I can be contacted anytime by filling out the form below or emailing info@theillawarradoula.com.au

During business hours I can be contacted on 0416 180 207. If I miss your call please leave a message and I will call you back within 48 hours

So that I can provide a high level of support I only take on a limited number of clients each month. This means I book out quickly so if you are thinking about hiring me as your doula please contact me as soon as possible

Name *
Name
Phone
Phone
         

123 Street Avenue, City Town, 99999

(123) 555-6789

email@address.com

 

You can set your address, phone number, email and site description in the settings tab.
Link to read me page with more information.

Pregnancy exercise options in the Illawarra

Blog

Pregnancy exercise options in the Illawarra

Amelia Coleman


We know from numerous studies the great benefits of exercise during pregnancy. Regular exercise can reduce discomfort during pregnancy, make birth easier, reduce stress, and help your post-baby body get back into shape.

Generally, low impact exercises specifically designed for pregnant women are the best. Here in the Illawarra we are lucky to have many options for prenatal exercises.

Pregnancy Yoga

Pregnancy yoga can be an amazing exercise. It helps you gently stretch and relax and can also help you connect with your baby. I loved my pregnancy yoga so much and even did several poses during labour!

Our local yoga options are:

Younga Yoga Studio
Lot 5 Thomas Street, Wollongong 02 4227 1997

Wellness Centre, Wollongong
81 Keira St, Wollongong 02 4226 3777

The Nesting Place
Thirroul Community Centre. Contact Briony for more information

Ray of Light Bulli
20 Cope Place, Bulli 0414 585 688

Sandra Bolack Yoga Kiama
North Kiama Neighbourhood Centre 0419 607 189

Kutumba Family Yoga
North Wollongong 0408 848 139

Radiant Soul Yoga
100 Princes Hwy, Thirroul 0418 697 853

The Burgh Gym
338 Cemetery Rd, Helensburgh 024294 1282

Pregnancy Pilates

Pilates is a great exercise option for pregnant women. Pilates is all about core strength and having strong core muscles can prevent pelvic floor strain. It is also important to have strong abdominal muscles and again pilates is amazing for this.

The Pilates Workship Fairy Meadow
Fairy Meadow (02) 4283 8881

Wollongong Pilates Studio
9/83 Railway Ave, Corrimal (02) 4285 2518

The Wellness Centre Wollongong
81 Keira St, Wollongong 02 4226 3777

Shellharbour Health
1 Jindabyne Road, Flinders 02 4295 4698

Intuitive Body Corrimal
1/256 Princes Hwy, Corrimal 0423 105 895

Pregnancy Aqua Aerobics

Aqua aerobics is fast becoming a popular pregnancy exercise option. Doing exercise in water is fantastic when you are pregnant because the buoyancy of being in water will help reduce impact on your joints. Aqua aerobics is great if you are suffering with pelvic girdle pain or symphysis pubis dysfunction and looking for ways to still keep fit but cant cope with anything that hurts your already sore hips.

McKeon's Swim School
Cnr Marley Place and Five Islands Rd, Unanderra 02 4272 7272

Kiama Leisure Centre
1 Havilah Place, Kiama 02 4232 1877

Shellharbour Swim School
46 Sunset Ave, Barrack Heights 02 4295 1006

Northern Stars Swim School
9 Watts Lane, Bellambi 02 4285 8700

Beaton Park
Foley Ave, Gwynneville 02 4227 7755

Swimming Pools

Swimming is probably the most recommended pregnancy exercise. It is low impact, a great cardio workout and perfect for when your muscles and joints are aching. The climate is so lovely here that outdoor swimming is available for most of the months but luckily we have some indoor options for those colder times.

URAC
Outdoor heated pool
University of Wollongong, Gwynneville 02 4221 4700

Beaton Park
Indoor heated pool
Foley Ave, Gwynneville 02 4227 7755

Dapto Pool
Outdoor heated pool
Bangaroo Ave, Dapto 02 4261 1963

Corrimal Pool
Outdoor heated pool
Short St, Corrimal 02 4284 9135

Free outdoor pools (unheated) at Helensburgh, Thirroul, Continental, Port Kembla, Berkeley and Western Suburbs Pools (Unanderra).

