Tag: pregnancy

Baby Sis is Here!

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Baby girl #2 is here! Meet little miss Dakota Rae DeMarco, aka “Baby Sis.”

She was born October 15th at 5:15pm; weighing in at 6lbs 11 oz and immediately transformed our family for the better. In honor of her one week birthday, I wanted to share some bits and pieces of my experience this time around. No two pregnancies (or babies) are the same (thankfully, because last time was full of crazy, rare, and pretty traumatizing symptoms, some of which returned and others did not. Thank. Goodness. While this pregnancy was much easier in some ways, it was also much more challenging in other ways…

First and foremost, being pregnant while chasing a toddler is not easy! (hence the lack of posting!) I replaced those glorious warm baths, afternoon naps, prenatal yoga classes, date nights, and other common pregnancy indulgences with the exhausting/hilarious thing called toddlerhood. It was a LOT harder to prioritize self-care throughout the pregnancy and I’m sure it’s about to get even harder…cue the momguilt. Anyone with two kids under age 2 with any words of wisdom, send them my way…please…I need ALL the help I can get!

I must say that (although at times, it felt like I had been pregnant for three years since it wasn’t so long ago with #1) chasing a toddler does make time fly. Ready or not, here she is! Emotionally, it was a little bittersweet for me, to be completely candid. One minute, I’d feel overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement and the next, my heart would break a bit thinking about losing 1-on-1 time with my “big” girl (who really is not so big at nineteen months old.) I worried about how this change would affect her, how she would react to a sibling, and how the heck I would handle two little ones when sometimes one was hard enough. Apparently, I was told by many older, wiser mothers that these feelings are somewhat normal in this situation.

Now that she’s here, (most of) the worries have changed to love and gratitude. I fell in love all over again and already can’t imagine life without baby sis. It’s incredible how you think that your heart has grown to capacity…and then it doubles. Rowan is already the most amazing big sis and I can’t wait to see their bond as sisters and best friends grow. While I realize that it’s going to be tough to balance my time, it’s all worth it in the end. Right now, thanks to help from family (it takes a village, hi mom!) it’s been more doable than I thought and I don’t feel like I’m missing out, rather that I’m incredibly blessed to have two to love.

Thanks for tuning in and thanks for your patience as I learn to navigate life with two (wish me luck!) Thanks for understanding that my family is my #1 priority right now and keeping up with OHH has taken a backseat…hopefully temporarily.

One Healthy Breakdown: twice the babies = twice the love <3

 

 

Hampton Doula to the Rescue

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Truth be told, for the majority of my pregnancy, I was in complete denial that I was actually going to have to give birth. Though I was pretty content living in this state of mind, I knew that I would have to accept the fact that I was going to have to physically deliver a baby…that and the fact that I needed some serious guidance, education, and support…aka HELP!

Enter, Hampton Doula, Monica Kadash, to the rescue! I met Monica early in my second trimester when I started to attend her prenatal yoga class at Ananda in Southampton. I instantly gravitated towards Monica’s welcoming personality, calm demeanor, and lighthearted sense of humor. I loved the class and attended weekly, right up until days before I gave birth. Monica incorporates lots of stretching and relaxation to get centered as well as some challenging poses to prepare the mind and body for birth.

When I was considering hiring a doula, I knew that I wanted someone who would bring out the best in me, ideally someone spiritual, but not too spiritual that I couldn’t relate. Monica is exactly that;  straightforward and realistic, yet very warm and tranquil.

The day that I gave birth was a long, uneventful one until my water broke around 2pm, when suddenly, baby came fast and furiously. When it got down to the hard labor (the part I was dreading) I was thanking my lucky stars for Monica’s presence. As a doula, Monica provides support (both prenatal and postnatal) and advocacy alongside the medical staff. (Doulas are commonly confused with midwives, who are medically qualified to deliver babies.)

