Skip to content

The Belle Method

  • Find a Class
  • My Account
  • Cart (0)
  • Find a Class
  • My Account
  • Cart

The Belle Method

  • About
    • About Nikki
    • The Methods
    • Instructors
    • About
    • Become an Instructor
    • Pelvic Health Physio
    • Media
    • Testimonials
    • Contact
  • The Belle Method™
    • Belle Fusion Pilates
    • The Belle Method™ Online
    • Private Training
    • The Belle Method
    • Belle Fusion Pilates
    • The Belle Method™ Online
    • Private Training
    • Corporate Sessions
    • Find a Class
  • The Bump Method™
    • Prenatal Pilates
    • Postnatal Pilates
    • The Bump Method™ Online
    • The Bump Method
    • Prenatal Pilates
    • Postnatal Pilates
    • The Bump Method™ Online
    • Private Training
    • Find a Class
  • Programs
    • The Belle Method™ Online
    • The Bump Method™ Online
    • Bump Nutrition
    • Programs
    • The Belle Method™ Online
    • The Bump Method™ Online
    • Bump Nutrition
    • Pelvic Health Mastery
    • Have a Question?
  • Blog
    • Pelvic Floor“ELVIE” Review: a FitBit for your Kegels
    • Pregnancy5 Birthing Tips for Pregnant Women
    • RecipesHealthy Homemade Banana Protein Bars
    • Categories
    • Pregnancy
    • Postpartum
    • Health + Fitness
    • Mom Life
    • Inspiration
    • Recipes
    • View All Posts
  • eBooks
    • Batch Cooking Recipe E-Book
    • Spread the Health Cookbook
    • Bump Nutrition Recipe Book
    • eBooks
    • Batch Cooking Recipe E-Book
    • Spread the Health Cookbook
    • Bump Nutrition Recipe Book
    • View all eBooks
  • Shop
    • The Belle Method™ Online
    • The Bump Method™ Online
    • Ebooks
    • Shop
    • Bump Prenatal and Postnatal Classes
    • Belle Fusion Pilates Classes
    • The Belle Method™ Online
    • The Bump Method™ Online
    • Pelvic Health Mastery
    • Fitness Equipment
    • Shop All
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Find a Class
  • About
    • About Nikki
    • The Methods
    • Instructors
    • Become an Instructor
    • Pelvic Health Physio
    • Media
    • Testimonials
  • The Belle Method™
    • Belle Fusion Pilates
    • The Belle Method™ Online
    • Private Training
    • Corporate Sessions
    • Find a Class
  • The Bump Method™
    • Prenatal Pilates
    • Postnatal Pilates
    • The Bump Method™ Online
    • Private Training
    • Find a Class
  • Programs
    • The Belle Method™ Online
    • The Bump Method™ Online
    • Bump Nutrition
    • Pelvic Health Mastery
    • Have a Question?
  • Blog
    • “ELVIE” Review: a FitBit for your Kegels
    • 5 Birthing Tips for Pregnant Women
    • Healthy Homemade Banana Protein Bars
    • Health + Fitness
    • Inspiration
    • Mom Life
    • Pelvic Floor
    • Postpartum
    • Pregnancy
    • Recipes
    • View All Posts
  • eBooks
    • Batch Cooking Recipe E-Book
    • Spread the Health Cookbook
    • Bump Nutrition Recipe Book
  • Shop
    • The Belle Method™ Online
    • The Bump Method™ Online
    • Ebooks
    • Pelvic Health Mastery
    • Belle Fusion Pilates Classes
    • Bump Prenatal and Postnatal Classes
    • Shop All
    • Cart
  • Contact
  • Find a Class
  • My Account
  • Cart
W H A T R E S E A R C H S A Y S Let’s talk ab W H A T  R E S E A R C H  S A Y S

Let’s talk about best practices for birth. We know the following info to be true from research. The following points are from a consensus study  conducted by @dr.sinead and her colleagues in 2018. 

SCREENSHOT the second slide and show it to your birth provider if there is any doubt. ✨Let’s start advocating for ourselves.

1️⃣ MOVE DURING LABOUR 
Advocate for the ability to be mobile during labor. Being confined to your bed due to IVs and continuous fetal monitoring is more likely to slow the progression of labor which can then increase the likelihood of medical interventions. (Side note - I’ve given birth twice in hospital with both OBs & midwives and never once had an IV. If they tell you it’s hospital policy, ask for an IV that can be capped off - called a Saline or Hep Lock- and request intermittent fetal monitoring when possible.)

2️⃣ BREATHE WHEN YOU PUSH
Avoid valsalva aka “purple pushing” while holding your breath as this puts a huge amount of pressure on your pelvic floor and abdominal wall. 

3️⃣ FREE YOUR SACRUM
Avoid giving birth in lithotomy position on your back as this limits the mobility of your sacrum and tailbone - reducing the size of the pelvic outlet, prolonging labour and increasing likelihood of pelvic floor trauma.

4️⃣ DELAY EPIDURAL
If you want an epidural, ok! Try to avoid getting it during stage 1 labor as this can stall contractions, which then calls for the use of pitocin to “speed” things up - leading to a cascade  of interventions associated with higher risk of operative birth. 

We talk about these points and SO much more in our Virtual Prenatal Classes. I truly believe we must stop letting outdated practices be the norm in birth settings. 

Side note: did you know the history of why women give birth on their backs in hospital? In the 17th century, a gross French King insisted on watching the woman’s vulva as she gave birth. 
So the birthing stool was replaced by a “birthing table” with the woman’s feet in stirrups so he could get a good view. 

