Strength for Pregnancy & Postpartum: a review of MommaStrong

Real talk time.  One of the hardest aspects for me as I move through pregnancy and postpartum comes from my changing body.

While I deeply respect and understand the work my body does during the childbearing year, I'm also a person who struggles with transition.  And, the constant transitions of my body are hard on me both physically and mentally.

After finding out I was expecting baby #4, I vowed to be even more intentional this go-round in how I prepared my body for the work of carrying this baby and giving birth.

Then first trimester exhaustion plus the work of keeping up with my trio of kiddos, homeschooling, and business hit me like a truck - survival became the name of the game.

As I emerged (finally) from the fog of that rough trimester, I found myself with energy again (yay!) and the desire to put it to good use.  Looking around at the options for prenatal fitness, I knew that in this incredibly busy season that found me solo parenting and juggling all the things while also growing this baby, I would be squeezing anything into the nooks and crannies of my days.

Perhaps even more importantly, I needed a program that would help me turn my focus away from the noise and the numbers of my changing body and instead toward meeting my needs for support with understanding and gentleness toward myself.

A chance recommendation in a local parenting group led me to find my way to MommaStrong.  Immediately, I was drawn to the message of MommaStrong, a message that eschewed the narratives of "transformation" so popular in the fitness industry writ large for one of function, strength, and treating yourself with kindness as you navigate the tricky seasons of growing and raising tiny humans.

The first video I clicked on discussed the way in which our culture has normalized incontinence after birth - a normalization that does not equal the health or wellness for those who deal with this issue.  As a postpartum doula, I found myself nodding and yelling "yes!" at that video, pretty much sold at that point.

I signed up early in the second trimester and have been "showing up" regularly to my mat now for several months.  Below are some of the many reasons MommaStrong has been such an important part of this pregnancy.

• Endorphins - In order to be the parent I want to be, I find I need the endorphin boost that exercise gives me.  With MommaStrong, I've been getting that boost while feeling confident that the moves are safe for me and my baby at this stage, with plenty of options to modify for more or less impact as needed. With a new Daily 15 - a 15 min interval workout - each day, I look forward to enough variation in these workouts to keep me engaged and coming back.
• Fix-Me Section - In addition to the daily workouts, MommaStrong provides a whole library of fix-me videos that work through the issues that often stop us from showing up.  For me, that issue is most often SI joint pain, and the tools I've learned from the fix-me videos mean that I've found myself in the least pain of FOUR pregnancies. 
• Message - The raw honesty of MommaStrong hooked me from the start - the recognition that this season of life is not all unicorns and rainbows resonates so much with me.  But, beyond that MommaStrong shines as a way to better handle these tricky seasons with grace and understanding for yourself, along with the tools you that help you to meet your needs.
• Community - The online community of MommaStrong members is such an encouragement, and through it I've connected with other members in my same stage of life.  We encourage each other, cry with each other, and motivate each other as we navigate our pregnancies. 
• Continuity - With a MommaStrong membership, I have access to programs targeted for pregnancy, postpartum, and then everything after.  This means that have access to these tools and can move seamlessly through the coming transitions ahead - from the hazy days of life with a newborn to rebuilding core strength and eventually to a return to more high impact effort. I don't have to worry about finding another program to meet my needs for life after baby and beyond - I have everything I need right here.

As a professional who works with families before and after baby, I love being able to refer clients to this fabulous resource.  And, MommaStrong has a specific section dedicated to clinicians, so if you are a doula or birth professional, check this out!

So far I've seen the benefits of MommaStrong, but I'm excited to see how it impacts life after baby - I'll be sure to follow up with a blog on that in the coming months.

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