Hello, here we are in November!
It is with a full heart that I share big joy and love right alongside grief and surrendering to life as it is. We welcomed Liam Girard to the world on Saturday November 9th at 12:11am. Our delivery ended in a different way than I hoped and was extremely difficult on my body. So now, I’m really practicing slowing down, accepting help and generally focusing on healing in these early day and weeks. My heart is full as my body and psyche are starting the road towards healing.
After this labor and delivery experience, I am left with extreme awe for what it takes to create and sustain a new human, for life itself, for my body, for medicine, for partnership, for support (our doula, family and friends), for love, for grief, for healing capacity, for vulnerability, for the fullness of life, for loss and the list could go on... Then I notice the subsequent fear that sits right next to all of these things and ultimately find gratitude for what brings me awe even with fear sitting in the passenger seat. These days when fear and anxiety do become the driver, I’m returning to my breath, finding grounding outside in nature and through my senses, letting the emotions move through me, then prioritizing rest and slowing down.
Thankfully I have a baseline of these practices, so it’s easier to normalize and truly know the power of "simple things" - breathing, emotional release to let go of stuck tension, rest and grounding practices, etc. Even more, I feel a real sense of safety as I return to these practices as a different version of myself because I practiced them when I was well and strong. This dynamic is just one of the many reasons preventive work, or what can be referred to as prehab, can be so beneficial.
Please read on to learn more about Prenatal Prehab specifically. Thank you so much for all the love and support thus far, and I wish you gratitude for both your awe and fear.
Welcome to Erin's new email newsletter! Sarah Berkey here, Erin's Assistant. While she's on Maternity Leave, we are excited to be sharing monthly newsletters with new features and free resources. We are aiming to maintain connection with this incredible community as well as share Self-care Healthcare tidbits to support us all through the next 5 months. The winter season, time changes and unrest in the world can feel like dark forces, but if we lean into our practices and use our tools, we will find a way forward. We hope you enjoy the new look and engage in the content we're sharing. Each month will be different and if it doesn't quite apply to you, consider forwarding to a friend or family member! If we slow down and reflect, in nearly every stage of life, we all know someone who may be going through something. So, let's lift each other up!
Enjoy and please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly! virtualassistant@erinmccabewellness.com
This month's feature:
Pregnancy is a time of constant change; this can often lead to ebbs and flows of aches, stiffness, cramping or pain. Through this series based course, one of my newest on-demand offerings, I address and hopefully help folks prevent some of the most common areas of issues for a pregnant person.
Wait, but what even is Prehab??
The term "prehab" is in direct relation to "rehab", short for rehabilitation, which is what one does after an injury or surgery to heal and get better. Conversely, prehab is what one does before to improve outcomes - be that a surgery, to prevent an injury or in my exact example: giving birth.
Prehab can look like anything from breathing exercises, to mobility and stretching, to strength work for targeted areas.
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Not a pregnant person or living in a pregnant potential body? Stay tuned for next month, we’ll talk about prehab and recovery for all bodies!
OR consider someone who is within a pregnant potential body!
Who may be interested in this course?
- Expecting Parents (bodies carrying the baby and non-carrying bodies looking to support their partner)
- Midwives and Doulas
- Personal Trainers and Movement Professionals
- Healthcare Providers
- Support Networks for Expecting Parents (looking to gain knowledge and be able to offer support to friends and family)
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JUST FOR YOU:
A few Prenatal and Perinatal supporting Free Resources!
The early weeks of postpartum are a rollercoaster - based on your own experience this ride could be a mix of anything from amazing to terrible, incredibly beautiful to downright gross, pure joy to deep grief and so much more. In order to keep you supported during this time, it’s important to prepare in advance. The 3 lists in this free resource aren't the usual things recommended for postpartum, but I have found reflecting on them, and implementing when it feels right, has helped me and those I work with tremendously.
click the image above to view the full resource!
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Prenatal & Postpartum Deep Core Activation Routine
Free Video Class!
A short routine to connect you to your pelvic floor and deep core through breathing and some fundamental exercises. This can be done at any point during pregnancy or once cleared to return to movement postpartum by your provider or care team.
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Find more free videos for pregnant & postpartum bodies in the Perinatal Showcase!
“So isn't the job of parenthood, not to be perfect, but to actually show with your being and your life, how to deal gracefully with being fully human.”
— Glennon Doyle, We Can Do Hard Things Podcast