Abdominal Contractions with Splinting: Exercises for Pregnant Women

Video Transcript

"The final exercise I’m going to demonstrate is an abdominal contraction but you’re going to splint your abdominals. Go ahead and lie on the mat and I’ll show you what I’m talking about. Your knees are going to be bent, your feet are going to be flat on the floor, and one arm is going to come across the top of your belly, opposite arm across the bottom of your belly. You’re going to splint, this exercise is necessary if you are experience diastasis. Abs are going to be tight, hold on to that belly, chin to your chest, you’re going to lift halfway up – contract, and come down. Good, lift and come down. You’re only going to come halfway up; you don’t want to lift your head all the way off of the mat, just halfway and lower. You’re contracting your abdominals, supporting the abdominals. Lift and lower. Exhale lift, good – try not to let go, do what you can and lower. Good. That was the final exercise of the day. Keep in mind you do not have to perform every single abdominal exercise that I just demonstrated for you, pick the ones that are most comfortable for you and the ones that are most appropriate for you and those are the ones that you want to do throughout your pregnancy. Thank you. "