Mindful Movement for Childbirth & Wellness

Mel Born Movement

Philosophy

Mel Born Movement integrates Midwifery Childbirth Education with Pilates movement to help you prepare physically and mindfully for childbirth and postnatal recovery.

Regardless of type of childbirth (Vaginal or Caesarean section) Pilates can assist you to strengthen and condition your core and pelvic floor muscles in preparation for childbirth.

Musculoskeletal changes during pregnancy may cause discomfort and fatigue - Pilates may be effective in correct joint movement, strengthening and releasing muscles and balance your posture. This method of exercise may help you to maintain vitality and wellness during your pregnancy.

Why is Mel Born Movement unique from other Pilates and Birth classes?

Mel Born Movement classes give you an opportunity to see a midwife continually throughout your pregnancy and postpartum journey. Midwives are specialists in normal pregnancy and birth and can provide you with evidence-based maternal health and childbirth education. These classes give you the opportunity to practice exercise for active birth or preparing for a caesarean surgery as well as breath work and mindfulness for general wellness with a midwife.

Please note that if you are pregnant and have a query or concern about you or your baby’s health, it is important that you seek medical advice from your primary health care provider (i.e., GP, Obstetrician or Midwife). Mel Born Movement does not provide antenatal, labour/birth and postnatal health care.

About

About Dr Mel Mazzarino (PhD)

Mel Mazzarino has been working as a clinical registered Nurse and Midwife for 20 years. She has worked in many senior roles including clinical midwifery education, maternity services management and university lecturing.

Mel’s passion for reducing fear of childbirth and birth trauma led on her to study active birth movement and Pilates. Mel has worked privately as a hypnobirthing practitioner, childbirth educator and was one of the first midwives in Australia to integrate childbirth education with the Pilates method of exercise. She has travelled to Mexico to work with midwives and doulas to learn traditional rebozo techniques for relaxation, comfort and movement that promotes a vaginal birth.

Mel is committed to evidence-based practice. She completed a PhD thesis in Pilates for Pregnant Women, with published studies in high level peer-reviewed journals. Her feasibility study found that Pilates may improve women’s quality of life during pregnancy.

Mel works co-currently as a hospital midwife as well as a Pilates practitioner to empower women’s physical preparedness and confidence in their bodies and to have a positive mindset on self. She has a special interest in pelvic floor birth preparation and recovery, movement that facilitates an easier vaginal birth, strengthening pelvic biomechanics for an active birth, and recovering from a caesarean section.

Education

Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Masters of Clinical Midwifery
PhD – Thesis by publication titled “Pilates for Pregnant Women”
Polestar Pilates Certificate IV of Matwork
Polestar Pilates Diploma of Studio & Rehabilitation Method

Pilates Publications

Mazzarino, Kerr, D., & Morris, M. E. (2022). Feasibility of Pilates for pregnant women: A randomised trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther, 32, 207-212.

Mazzarino, M., Kerr, D., & Morris, M. E. (2021). Pilates for low-risk pregnant women: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 25, 240-247.

Mazzarino, M., Kerr, D., & Morris, M.E. (2018). Pilates program design and health benefits for pregnant women: A practitioners' survey, Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies. 411-17.

Mazzarino, M., Kerr, D., Wajswelner, H., & Morris, M. E. (2015). Pilates Method for Women's Health: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 96(12), 2231–2242.

Benefits of Exercise and Midwife-led Education during Pregnancy

Reduces pregnancy-related fatigue

Improves cardiorespiratory fitness and pelvic floor function

Decreases the risk of pregnancy hyertension

Lowers the risk of developing gestational diabetes and moderate blood sugar levels

Improve quality of life and attain a positive mindset

Have positive thoughts about self body image

Learn Movement for Optimal Baby Positioning for Labour

Mind and Body Connection for Childbirth

Why is this Important?

Mindfulness helps to embrace the sensations of labour

Marathon - Labour is a physically demanding life event - Understanding movement and gaining strength during pregnancy helps to cope with endurance required and may shorten the duratio of labour

Movement improves the mechanisms of childbirth which facilitates a positive experience

How can Midwife-led Pilates help me achieve an active childbirth?

Pilates helps to strengthen postural, core abdominal and pelvic muscles and joints to help you have the strength and endurance to perform active birth positions.

This method will help you gain an understanding of how movement opens spaces in the pelvis to help baby move down during labour and birth.

Breath work with movement will assist preparing your pelvic floor for childbirth and recovery.

Practicing Pilates aims to facilitate the mind-body connection for coping with labour surges and

Pilates exercises will train your body to perform different labour and birth positions.