Queenstown physiotherapist and educator Cora Huitt wants every woman who could benefit from the classes, which are held four times a year, to know about them.
"My dream is that no matter if people live here for only one year, or whatever their culture is ... that they know about this.
"That we can reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal problems during pregnancy and afterwards so they can get on with their life, take care of themselves, take care of their baby and be an active part of their family."
A United States native who spends half of each year in the resort town, Huitt started the post-partum workshops two years ago in collaboration with fellow Queenstown physiotherapists Kate Campbell, Meesha Powell and Aoife Whelan. With funding from the Central Lakes Breastfeeding Charitable Trust, they added pregnancy workshops last year.
Huitt, who has provided similar programmes in the US for many years, says the post-partum workshop is suitable for women with new babies, toddlers, or those with school-aged children who are starting to focus on themselves.
Typically, about half of the women who’ve attended have issues such as weak or separated abdominals, incontinence, prolapse of pelvic organs, lower back or pelvic pain, digestion problems, breathing challenges or sexual dysfunction.
Many of them had the mistaken belief those issues "will just come right", she says.
However, the clinical evidence supports the need for individualised exercises, orthotic supports and physical therapy.
She hopes the post-partum and pregnancy workshops will be ongoing, and eventually attract central government funding.
The free classes facilitate discussion and support, she says. "The purpose is to educate women for a healthier pregnancy, easier births and fewer musculoskeletal dysfunctions throughout their lives.
"Ideally, since every woman is unique, each would benefit from a screening at six months of pregnancy, and within six months post-birth for an individualised programme to be developed for her, so that she could be the best for herself, baby and family."
The post-partum workshop will be held next Wednesday, March 19, at the Salvation Army community centre in Frankton at 7pm. The next pregnancy workshop is on June 4 at the Queenstown Plunket Clinic in Henry St.
