Stretching in pregnancy and after

I have a confession to make: I've totally messed up and managed to injure myself. I wanted to work on my flexibility and so started doing longer stretches to improve it. I've just gotten so stiff since having my second child and I hate that feeling.

I'm hyper-mobile (also known as double jointed) and have always taken being flexible for granted, so not being as bendy as usual feels unfamiliar and weird - also uncomfortable!! I ignored all of my training and against my better judgement started developmental stretches and am now paying the price. Why does this matter and why am I telling you this?

It's a cautionary tale based on the effects of Relaxin! Have you heard of it? It's a hormone your body produces the moment you become pregnant. It relaxes all of your joints to allow them to move in order to accommodate the growing baby and then birth it. This makes them unstable and therefore vulnerable to injury. You might even notice you're MORE flexible that usual.

The tricky thing is, it stays in your body for up to 6 months AFTER you stop breastfeeding!! I am still feeding my 18 month old, so it is very much in my system. It's crazy and amazing in equal measure that it stays in your body for so long! When I had my first daughter I had no idea and did so many things I shouldn't have - which is probably why I ended up with a trapped nerve in my shoulder - honestly THE most painful thing I've ever experienced (and I gave birth without pain relief!). So how do you avoid doing the same as me?

• Avoid developmental stretches 🙂 - any stretches which are designed to increase flexibility, only hold a stretch for up to 15 seconds.

• Be careful with high impact exercise

• When weight lifting, be extra vigilant about not locking your joints Do you have a relaxin related story or injury? I'd be really interested to hear C xx
  

Want to know how I might be able to help you? Drop me an email and we'll have a no pressure chat 💖: claire@clairepaynefitness.com