Celebrating Lincolnshire’s Active Midwives
Ahead of International Day of the Midwife, we spoke to Community Midwife; Amanda Mumby-Croft from the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust who has been…
Being active has a host of benefits for pregnant women and new mums.
From preparing and supporting your body through the changes that pregnancy brings, to boosting your mood and helping you to connect with others as a new mum.
• Helps to control weight gain
• Helps to reduce high blood pressure problems
• Helps to prevent Diabetes of Pregnancy
• Improves fitness
• Improves sleep
• Boosts mood
Keeping fit could also help you in labour, and make it easier to get back in shape following the birth.
If you’re not currently active, start gradually and build up your levels of activity slowly. Walking or gentle exercise classes designed for pregnant women can be a great place to start.
If you aren’t sure about whether an activity is suitable for you, or aren’t sure what you can do, then discuss it with your midwife, doctor or healthcare provider.
Take a look at this video from the Active Pregnancy Foundation, which helps explain the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance for pregnant women.
Benefits of being active for new mums include:
If you aren’t sure about whether an activity is suitable for you, or aren’t sure what you can do, then discuss it with your midwife, doctor or healthcare provider.
Check out this video from the Active Pregnancy Foundation, which helps explain the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance for women after birth.
If you were already active before pregnancy – keep going. If you weren’t already active it’s not to late to start moving more. As long as your pregnancy doesn’t present any complications, now is a good time to slowly introduce movement and activity.
Following the birth of your child, if you’ve had a straightforward pregnancy you can resume gentle exercise as soon as you feel up to it. Good activities at this stage are things like walking, gentle stretches, pelvic floor exercises and abdominal exercises to help you build back your core strength.
Following your 6 -8 week healthcare professional check:
For most women being active in pregnancy is safe and beneficial. If your pregnancy is presenting challenges and you are requiring additional monitoring and support, it is important to speak to your midwife before taking part in activities.
The Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy (GAQ-P) has been designed to identify the small number of women who need to consult with a healthcare professional before they begin or continue to be physically active, and to help the majority of healthy pregnant women overcome any concerns they might have about getting or staying active. Follow the link to download the questionnaire.
Better Births has a range of information and advice to make sure you are well supported throughout your pregnancy. They have more useful advice on being active pre and post birth.
Activity-based resources packed with advice and top tips to support you on your active journey through pregnancy and beyond.
Find a range of at home exercises for pregnant women and new mums and more exercise inspiration on the This Mum Moves national website.
A free 6-week online programme to support you to be active through your pregnancy. The programme features three 28 minutes sessions each week.
This 6-week online programme is led by qualified postnatal instructors to help you build up your activity levels after birth.
Useful links and inspiration supporting women to get active in a way that works for them. Look out for top tips on juggling being active with childcare.
We’ve got loads of extra articles on ways to be an active mum in Lincolnshire.
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