Walking

Don't think that you have to pay for exercise, there is always walking! There are so many beautiful walks in the Illawarra. We have the gorgeous coast to walk along and beautiful bushland to explore.

What was your favourite exercise while pregnant? Are there any other pregnancy exercise options in the Illawarra that I've missed? Please comment below with your suggestions

 

Have you had your baby and looking for post-natal exercise options? Check out this list

 

Do you live in the Illawarra area? Join our privatepregnancy and parenthood Facebook group
'Pregnant In The Illawarra'
to connect with local Mum's and Mum's-to-be

Keep reading
Latest birth statistics for the Illawarra
Latest birth statistics for the Illawarra

NSW Health has released the latest Mother and Baby report for births in NSW between January 1 2016 - 31 December 2016.  To read the full report click here.

The report provides an interesting snapshot of what its like to give birth in the Illawarra.

 

Pregnancy options in the Illawarra
Pregnancy options in the Illawarra

So you just found out you are pregnant, congratulations!

....but now what? What are your options and how do you choose what's right for you?

Your birth location and provider can have a big impact on your birth experience so it's good to invest a little time to find an option that suits you best.  

Let me start off by acknowledging that unlike capital cities such as Sydney or Melbourne we don't currently have a huge range of options for pregnancy and birth here in the Illawarra.

Maybe one day that will change and more options will be available (wishing for a birth centre!) but at the moment the main choice is which hospital you will deliver your baby. 

“My baby’s birth was horrible”
“My baby’s birth was horrible”

One of the most common reasons pregnant women contact me looking for a doula is because of a previous difficult birth. When they share their birth experiences they often say things like "my first baby’s birth was horrible” or “I had such an awful experience last time”. 

Latest Birth Statistics for the Illawarra
Latest Birth Statistics for the Illawarra

NSW Health has released the latest Mother and Baby report. The report provides an interesting snapshot of what its like to give birth in the Illawarra.

 

What is a low lying placenta?
What is a low lying placenta?

If a woman is told at an ultrasound that she has a low lying placenta this can often cause her to feel confused and worried. The sonographer may mention that the woman may need to have a caesarean and if she is planning a vaginal birth this can throw her plans into chaos.

Top Tips For Your Postpartum Sore Bits
Top Tips For Your Postpartum Sore Bits

Whether your baby is born vaginally or by caesarean there is bound to be some post-birth sore parts to your body. Your body will take days and even weeks to fully recover both from the pregnancy and birth.

Mums and Bubs Exercise in the Illawarra
Mums and Bubs Exercise in the Illawarra

So you've had your baby and now you want to try to start exercising again. There are many benefits to exercise after having a baby. It can boost your mood and be a part of your self-care routine.

Pregnancy exercise options in the Illawarra
Pregnancy exercise options in the Illawarra

We know from numerous studies the great benefits of exercise during pregnancy. Regular prenatal can reduce discomfort during pregnancy, make birth easier, reduce stress, and help your post-baby body get back into shape.

Generally, low impact exercises specifically designed for pregnant women are the best bet. Here in the Illawarra we are lucky to have many options for prenatal exercises.

Trisomy Awareness Month
Trisomy Awareness Month

March is Trisomy Awareness Month. It is a time to raise awareness of this condition, to support families experiencing Trisomy and to help people with Trisomy live full and meaningful lives.

A doula is like.....
A doula is like.....

Trying to explain what a doula does can be challenging. It is a profession that some people have heard about but often they aren’t quite sure what a doula does. One of the ways I explain it to someone is to use an analogy of a profession they are familiar with. These are some of the useful analogies I have used to explain what I do.

A doula is like a personal trainer

 

tags pregnancy yoga, prenatal yoga, pregnancy pilates, prenatal pilates, aqua aerobics, wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, pregnancy exercise, Swimming