Pregnancy gymnastics

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The term pregnancy gymnastics has been colloquially understood since the early 1980s as pre-natal courses , which on the one hand alleviate pregnancy symptoms, prepare the body for childbirth and on the other hand strengthen the awareness of one's own body. Many pregnancy ailments can be traced back to the static changes in the female body during pregnancy , which is why pregnancy exercises usually include elements of back training.

Origin of the term

The term pregnancy exercise was established at the beginning of the 1980s. However, this term is used more colloquially, as it can lead to misunderstandings.

Components of pregnancy gymnastics

In addition to yoga exercises for breathing and back, pelvic floor exercises are usually performed to better perceive the abdomen and the stretching of the pelvic floor. If you have a normal pregnancy, nothing speaks against sport and gymnastics, because this not only ensures a good mood, but also helps to relieve the muscles and ligaments. In addition, sporty pregnant women also have a more stable circulation. Another positive aspect is that the fetus gets more oxygen in the abdomen, which increases the metabolism.

Regional differences

"Most peoples are familiar with methods and measures for the pregnant woman that are believed to facilitate labor and reduce pain."

However, there are different views on exercise during pregnancy. Pure pregnancy gymnastics can only be found in the western world, where good medical care is guaranteed. A wide variety of activities and exercises for pregnant women are practiced and taught worldwide.

Benefits & Risks

“As a core element, birth preparation should therefore give women the chance to experience their body, i. H. to regain confidence in your body through body work and breathing work. "

Use

Psychological aspects:
  • By dealing with her own body, the pregnant woman learns a much deeper and more intense perception of her own body.
Physiotherapeutic aspects:
  • Exercise can alleviate common complaints during pregnancy, especially back and lower back pain (sacroiliac joint), and prevent pregnancy symptoms through correct behavior and exercise.
  • Exercises (in a group) can also trigger group dynamics and group psychological processes.
  • For women, breathwork is the most important element of childbirth preparation, in addition to childbearing postures. Women can best experience their breath through body work and body awareness. They experience that they can enlarge their breathing spaces and that this is also important for the child during pregnancy. This gives you confidence in your own body: I ​​don't have to breathe, but my body breathes me! Through breathing exercises, the women get to know other breathing patterns, especially for the final phase of childbirth.
  • Through the preparation for the birth, women should also learn that they can do the intuitive thing during the birth, what they want or what is good for them. They learn that there is a dynamic interplay of their muscles. This means that they can also use their muscles economically and understand which posture and when brings advantages.
Goal: The woman can say to herself: "I am giving birth"

Risks

  • In general, it cannot be said that pregnancy exercises are right for every woman. Every pregnant woman must be considered individually and should receive individual advice.

Cost & assumption

Germany, Austria

In Germany and Austria, the costs of pregnancy exercises are covered by most health insurance companies. The courses offered usually cost between € 5 and € 7 per hour and contain around 10 one-hour course units. These costs can vary from state to state and from facility to facility.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, the cost of pregnancy gymnastics is around CHF 120–150 per course. The assumption of the costs by the health insurance company depends on the canton. You can obtain more detailed information on this from your health insurance company.

Reviews

  • Midwives criticize the general pressure that society often exerts on pregnant women to take part in pregnancy gymnastics. A pregnant woman should not be driven crazy and generally attend all kinds of courses to do what is supposedly best for the child. Individual advice is often more effective and can help the pregnant woman better prepare for the birth.
  • Childbirth preparation should not end with the birth itself. Further care for the woman is often useful and can help her to recover after the birth (e.g. postnatal gymnastics).

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ All-round pregnancy and childbirth , Federal Center for Health Education
  2. ↑ a b Liselotte Kuntner : The woman's bearing posture. Pregnancy and childbirth from a historical, ethnological and medical point of view . 4th edition. Marseille, Munich 1994, ISBN 3-88616-062-9 .
  3. ↑ a b c d Hanna Fischer : Practice book birth preparation. A course concept for women and couples . Hippokrates-Verlag, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 3-8304-5342-6 .