The Nourished CEO Podcast Optimizing Postpartum Care with Amy Slater
Key Takeaways
Postpartum preparation starts years before the pregnancy even begins. Getting the right nutrients will not only lead to a healthier pregnancy but will lessen postpartum effects. Furthermore, exercises that strengthen fascia will lead to faster recovery after the baby’s birth. This should start as early as two years before the pregnancy itself.
When postpartum conditions last for many years, it’s important to get to the root cause. This often means looking at the gut as a source of stress. Amy finds that once gut issues are cleared, other issues like anxiety, energy levels, and appetite improve.
Postpartum conditions can last for years after pregnancy. That’s a scary thought. But it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right information and actions, recovery from pregnancy can happen smoother and faster. If you’re pregnant, already have children, or are even thinking about having a baby someday, this is an important episode for you.
About Amy Slater
Amy is a mom of two sets of twins, a women's health coach, a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, and a passionate advocate for women speaking their needs to feel like their whole self again. She works with moms 1 year to 30 years postpartum to help them reconnect with their core and pelvic floor from the inside out using an integrated approach.
Amy has both a personal health recovery story as well as extensive professional training. She has a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics, a Fellowship in Applied Functional Science, a Practitioner of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition, 20 years of personal training experience, and over 1,000 hours of continuing education in women's health and human movement. Amy loves to run, cycle, lift, hike, swim, garden, and play with her kids. She lives in Holly Springs, NC with her husband, two 9-year-old boys, two 5-year-old girls, and her golden lab Judge.
It’s Never Too Soon to Prepare
Amy explains that proper postpartum recovery needs to be preemptive. In fact, it should start as soon as you are preparing for the pregnancy itself. Supplying your body with the nutrients it needs and getting the right exercise, will not only position you for what’s to come, but it’s also a crucial part of your baby’s health.
This also means properly exercising the whole body, particularly the core. This promotes the strength and integrity of your fascia, the tissue that structures all your muscles. Healthy fascia will prevent the loss of stability and strength that so many women experience postpartum.
Addressing Postpartum for the Long-Term
Although few talk about it, postpartum issues can last for many years. Many of these conditions go untreated, making them worse. Amy describes why it’s never too late to start getting your health back. She also explains how addressing issues that often reside in the gut leads to better overall health in mothers.
Most of all, you need to give yourself time. The amount of time will be different for every mom. Don’t compare yourself to others. Instead, focus on your own journey and what you need.
Have you experienced postpartum issues years after pregnancy? Leave a comment on the episode page!
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In This Episode
- How her own postpartum experience led Amy to help others [5:40]
- How to prepare for pregnancy to lessen the severity of postpartum conditions [11:30]
- The barriers that prevent many women from seeking the help that they need [19:05]
- Training the core to protect fascial integrity [23:09]
- Why postpartum conditions often persist for many years and how to address them [30:53]
- The best support for optimal postpartum care [43:10]
Quotes
“Diastasis is not so much about closing the gap, so to speak, but also narrowing the depth and improving the body’s ability to tension across various lines of force.” [8:31]
“Moms need more than just some movement piece because the stress component and the hormonal dysregulation in postpartum is massive. A lot of times it doesn’t just evaporate. You need to have intervention.” [10:35]
“If you arm yourself with the things that you need for postpartum and forget half the stuff that you think the baby needs… you’re going to have a much better experience with what you need going into the postpartum period.” [47:18]
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