It’s so heart warming when you see someone recover from the pain of both Caesarian and sciatica and Amy-Elle Robinson kindly shares her success story here, really hope it helps and inspires you too.
Watch the benefits of pilates after caesarean & sciatica interview here
Mum and baby doing well
Pilates can support you during pregnancy too
How many children have you got?
I have 5 children, ranging in age from 19 to 5 years old.
Bev: How did you get into Pilates?
Amy-Elle: I remember seeing you on social media after the last child which was after caesarean section, and thought I needed to do something about the re-curring sicaticato strengthen my core and get back on track after the birth of the last one. So I remember contacting you and talking to you all about the caesarean.
Bev: I actually remember teaching you at that time, and at that time you were really weak. I remember what it was like, I’ve had one caesarean and it can vary in the recovery. Cant it. How did you find it?
Amy-Elle: The last child was a caesarean, I had a caesarean, three natural births then a caesarean. The first and last were caesarean, I really struggled. After the three boys I had re-curring sciatica and it was quite debilitating. I did struggle, I had an infection after and was very weak needing lots of ways from you.
Bev: You’ve been doing Pilates for over 4 years now, how’s your recovery been?
Amy-Elle: I don’t get sciatica anymore at all. I feel so much stronger, I feel so much fitter, I’m more toned, aesthetically after caesarean you have this overhang, which most women are really self conscious of, since I’ve done the Pilates, regularly, its really sucked my tummy in, nice and toned, I feel inside those deep core muscles that you can’t get to with most forms of exercise, have really been strengthened. Then helps with your lower back and core in general, lifting the children and working in a physical job as a massage therapist. All these things helped.
Bev: Hooray for this. If you have any questions for us ask away. Now you’re able to do a lot more strengthening exercises for your back and body. How do you feel doing that?
Really good, make you feel strong, once you feel like that it helps you overcome a lot of things, able to do more things. Things that set if off were any kind of lifting, lean over, able to do a lot more.
Bev: You got your quality of life back which is nice.
Amy-Elle: Yes
Bev: So back to the beginning, how long did it take the scar to heal. Do you mind me asking?
Amy-Elle: That’s fine, so the first time, I was much younger, fit and healthy, when I had my last child, it did take a really long time. 3 months and really up to a year before it was better. It was very sensitive after that too with clothes,
Bev: Did you get inflammation in that area, did you get that?
Amy-Elle: Probably 3 years after it just kind of watch what I was wearing, I didn’t wear jeans, wearing soft leggings so that nothing would press on it.
Bev: It took me 12 years before I could wear jeans again, it too me a long time. I had to keep buying underwear and clothes that were too big for me so that it wasn’t uncomfortable.
Amy-Elle: With the Pilates with the deep core exercises, you wouldn’t be able to do that yourself, you need to be taught by a professional like yourself. You could damage yourself more, you’ve had a big operation, a procedure, you need to be really careful. You need to be told how to do it properly, make sure you’re doing it all correctly. Otherwise you could go to the gym or do something yourself and really injure your deep internal muscles. It’s quite specific toning isn’t it.
Bev: You do need to know what you should and shouldn’t be doing. I don’t think that’s always very clear in the fitness industry. If you have a teacher who is trained in pregnancy and post natal Pilates it can make a huge difference, in your recovery as well. There’s so much out there about women getting into shape quickly after childbirth, there’s this kind of sit up thing, everyone thinks you should be doing sit ups and they are a big no no.
Amy-Elle: That’s the worst thing to do after
Bev: Yes
Amy-Elle: I notice that the deep core work you do with me, I can feel it working , it’s very precise, it’s going from the inside out, its really deep strengthening, it has that physical effect, you just cant get that, or over do it using the superficial ones if you’re not doing the right thing.
Bev: It really helps with pelvic floor muscles as well,
Amy-Elle: Yes. Definitely, it’s all connected!!
Bev: What is it like having lessons with me?!!
Amy-Elle: very good Bev!!! I think also as a very busy Mum, and a business as well, it’s very busy, very hectic, the session is something completely for me, focusing on my health and wellness, as a Mum, if you’re not ok, you can’t look after everyone else, you’ve got to look after yourself as well. It’s so important to take that time for yourself. I’ve been for sessions with you before and you can have hormonal things going on, and with pregnancy and post natal, the sessions are so calming, relaxing with all of the breathing, you have that lovely calming voice at the end doing the relaxation part, which we’ve done on the beach before with the waves lapping. It’s a whole experience, I do really look forward to it, it’s part of my health maintenance and lifestyle now really. I like the fact it’s holistic and the essential oils, there’s so much breathing in pilates, the oils help, they smell so nice anyway, incorporating that into a session is quite clever!
Bev: At the very early raw stage, before you have your post natal check up, did you find that your posture was horrendous afterwards? As there’s so much pain?
Amy-Elle: I couldn’t walk properly. Like I said before, lifting, hovering, any of these things were a struggle,
Bev: Hopefully you weren’t doing that in the first week!!
Amy-Elle, No but trying to walk was quite impossible really. You can’t drive, you can’t do anything, Its a really tough time, the first 8 weeks, the way you’re holding yourself, got to feed your baby, can’t sleep in a proper position, just walking round the house, it’s baby steps, you can’t hardly do anything. Posture is heavily affected.
Bev: Naturally with the pain, your body hunches forwards and your back muscles get weaker and weaker (I remember), you’re protecting yourself, how did you find it helped your posture?
Amy-Elle: Having someone tell you how to re-gain your posture professionally is really helpful, it feel so much better once you’re able to re-gain your natural, normal posture again. Hunched up and leaning over in pain, it’s good to get back to normal.
Any parting words
Amy-Elle: If you’re a Mum or Mum to be this can really help you in every way. It can help someone who has got children or during pregnancy and birth, definitely after caesarean, you have to be careful, its good to have an expert to help, recommend it to everyone and really enjoy our sessions. Thank you Bev
Thank you Amy-Elle
Really hope this helps and inspires you in some way
Love Bev
Beverley Densham BSc (Hons)
Pilates expert