“Statistically, with the help of Doulas there are less interventions,  fewer C-sections, shorter labor and reduced postpartum depression. This results in a fulfilling and satisfying birthing experiences, in short, many more happy moms!

My mission is to honor, protect and guide you, so that you feel empowered to birth fearlessly and joyfully, thus starting your journey into motherhood with confidence.” ~ Monica

Monica did just that for us; I was able to stay (somewhat) strong through the worst contractions, push with sheer determination and confidence, and instantly connect with our baby girl. In the moment, all of my fears of needles, blood, and pain were overcome by sheer empowerment.

Throughout this unique process, Monica helped in every way promised. She provided literature on the birthing process and came to our house twice to get to know our family and educate us on the whole process. She prepared us with facts, stories, strategies, and support we needed to feel ready. Does that mean that everything was smooth sailing? Of course not! But when it came down to it, everything that Monica had prepared us for unraveled pretty much as predicted. It’s already becoming a slight blur (isn’t that how women keep doing it??) but I know that I would have been far less prepared, confident, and comfortable without Monica the Doula.

Here’s Monica, baby Rowan, and I at our postnatal home visit about a week after birth 🙂               If you’re interested in learning more about Monica, visit hamptondoula.com.

One Healthy Breakdown: Happy, healthy, and empowered, thanks to Hampton Doula!

Pregnancy: The Good The Bad & The Ugly

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Pregnancy is an amazing process, like no other, and I was lucky enough to feel pretty darn good for the majority of this time…with some definite exceptions. I realize that many women have it a lot worse (and a lot better) than me, this is just my own experience. At the end of the day, all of these pregnancy symptoms are nothing compared to the gift that we’re about to get as a result. With that said, let’s get real about growing a baby, shall we?

First trimester:

The GOOD: for whatever reason, I didn’t experience much nausea in the beginning. In fact, I’m happy to say that my entire pregnancy, I’ve probably been nauseous about ten times total. Sure, I experienced other “stuff,” (keep reading) but not so much of this classic symptom. The best part about the first trimester was the realization that I actually had a baby growing inside me! It wasn’t easy getting pregnant, (thanks to birth control throwing my hormones off) so we are that much more thankful that it did happen. Though it was still our little secret during the first trimester, I spent it on cloud nine just thinking about our baby-to-be!

The BAD: the first 13 weeks of pregnancy consisted of lots and lots and lots of naps. Everything made me exhausted, even sleeping. I didn’t stand a chance against this kind of tired – by early afternoon, my eyes were closing and my bed was calling…pretty much everyday. I guess growing a human is exhausting. Luckily, I was able to schedule nap time after getting everything done earlier in the day, so I often gave in, listened to my body, and napped like crazy.

The UGLY: instead of the typical nausea, my ‘ugly’ pregnancy symptom was much less common, but equally uncomfortable. Apparently, when baby starts to grow and push on internal organs, but still isn’t  large enough for everything to find its place in there, things can get a little ‘mixed up.’ Not once, but twice early on in pregnancy, I ended up in the ER with a distended bladder, meaning that my bladder had stretched out and was not able to contract to pee like normal. I had to get a catheter in order to drain my bladder. Twice. Told you it was ugly…

Second trimester:

The GOOD: sharing our baby news was definitely the highlight of the second trimester. At the 12/13 week marks, odds of miscarriage greatly reduce, so that is when people typically let the cat out of the bag. We shared the news with our families and close friends earlier on with much excitement. We even got all corny and put a ‘bun in the oven’ for our friends to find when we invited them over for drinks (seltzer for me…always seltzer for me.) After the three month mark, I shared on OHH and social media. At the beginning of the second trimester, I didn’t really look so pregnant yet, but soon after, strangers would start to comment, ask, or congratulate me. That made me realize that my body and my baby were really growing, that this process was really happening. Best of all, towards the end of the second trimester, I began to feel baby girl moving around inside me which is, by far, the coolest feeling in the whole wide world.

