The Pregnancy Waddle – as much as we hate to admit it – we all did it, and now scientists have finally confirmed its existence.
When I was expecting the twins I moved like an aircraft carrier never mind a waddle.
According to a team from Japan, a baby bump changes the way women walk, even as early as the first three months.
Apparently, your centre of mass is further forward.
Meaning you lean backwards when standing and bend your hips less when walking. They also established you have the same risk of falling as a 70-year-old woman! With accidental injuries like this causing 10-25% of injuries during pregnancy.
Using 3D motion capture technology to create a biomechanical model, allowed the team to see how we adjust our movements in everyday life, such as getting up from a chair and changing direction while walking.
“Before this study, there were almost no theory-supported models of the movement of pregnant women. This model is just the start of our goal of contributing to a safe and comfortable life before and after childbirth for pregnant women,” the scientists from Hiroshima University said.
Adding “We want to find the ideal way for new mothers to carry their baby, what exercises are most effective to return to non-pregnant fitness, and what physical postures are best for work in the home or office. Now that we have the appropriate data, we hope to apply our model and make it possible to problem-solve these concerns of daily life,”
Details of these findings now published in the journal, Applied Ergonomics. However at GmumsHQ we’re puzzled as to why it took science so long to figure this one out. But hey now it’s a science based fact – feet up ladies!
On a serious note, some of you may be experiencing pain when you walk, and this is sometimes called pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) or symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD). We would urge you to seek the advice from your Midwife to confirm, as there are treatments to help, and techniques to manage pain and discomfort.
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