If someoneâs told you to âdo your Kegelsâ when youâre pregnant, donât hit play on that autopilot just yet. Because when it comes to prepping for birth, the story isnât quite what weâve all been told.
Â
âKegelsâ are those squeeze-and-lift exercises you do when youâre at a red light, brushing your teeth, or standing in line. Theyâre great for strengthening the pelvic floor when you need hold-and-lift (like fixing leakage or postpartum support). nhs.uk+1
But - hereâs the thing - birthing is not about clenching. Itâs about opening, releasing, and allowing. Evidence shows that when your pelvic floor doesnât relax enough, it may result in a longer pushing phase, more tearing, or more discomfort. PubMed+1
Relaxation + release: Your body needs to know how to let go.
Balance + strength + flexibility: One without the others is a recipe for tension.
Movement patterns that mimic birth:
...
If youâre 39 weeks pregnant, you are officially at the point where everyone is texting you, âBaby here yet?â while youâre just trying to get comfortable for more than 3 minutes at a time.
Letâs talk about whatâs really happening in your body this week â the things most people skip!
Even without contractions, your cervix may be:
⢠Softening (ripening)
⢠Thinning (effacing)
⢠Starting to open (dilating)
This is driven by hormones like relaxin, which also loosens the hips â hello pelvic pressure!
Try this:
One minute: âIâm READY!â
Next minute: crying because someone ate your last snackÂ
Thatâs oxytocin rising â the hormone that triggers labor.
But stress can slow it down, so focus on calm energy.
Quick affirmation:
 âMy body knows exactly what to do.â
Whether you're 17 weeks pregnant or days away from meeting your baby, the thought of labor can stir up anxiety. But what if I told you thereâs a simple, science-backed technique you can practice right now that helps your body shift from panic to peace in just two minutes?
No meditation. No yoga. Just a powerful nervous system reset you can use anytime â especially during labor.
Fear during labor isnât just a mental hurdle â itâs a physical one. When you're scared, your body releases adrenaline, which can slow down contractions, tighten your pelvic floor, and make labor more painful and prolonged. But when you feel safe, your body produces oxytocin â the hormone that fuels contractions and helps labor progress smoothly.
Thatâs why calming your nervous system is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for birth.
If youâre pregnant and thinking, âI want to breastfeed, but I have literally NO idea where to startâŚââyouâre not alone.
Most first-time moms feel unsure (or overwhelmed) when it comes to breastfeeding. And while itâs something your body is designed to do, the truth isâit doesnât always come naturally.
But guess what?
With the right guidance and prep (yes, even before baby arrives), you can feel way more confident, calm, and ready. Letâs dive into what you really need to know before baby latches for the first time.
Â
Letâs get this out of the way first:
â âBreastfeeding is natural, so itâll just happen naturally.â
I hear this all the timeâand itâs one of the biggest mindset traps out there.
Hereâs the truth:
âď¸ Breastfeeding is a learned skillâfor both you and your baby.
Just like birth, walking, or talkingâit takes time, practice, and support.
So if it doesnât âclickâ on day one? Youâre not failing. Y...
This FREE cheat sheet will walk you through 3 evidence-based strategies to boost your breastfeeding confidence and increase your milk supply.