The BAD: the end of the first trimester and most of the second trimester was like one long aversion to meat. I typically get a good amount of protein from poultry, meat, and fish, so my diet was thrown off…not to mention my ability to cook dinner. The hubs definitely got the short end of the stick on that one…While we’re on the topic, I should mention that while I didn’t really experience abnormal cravings, my body definitely wanted more fresh fruit and refreshing smoothies. One thing that I’ve had every single day during my pregnancy is avocado and I’m pretty sure that habit will not stop with baby’s arrival 🙂

The UGLY: here’s another weird and ugly symptom for ya, as I seem to be the queen of them! After a perfect report at the dentist just a week prior, I started to notice that my bottom gum felt like it was splitting from my teeth and that there was some space there that wasn’t there before. Sure enough, it was the very start of pregnancy gingivitis. I was pretty shocked as I try to take really good care of my teeth, but apparently it’s not uncommon. Luckily, with daily flossing and mouthwash, this went away within a few weeks and hasn’t returned.

Third Trimester:

The GOOD: the best part about my pregnancy is that I’ve been able to continue to work out and stay active the whole time, which is pretty huge for my sanity and happiness! Fingers crossed that this continues these last few weeks leading up to the big day as I’ve heard that continued exercise can pay off during labor. Don’t get me wrong, I take things pretty easy, don’t let my heart-rate get very high, and rarely break a sweat, but the continued movement has been great for my well-being, mentally and physically.

While I don’t push myself the way that I used to, I have been able to continue jogging, spinning, yoga, light weight-lifting, and circuit training, while really listening to my body and taking it slow. If something hurts, or just doesn’t feel right, I stop. For the most part, working out always makes me feel much better, so I keep doing it. With additional size comes a bit more difficulty, so I imagine that things may slow down over these next few weeks and that’s o.k. too. At a minimum, daily walks and prenatal yoga help to get the blood pumping and are better than nothing!

I was also very relieved when my doctor accommodated my request to avoid the glucose drink (full of sugar and genetically modified ingredients) to test for gestational diabetes; he did a simple blood test to evaluate my sugar levels and rule out GD. Thanks, doc!

The BAD: in addition to the exhaustion, extra weight, constant trips to the restroom, swelling, nerve pain, stretching skin, and all else that comes along with the third trimester, I also had quite the scare. At 37 weeks pregnant, I was going about my day, feeling absolutely fine when all of the sudden, I felt an intense pain in my back. I happened to be in the pharmacy when this came on and actually had to fall to the ground as the pain prevented me from standing or walking. After causing quite a commotion, (Sag Harbor Pharmacy’s staff is the best and took such good care of me!) my husband arrived and we went to the hospital…wondering…are these contractions? Is the baby coming?! Fast forward hours later and it turns out that the pain was the result of a kidney stone. Apparently, they can be common during pregnancy (although I’ve never heard anyone else I know getting so lucky!) So, that was a crazy day. Although the bad was not fun at all, it’s nothing compared to the ugly…

The UGLY: if you thought that the catheter, gingivitis, and kidney stone were ugly, just you wait! Trimester three kicked off with the start of an itchy rash on my growing belly. The rash soon got worse and spread. And then it got even worse and continued to spread. Just when I thought that it couldn’t get any worse, it got worse and spread…until it was pretty much all over me, completely unbearable, and totally debilitating. At its worst, I couldn’t sleep, had no appetite, was an emotional mess, and struggled to focus on the baby…or anything but the rash. Known as “PUPPPS” (Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy) or “PEP,” (Polymorphic Eruption of Pregnancy) there is very little known about this horrible diagnosis.

I tried herbal treatments, topical steroids, antihistamines, biopsies, oatmeal baths, moisturizers, minimizing my wardrobe to a few select cotton shirts, and doing anything I could to get some rest and relief. Six or seven weeks of absolute misery finally lead to some relief in the dose of oral Prednisone. As someone who hates taking medication and prefers living life holistically, I was so torn about trying all of these drugs, but was too desperate not to. I trusted that my doctors would not put baby at risk and thankfully, the Prednisone helped to make life bearable again, so that I could return my attention to happily growing baby.

