Knowledge Hub: Pre & Post-Natal Physical Activity
At Active Lincolnshire we are committed to helping women to enjoy the benefits of being physically active during pregnancy and beyond. Our pre and post-natal programme of work is designed to give healthcare professionals in maternity services the awareness and confidence they need to promote the benefits of physical activity both during and after pregnancy. Discover resources to help you support pre and postnatal women to be active below.
Training
Being active during pregnancy and beyond brings with it a host of physical and mental benefits, including a reduction in hypertensive disorders, lower gestational weight gain, a reduction in the risk of developing gestational diabetes, and a reduction in depression, improved emotional wellbeing and a quicker return to pre-pregnancy weight in the postpartum period. Find training to help you support the women you work with to enjoy the benefits of being active.
Moving Medicine Active Mums
Moving Medicine, This Girl Can and The Active Pregnancy Foundation have teamed up to provide a suite of the most useful training and resources, based on feedback from GPs, midwives and health visitors, to arm healthcare professionals such as yourself with the knowledge and confidence to proactively hold these conversations.
Visit the Moving Medicine Active Mums page
This Mum Moves Training
Training programme for health and fitness professionals to improve knowledge, skills, and confidence in promoting physical activity during pregnancy and beyond.
Find out more and register your interest.
Active Conversations - Motivational Interviewing Training
The Active Conversations online course is a motivational interviewing course designed to help healthcare professionals learn how to have behaviour change conversations in the context of physical activity.
Find out more and register here.
Health Education England (HEE) e-learning for healthcare module Pregnancy and Postnatal Period: Being Active.
This free e-learning module will upskill healthcare professionals and physical activity instructors on current national physical activity guidelines and empowering women and new mothers to make informed choices about being physically active during the pre and postnatal period. This training will take 30-60 minutes to complete and can be accessed here.
Active Pregnancy Foundation Ambassador Training
For those who have completed the HEE module (see above). Following completion of the training you will become eligible to become a physical activity Ambassador for Lincolnshire and will be able to deliver a 1 hour awareness training session to others.
Find out more
Resources
Chief Medical Officer's Guidelines
The CMO offers guidance on how active we should be. The guidance for pregnant women and new mums is summarised in a helpful infographic. Watch the videos below from Active Pregnancy Foundation for greater insight.
Physical Activity Guidelines for pregnant women
Physical Activity Guidelines for women after childbirth (birth to 12 months)
Watch these videos from Active Pregnancy Foundation to understand more about the Chief Medical Officer's guidelines.
During pregnancy:
After childbirth:
Pre and postnatal Behavioural Insights
To better understand awareness of key guidance, perceptions of pre- and post-natal physical activity and barriers to engagement, Active Lincolnshire commissioned Social Change UK to conduct Behavioural Insight research with four key audience groups. follow the link to read the report.