Barre 2 Barre Mama - Pre Natal Fitness Tips

Barre 2 Barre co-founder, @jessicaxfelicia is based in Singapore and is co-owner of our studio there. She is in her third trimester and continues to keep active and healthy at the barre. She can't wait to welcome her first #barre2barrebaby into her family.

Read on below for her fave tips on keeping safe while staying fit and active during pregnancy! 

- @mylenemackay, co-founder and teacher 

1. Wear maternity leggings - they give support during a work out and provide over-all comfort for you and baby.

I get mine from Lorna Jane and they are amazing!! It doesn't compress the baby belly, and I can’t get enough! I have one pair of each color because as my belly gets bigger these are the only leggings that keep me both comfortable and fashionable, in and out of the studio. 

2. Minimize the potential for diastasis recti (known as DR) or abdominal separation by educating yourself on the risks of DR during exercise. 

Sadly, DR is quite common during pregnancy. The good news is, the road to recovery can be smooth and easy. Firstly, make sure to communicate your pregnancy to your barre teacher in advance, so they can give you modifications for a safe and effective workout. 

We highly recommend booking a consulation with a women's health or pelvic floor specialist, a few sessions will provide you with valuable information you never knew you needed. Take our word for it. We've learned so much from our favourites in Singapore:

• Tamara Gerdis from Physio Down Under
• Preet from Embrace Physiotherapy

In Hong Kong:

• Brett Scott and his team at Kinesiology Asia (just upstairs from our HK studio)
• Annerley Hong Kong

3. Listen to your body and baby.

Gently and slowly get into your work out groove, don't feel worried about taking your time! Always safely set yourself up by doing a longer warm up of 2-3 minutes, instead of the usual 1 minute, in a normal BarreAmped Mixed Levels class, so come even earlier to set your intentions for yourself and your baby.

Enjoy the process! Keep yourself active, when you can. If your body is tired, rest accordingly. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated throughout the workout, especially with electrolytes, hence you always see me drinking Smartwater! 

4. Read up on pre-natal care and know your options.

Protect yourself by not only listening to the doctor, but also read books from experts, research online, meet doulas, connect with other moms. My experience has been to get 2nd and 3rd opinions no matter what, because every doctor has their own experience and education. There is new research updated every year, so read up as much as you can. There are lots of fun apps that you can use to keep in the loop. I currently am using the Flo app which tracks my baby's growth. Some reading material I was exposed to include:

• Expecting Better by Emily Oster
• Ina May’s Guide to Giving Birth by Ina May Gaskin
• Birthing from Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz
• Official Lamaze Guide by Judith Lothian and Charlotte DeVries
• The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin (for the partner to read)

5. Attend our weekly Pre and Post-Natal Fitness "Barre 2 Barre Mama" classes in Singapore and Hong Kong.

SG - every Monday at 10:30 am.

HK - every Wednesday at 11 am.

All stages of motherhood are welcome to our classes. We recommend gently preparing your body to give birth, and gently getting your body back into its previous shape prior. This class will help you engage the correct muscles to better prepare you to take our regular BarreAmped Mixed Levels classes. Again, stay hydrated throughout the class and be mindful of your own strengths and weaknesses that day.

Other perks:

We love @lovemonochrome_ for gifting the new bubs in your life. Find them at our SG studio! All Barre 2 Barre members get 10% off. Just use code "barre2barre10" when checking out online at lovemonochrome.com.

For mumswear and baby products, check out Mothercare SG and HK  - they offer free consultations for new moms! And sign up for Mothersclub for some awesome perks.