We still don’t know much more than the fact that pregnancy can cause the immune system to lash out (aka rash out) and the only known solution, along with some meds, is to hang in there until baby arrives, when things should clear up pretty quickly thereafter. So, that’s the plan…

My best efforts point to what I know: food. Desperate for some relief, I’ve minimized gluten, dairy, refined sugar, and caffeine in an attempt to tame this beast. Although my diet is pretty clean and healthy, I’m committed to doing my best to rule out anything that may be causing extra inflammation. I’ve definitely noticed that my symptoms worsen after consuming cheese, so I’ve broken up with cheese until further notice. While I’ve never really been a huge cheese lover, (I prefer peanut butter…by the spoonful) pregnancy has me craving fresh mozzarella and I’ve always been a fan of plain Greek yogurt. While they sure are tasty, it’s just not, at all, worth it.

PUPPPS affects one in every 200-300 pregnancies. When I was at my worst and I hadn’t slept well in weeks, I constantly wondered WHY ME?! But then I would remind myself that everyone is dealing with something, whatever it may be, and to keep my eye on the prize, a beautiful, healthy blessing <3 Fortunately, all of the wild and crazy symptoms I experienced affected me and not really the baby. Although times got tough, I wouldn’t change taking it for the team for anything. Some women love being pregnant, others hate it. My feelings on pregnancy are bitter sweet, as you can now imagine. That will never change the fact that I am 1,000% positive that it will all be worth it in the end when baby girl is here! The countdown is on!

One Healthy Breakdown: nothing good in life comes easy, right? Babies included.

Pregnancy Health & Fitness

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Any other baby mamas out there trying to stay healthy and fit? It’s super duper important; it’s not just for you anymore, it’s for that growing little human inside of you. It’s for your family.

The best thing you can do for your baby is to take care of yourself. When you put your health first, you’re putting your baby’s health first. We’re always better able to take care of our family if we’re taking care of ourselves as well. So, how do we stay healthy and fit during pregnancy??

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Most prenatal nutrition guides tell you what not to eat, like raw fish, cold cuts, and unpasteurized cheese…but how about what to eat?? That’s far more important!

Real, fresh, nutritious foods, that’s what (yes, just like before you were pregnant!) It’s crucial to fuel your body and your growing baby with good quality, whole foods for your little one to thrive.

Some of the best foods that you can eat during pregnancy include leafy greens, avocado, eggs, coconut, fresh fruits, seasonal veggies, salmon and lean protein, whole grains, sweet potatoes, yogurt, and nuts and seeds. Be sure your kitchen is stocked with these healthy staples and eat a diet full of variety to ensure that you get a wide variety of nutrients for you and baby.

Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day, keeping both hunger and nausea at bay. Your stomach doesn’t have as much space as it used to as it’s sharing with baby, so smaller meals and snacks throughout the day will keep you energized and ease digestion. (If you’d like further nutrition support (pregnant or not) please contact kiley@onehealthyhamptons.com.)

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Now is the time to tune in deeper to your body’s signals, cravings, and needs in all aspects of health. If you’re tired: rest. If you’re hungry: eat. If you’re under the weather: slow down. If you’re anxious: meditate. If you’re energized: exercise. If you’re out of breath: take a break. If you’re craving orange juice: get some Vitamin C. If you’re craving ice cream: indulge once in a while. If you feel fat: think about how amazing your body is, growing life inside. A M A Z I N G !

As for exercise, DO IT! Carefully. Exercising during pregnancy will better prepare you for labor, delivery, and post-birth. Again, listening to your body is crucial. Pregnancy is not the time to try a new workout, like Cross-Fit or running if you haven’t done so regularly (unless that something is gentle yoga or another low-impact exercise that truly feels good.) Feeling good is the biggest indicator of doing good during pregnancy. Of course, consult your doctor as well.

