postural problem that is made worse by the growing belly. Pilates builds strong back muscles that can help you maintain a healthy posture , leading to less pain and discomfort. 3. Forward, rounding shoulders are a common side-effect of carrying a child (both in pregnancy and with an infant). Pilates corrects wrong postures and pulls the shoulders back into place, reducing neck and shoulder tension so you can care for your child with […]