Pregnancy: why staying in motion helps prepare for childbirth

Why doctor – Why did you write this book?

Mathilde Elind – At the beginning of my career, I took care of many babies with congenital problems (torticollis, malformation of the feet or hands…). So I asked myself what I could do to help them, and I quickly came to the conclusion that for things to go better for the children, it first had to go better for the mothers.

What is the content of the physical preparation before childbirth that you offer to pregnant women?

The idea is to offer a series of sessions in addition to those already done by midwives.

The goal is for the woman to be active and active during her preparation, which will allow her to arrive on D-Day with a mindset and a perception of the situation different from what she could have had if she had not prepared. only on a theoretical level.

What do you think physical preparation for childbirth can prevent?

The goal is above all to do physical prevention.

Even if you can never predict what will happen during childbirth, my consultations help reduce the risk of tearing or episiotomy, make labor last less and recover faster once the baby is born.

Concretely, what types of physical exercises do you recommend to women to prepare for childbirth?

This can, for example, be a yoga posture that promotes the opening of the large pelvis and the relaxation of the lower back. Here is how it unfolds:
1/ Lying on your back, bring both knees towards you and point the soles of your feet towards the sky.
2/ Then grab the outer edge of your feet or your big toes.
3/ Hold the position for about twenty full, slow breaths.

How are your sessions going?

I first do an initial assessment with my patients to find out their background and adapt my consultations accordingly. Patients can then do as many sessions as they wish (a physio prescription is valid for 1 year).

Concretely, we start with everything related to breathing, stretching and maintaining physical activity at the rate of one to two sessions per week during the 2nd trimester. Then, at 34 weeks, we begin the preparation of the perineum at the rate of 2 weekly sessions until the term. Around 36 weeks, we also do a session on the exercises to do during labor, and finally a session on pushing around 38 weeks.

Consultations last between 30 and 45 minutes.

For athletes, is it important to maintain their physical activity in parallel with what you offer?

Yes, if the doctors agree. Practicing a sport adapted to pregnancy is complementary to my physical preparation before childbirth. I also advise great athletes not to stop their activity suddenly when they become pregnant, as this can cause pain.

Can we stay in motion until the end of the pregnancy?

Yes, unless there is again a medical contraindication. Yoga and balneotherapy, for example, are very well suited to pregnancy, even in the final weeks.

Can you specify the things to put in place at the level of the breath, which you mentioned at the beginning of the interview?

Absolutely, because we use the breath for all phases of pregnancy. The work of breathing makes it possible in particular to maintain the toned abdominal strap, to better concentrate during childbirth, to help the baby to descend during labor and to have good oxygenation of the mother / child couple during birth. .

Many women don’t know where the perineum is until they give birth. Do you include teaching female anatomy when preparing your patients for childbirth, and if so why?

Yes quite. Before starting my preparation session, I will show the women on a plastic basin where the perineum is, where we are going to massage this organ, why we do it, where the baby goes during the childbirth, etc.

This allows women to feel their perineum while understanding how it moves in the pelvis, and thus better relax it during childbirth.

What are your rates ?

These are classic physio sessions which, when prescribed by a gynecologist or a general practitioner, are reimbursed by social security.