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Many active women are able to continue with their pre-pregnancy fitness routine, while modifying for baby (keep heart-rate more stable and avoid certain abdominal exercises, for example.) Activities such as walking, swimming, and yoga are highly recommended during pregnancy as they do not put impact on the body. Find some form (or variety) of exercise that you enjoy and stick with it as long as you feel comfortable.

As for me, personally, I’ve felt good enough to continue running a couple of times a week, (at a much slower pace) along with some HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts (not pushing my heart-rate too high) yoga, spinning, walking, and weight-training. I vary my workouts, incorporate yoga, stretching, and rest days, and most importantly, listen to my body. If I’m tired or under the weather, I’ll choose sleep over a workout or opt for a long walk, even though I probably would have pushed myself pre-pregnancy. Sustaining my exercise routine has absolutely helped me to feel better, more confident, and keep my mood stable with all of these hormones doing their thing. Pregnant or not, endorphins are magic.

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With all of this said, no one knows your body like you do, so the biggest advice to walk away with is to listen to your body and take care of yourself, in-turn you’ll be taking care of baby.

If you would like more information about prenatal/post-natal nutrition, customized yoga, fitness, and wellness, please contact kiley@onehalthyhamptons.com. Check out our Wellness Menu and BumpEast for you baby mamas out there, we bring wellness to YOU!

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One Healthy Breakdown: take care of your body, take care of your BUMP!

It’s a…OHH Gender Reveal!

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First of all, thank YOU so much for all of your kind words, comments, and thoughts. We’re over the moon with excitement! So…..he or she…what will OHH baby be?!  

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Though we found out the gender a few weeks ago (and were shocked!) we didn’t tell anyone until our family could all be together in person. Keeping it a secret was NOT easy! We shared the news with our families with a cute cake (from Sag Harbor Bakery) with colored frosting inside…

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that it’s a….

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G I R L !

A baby girl! Everyone was surprised, as most (including us, before we knew) guessed that it was a boy. We’re beyond thrilled and cannot wait to meet our baby girl. Now it really feels real ~ we can picture it and we’re starting to prepare for her arrival. More to come soon, until then, just trying to keep baby girl healthy and happy in there!

One Healthy Breakdown: little girl, taking up our whole heart <3

p.s. if you’re expecting and would like your own “Hamptons Baby” tank, (pink, blue, or gray) just email kiley@onehealthyhamptons.com!

OHH Baby On The Way!

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We’re so excited to announce an addition to the OHH family! That’s right, Kiley (and Sammy…and Nick) are expecting a baby in March, 2017.

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Follow along this journey here on OHH and via instagram @hamptonskiley for an inside view on this mama’s healthy, fit, balanced (one word: Buddhaberry) and fun pregnancy. And, stay tuned, as baby’s gender will be revealed in the coming weeks!

We promise that OHH is not turning ALL babies ALL the time; however, if you happen to be going through this stage of life as well (congrats!) be sure to check out BumpEast for personalized prenatal & post-natal wellness support in the Hamptons!

One Healthy Breakdown: one healthy baby on board!

Spring into Wellness at Stella & Ruby

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Calling all moms and moms-to-be! You’re invited to a wellness event at Stella & Ruby, Sag Harbor on Saturday, April 9th 12-3pm. One Healthy Hamptons’ BumpEast will provide complimentary wellness consultations and healthy bites to encourage you to spring into spring!

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Meet and greet other moms and moms-to-be and chat all things wellness with Kiley and Erica. Sip on fresh Montauk Juice Factory juice and enjoy 20% off all baby clothing at Stella and Ruby, home of the cutest baby & children’s clothing and accessories in town!

One Healthy Hamptons’ BumpEast brings mothers & mothers-to-be in the Hamptons private, personalized yoga, nutrition, and wellness support. Kiley and Erica have created this unique service to enhance and prepare the mind and body during this amazing stage of life.

