Mom Shares Benefits of 1 Specific Movement During Pregnancy and Postpartum

A mom-of-three has revealed the one move that has been a game-changer for her during her pregnancy and postpartum experiences.

In a reel that she posted on Instagram account (@movelikeamotha), perinatal exercise specialist Anna McClellan said how marching can improve core strength, posture and coordination during and after pregnancy.

“[A] dynamic core during pregnancy can help reduce aches and pains as the body grows, improves our posture, helps us manage pressure within the core, and aids in our balance and stability,” McClellan told Newsweek.

Marching may seem simple, but when it is done correctly, it reinforces alignment, breath and core control.

“Core strength is also so beneficial in the birth process as we want to use our core breath in the push phase of labor,” McClellan added.

As a certified pre- and postnatal corrective specialist with a background in kinesiology and birth work, the mom-of-three from Tennessee has spent years guiding women through the physical transitions that come with motherhood.

For postpartum moms, marching continues to offer benefits such as improved coordination and balance. However, the real power lies in what McClellan calls the “stacked position,” where the ribs are over the pelvis.

“This stacked position can do wonders for pregnant and postpartum women because it helps our thoracic and pelvic diaphragm function together when we connect it with our breath,” McClellan said. “It’s not just about what the movement is but how we execute the movement.”

McClellan, who shares her many workouts and fitness programs with her followers on her Instagram account, added that she is a huge advocate for expectant moms staying active during pregnancy.

McClellan also said that she remained active during all three of her pregnancies and added that she credits movement during pregnancy with improved mood, greater energy and minimal pain.

The pre- and postnatal corrective specialist added that she delivered all of her children vaginally, unmedicated and without complications.

“But the benefit that tops them all has to be the benefits that it gave to my babies,” McClellan said.

Research shows that maternal exercise can have long-term health outcomes, cognitive benefits and a positive impact on metabolic pathways, the mom added.

“I could write a novel on the benefits that movement has given me during pregnancy and postpartum,” McClellan said in closing.

“It never felt like a chore. I’ve always felt blessed to move my body, for myself and for my family,” she added.