Rosie Dumbrell is a mum of 3 young boys and a newborn baby girl; she is a women's physio and founder of Lenny Rose Active. Rosie has spent a great deal of the last 5 years either pregnant or breastfeeding, and over 15 years studying the importance of physical activity not only for general physical health but mental health as well. More specifically she has extensively studied and experienced the importance of physical activity for a positive pregnancy, birth and motherhood outcomes. She knows first-hand the physical and mental barriers to staying active in pregnancy and motherhood and the positive outcomes available when women are empowered around their health and wellbeing during this period.
Pelvic, back and bump support in maternity clothes
The bodily changes that occur during pregnancy can affect many women’s lifestyles. Lower back, neck, and leg pain and even low moods have been linked to a lack of postural support whilst pregnant. Luckily, professionally-designed maternity support wear can help you grow and adapt to these added pressures on your body by providing extra support for comfort.
Maternity wear helps you to grow with and adapt to the changes that will occur during pregnancy by providing additional comfort and support to your body and assisting your body to better deal with some of the added pressures the little human inside you is placing on your joints, muscles and organs.
Misconceptions of supportive maternity clothes
Some of the misconceptions of maternity clothes are that they are normally ugly and daggy / not good enough for ‘outerwear’ and often uncomfortable to wear 2 layers (I’d say this is true though not a misconception - I'm not sure there are many out there that look nice enough that have the support as well). Some say that they do not provide true support, but for sure that's just marketing fluff!
At Lenny Rose Active, products are professionally designed by a physio + mum. The maternity wear is passionately crafted range to provide all lovely mamas comfort and support they deserve without compromising style.
Whilst there are no shortages of maternity clothes to choose from, there’s still a firm belief that pregnancy support clothes are either stylish or practical. But supportive pregnancy clothes that look good do exist! It’s just about choosing the right pregnancy support garments for your hospital bag checklist.
What maternity clothes to buy
There are five key areas to look for in supportive maternity clothes.
The Pelvic Area Over the course of pregnancy, the pelvic position and ligaments change significantly. As the Relaxin hormone peaks around 12-16 weeks of pregnancy, the chances of experiencing back pain can increase in women after 18 weeks of gestation. This gives Relaxin a bad rap but other hormones like progesterone also contribute to the ligamentous laxity to allow for softening of the pelvic ligaments so that the pelvis can open during childbirth. Simply put, during this period our pelvic joints are under more stress and often require extra support to manage pain at the front (the pubic symphysis) and back (the sacroiliac joint) of the pelvis. The Lower Back As a woman’s bump grows, her centre of gravity moves forward, causing her lower back muscles to work harder to maintain an upright position. Due to this, there can be some low-level compression of the lower lumbar joints, which changes the whole axis (shape) of the spine. The Sacred Support Maternity Leggings are designed to offer pelvic and lower back support to combat this. Mimicking the connective tissue support systems that are put most under pressure by the changes of a growing bump. So our leggings help improve lower back posture to keep the whole spine strong and shaped correctly. Ultimately, alleviating pregnancy-related lower back pain and for your postpartum recovery. Blood Flow support The weight of your growing bump can also place increased pressure on the arteries and vessels around the legs and pelvis, meaning blood flow return is slower, and legs can become achy and swollen. Our leggings have been designed with careful knowledge of the vascular supply, and how posture, movement and gravity have an effect on blood flow return to the heart. Better pelvic position and bump/ low back support alone has a positive effect, as well as our 3 zoned compression for an overall amazing improvement in blood flow return. The Growing Bump Bump support is crucial, especially for active expecting mothers. As many women experience healing abdominal muscle separation (DRAM), support is also important to aid a faster recovery after childbirth. Their Sacred Support Maternity Leggings are designed to support under your bump and the midline where separation of the abdominals is very common. We differ from other brands by using an X pattern to provide support around the belly without compression. Utilising specific panels that allow more stretch and plenty of room for your growing bump also helps reduce any round ligament pain or sharp pains you may feel as your uterus grows. Making it a maternity wardrobe staple! Breast Health Underwire bras are not recommended during pregnancy or when you are breastfeeding. As your breasts will change in shape and size, the underwire may put pressure on your breasts leading to an increased risk of blocked milk ducts or mastitis. However, some maternity bras do have flexible low-gauge wire support which is less likely to cause problems. This is why, Lenny Rose Active are partners of the Australian Breastfeeding Association, has chosen to keep their bras underwire-free - instead, utilising adjustable straps as effective support. As women’s bodies go through dramatic changes during pregnancy, aches and pains can crop up from multiple stressors. Professionally designed maternity support wear is ideal for mums that want the most comfortable pregnancy experience possible.
So Mamas what are you waiting for, invest in your health today and get your maternity activewear wardrobe sorted at Lenny Rose Active.
This article was written by Rosie Dumbrell Founder of Lenny Rose Active.
To learn more about supporting your bump and nurturing yourself and your baby during pregnancy, secure a spot at our free Pregnancy Masterclass.