BumpEast offers single sessions and weekly packages specially designed for each client at every stage of pregnancy and post-delivery. Whether you seek relaxation for the body and mind during pregnancy or getting back in shape post-delivery, BumpEast is the program for you.

One Healthy Breakdown: Spring is a time for growth, nurturing, and flourishing. Join us to celebrate motherhood in the healthiest way!

Healthy Holidays: Nails Au Natural

It’s the holiday season and we’re all aiming to stay healthy. It’s not just about the food we eat – what we put on your skin goes into our body as well. The same goes for what you put on your nails. Lately, there have been a number of articles circulating about the toxicity found in nail polish and I’ve done some research that’s worth sharing.

Red_nail_polish_in_applicationThere are various chemicals like toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and camphor found inside standard nail polishes. These polishes can wreak havoc on your nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems. They have been linked to birth defects in babies, an increase in allergies, and the production of cancer causing agents.

Luckily, there are alternatives. There are polishes that are either 3-free, 4-free, or 5-free (of the above chemicals.) Personally, I opt for 5-free polish and acetone-free remover because I prefer to use as little chemicals in my everyday life as possible.

IMG_3256As a new mom, pre-school teacher, and graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I am definitely more conscious of my health and well-being; what you put in your body daily effects the big picture. During pregnancy, I only used 5-free nail polish and that became my new normal. Here are a few of my favorite 5-free brands to seek out if you’re looking to go au natural with your nails as well:

  • RGB (my favorite because they also make a base and top coat and remover, so I can depend on the the consistency of their products)
  • Ella + Mila
  • Tenoverten
  • Uslu Airlines
  • Spa Ritual
  • Priti NYC

As for the holiday season in the Hamptons, I love going on walks and taking in the fresh air that smells like pine and firewood or cozying up by fire and drinking homemade dark chocolate hot chocolate! Here’s my go-to recipe:

Hannah’s Hot Chocolate: (makes 1 serving)

Heat one cup of almond milk on stove on low heat. Add 1/4-1/2 bar of dark chocolate (depending on desired taste – I prefer Nibmor’s 80% dark) and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Stir until melted and enjoy! You can also add vanilla, peppermint, or other flavors of choice.

*Hannah Oehl Ruppel is a pre-school teacher and graduate from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She loves to follow wellness and sustainable beauty, living her life as naturally as possible. She lives in NYC with her husband Tyler, her son William, and their dog Stella. She escapes the city to Shelter Island every summer and weekends, where her family has been going since she was little.

BumpEast Prenatal Wellness

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Super exciting announcement for all baby bumps! Introducing….BEpurple BumpEast brings mothers-to-be private, personalized prenatal yoga, nutrition, and wellness counseling with Kiley DeMarco of OHH Nutrition & Erica Velasquez of Yoga in the Vines, Wölffer Estate Vineyard. We’ve teamed up to bring this unique service to enhance and prepare the mind and body of expecting mothers across the Hamptons. Together, we’ll explore, restore, learn, and play in order to maximize this amazing phase of life for your baby, your body, and your bump.

1Pregnancy and post-pregnancy is unlike any other experience in the world. BumpEast will foster healthy growth and development for both mom and baby alike. It is imperative for women to take care of themselves in all facets of wellness, from nutrition to relaxation to readying the body for labor and post-delivery. BumpEast will guide you through this amazing and complex process in a supportive, fun, and tranquil manner, from bump right through to baby and beyond.

BumpEastprintBumpEast offers single sessions and discounted packages ranging between four and 15 weekly sessions. All packages include customized sequencing, essential oils, optional foot massage, food label de-coding/pantry makeover, and a special bump gift. For pricing information, questions, if you’re interested in booking with BumpEast, or you’d like to give your favorite mama-bump the gift of prenatal wellness, please email kiley@onehealthyhamptons.com.

One Healthy Breakdown: prenatal yoga, nutrition, and wellness in the Hamps = BumpEast!

Pre and Post-Natal Training and Dancin’ with Michelle!

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Intro from Kiley: I recently got to chat with local baby mama, lifelong dancer, health coach, and fitness pro, Michelle Weber, who splits her time between NYC & The Hamptons, teaching, coaching and providing pre and post-natal training. I was so captivated with her work and approach to fitness, birth, and life, that I just had to share with you. Since I have yet to step into the world of motherhood myself, I asked Michelle to write an article about what it is she does. Read all about her work here and be sure to check out her Integrated Fusion Fun & GYROKINESIS® classes at DanceHampton this summer! Learn more about Michelle and sign up for classes via her Facebook page or email: Michelle@MichelleWeber.com. Classes cost $35 each but YOU get $10 off your first class when you email her – see you there!!

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Pre-natal Training is such an inspiring and wonderful time. I begin working with moms-to-be (planning to get pregnant) and newly pregnant moms all the time and am so inspired to help guide these women through their pregnancies feeling strong, active and ready for the finish line….birth! From the moment you actually become pregnant, everything begins to change. Your muscle tone changes, your pelvic cavity reacts differently, and so on.

It is sometimes an odd time for the mom-to-be, to know what is “good” to do, and what is not. There is a lot of conflicting information out in the world about how to safely prepare for birthing while training your body. That is the way I look at it, “safely preparing the body to give birth.” Through each stage, I cater the session and progression to the woman in front of me and how she is feeling in her pregnancy. Each trimester brings about new changes. Strength, length, and support are key to feeling great, as well as helping to create space in the body for both mom and baby to feel comfortable. The goal is to maintain a level of fitness, but also to prepare mom’s body, mind, and emotions to do what is most important…give birth. I love being able to exercise with my moms and help them to feel confident that what they are doing is really benefiting the journey they are about to embark upon. It is proven that performing an intelligent exercise regime during pregnancy can also help the body to begin to heal faster once that beautiful baby is born.

Post-Natal Training. Let me begin with my definition of what a “post-natal” client is…any woman who has ever given birth! Sometimes I meet women that have children that are a little bit older, and they assume that they wouldn’t be considered “post-natal”. Not in my book! If you have had children, one year, two years, 10 years ago…you are post-natal, especially if you have not taken the time to address the internal changes that occurred in your body following the birthing process.

As a woman who has experienced pregnancy, birth, and motherhood, I absolutely adore the process of healing and strengthening women’s bodies from the ‘Inside Out.=,’ my specialty for the past seven years. It is a special process that coincides with one of the greatest life changes we will ever make. It is my goal to guide women back to a place where their bodies heal and function fully. We begin with deep core training to reprogram the muscles of the pelvis, spine, core, and diaphragm. I specialize in pelvic floor training and also the closing of a split of the Diastasis (rectus). The earlier I begin to work with a post-natal client, the easier it is to heal and repair, but it can be done at any stage.

It takes a lot of strength and stamina to be a mom, so endurance training comes next, but no matter what, we start by finding the foundation to create movement for endurance training. The more powerful and comfortable a woman feels in her body, the better she can function in life! We are not re-creating your pre-pregnancy body, you are a whole new woman now. We are creating a newer, upgraded version that now embodies all that you are. Harnessing the power to create life gives that core even more power!

I love teaching women to really move to continue their training as they get stronger. My integration of dance in my work and my classes creates a sense of ownership, freedom, and femininity. Dance allows for a fun way to get the cardio in that doesn’t feel like work. It is not easy, but when done right…it is quality over quantity for sure!!!

We all know that a mom’s time is limited and quite valuable! Use your time to harness that greatness inside; your Dream Body!

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One Healthy Breakdown: is it weird that Michelle makes me want to have a baby just to work with her?! I’ll just stick with her fitness classes for now…but one day…!