Why are we STILL delivering babies in a position that research shows prolongs labor and is worse for the pelvic floor? 

#birthmatters #obstetrics
B O D Y L O V E With our babies we celebrate ev B O D Y  L O V E 

With our babies we celebrate every dimple and every roll. 

With our adult female bodies, we are told to shrink, to take up less space. 

I’ve been thinking about the fact that yesterday a newly pregnant woman inquired about private training asking how my team and I could help her lose inches during pregnancy. 

I told her she needs to GAIN inches when creating life, and to be extremely cautious of any program being marketed to help women have a “belly only” pregnancy. 

Cause that is just plain f*cked. 

I get that it can be hard to love your newly pregnant or postpartum body. 
Even fitness pros have their moments. 

This is a lingerie set I got as a gift from @the_dairyfairy and I didn’t want to post a pic of me in the bottoms - just the top. 

But screw it. I’m rocking it ✨

I once had a professional photographer offer to photoshop my inner thighs for my (former) website photos. This was an unsolicited offer FYI. 

So ya, I have my moments too. 

But ladies, let’s remember one thing. 
You DESERVE to take up space. 
You are a gorgeous vessel of life. 
You are strong AF. 
And even more beautiful than you realize. 💕

#4monthspostpartum #bodylove #postpartumbody #selfesteem #womensbodies #womenirl
4 M O N T H S O L D It’s time for your month 4  M O N T H S  O L D 

It’s time for your monthly baby spam courtesy of Mr Meatball aka Sir Hendrik Augustus ✨

Here’s a little update from our end!

1️⃣ We have a little Ginger in the making! That dark brown hair is turning lighter and more reddish every day. 

2️⃣ We have re-organized the dresser drawers 4 x already now that we are into 9-12 month size clothing 😆#handmedownsforthewin 

3️⃣We won’t take a pacifier but have been sucking our left thumb since birth. Dentist friends plz send tips 🤦🏼‍♀️

4️⃣Our fav game is when mommy pretends to eat me like a dinosaur. Because, well, she can’t help herself 🥰

The desire to eat something cute is apparently a real documented thing. Just finding out about this and it’s making me feel a little less crazy 😂😂😂

Tell me I’m not alone here?! 

#4monthsold #hendrikaugustus #babyboy #cutebaby #socuteicantstandit #postpartumjourney
S E C O N D C H A N C E S We went apple picking S E C O N D  C H A N C E S

We went apple picking today. It’s an annual Fall tradition. 

Two years ago I took my first born apple picking. She was 5 months old, and I remember feeling SO defeated after the experience. 

She hated the carrier, cried in the stroller and because she wouldn’t latch, I was preoccupied with bringing bottles of milk in a cooler bag, along with my breast pump so I could pump in the car while we were there. 

It was a whole production. And I recall feeling like a big failure on the verge of tears- especially seeing other women with young babies making it look so easy.

Today, two years later, we tried again. 

Today I breastfed in an Apple orchard, rode a tractor with 4 month old baby boy in a carrier and walked through a pumpkin patch while he slept peacefully. 

Today was a big deal. 

Today boosted my confidence as a mom. 

Here’s to knowing that sometimes, no matter what you do, things will be hard. We have all been there. 
It’s not your fault. I promise. 

And here’s to also trusting that it can be different the second time. 

Here’s to showing ourselves grace on the journey. 

 💕

Also - I’m using the @lovesakurabloom carrier and love it! Nicest one I have ever owned ✨

#motherhoodjourney #motherhoodinspired #mamabear #fallvibes #pumpkinpatch #exclusivepumping #breastfeeding #motherhoodunplugged #applepicking
D I A S T A S I S R E C T I R E S E A R C H S T D I A S T A S I S  R E C T I 
R E S E A R C H  S T U D Y 

@dr.sinead has been doing incredible research in the area of #diastasisrecti. Here are some findings from her recent award winning consensus study! Swipe for videos and screenshots of the research papers. 

Some highlighted findings below: 

PRENATAL women - avoid repeated & prolonged movements that increase intra abdominal pressure. This means be mindful not just during exercise, but how you’re moving in daily life (no straining on toilet, crunching out of bed etc) 

EARLY POSTPARTUM 
(Birth - 3 months PP)
Avoid concentrically shortening the superficial abs in the first 3 months after birth. (Aka no sit ups)

LATE POSTPARTUM
 (3-12 months PP)
Continue challenging core, but avoid movements with doming in linea alba. (Remember the 5 Ps- avoid pain, pressure, peeing, peaking/doming or popping) 

She is hosting an incredible Level 1 Diastasis Recti course for educators. Level 2 is in October. DM @dr.sinead for details. 

Please tell me below ⬇️ Do you like learning more about the research behind our programs? What do you struggle with most in your Prenatal & Postnatal fitness? 

#diastasisrectirepair #pelvicfloor #pregnancyworkouts #postpartumbody #pelvichealth #mummytummy #diastasisrectirecovery #mombod
Usually around 3 PM every day I get the dreaded qu Usually around 3 PM every day I get the dreaded question, “Mom what’s for dinner??” 🤦🏼‍♀️

I actually enjoy cooking, but it’s been harder lately to get to the grocery store, plan meals, prep healthy food, and get dinner on the table!

I recently just tried @HelloFreshCA and I’m a big fan. The recipes are easy and delicious with fresh pre-portioned ingredients delivered to your door.  You get three different recipes in each box and can select based on dietary preferences and household size. Hello Fresh also has the most recipe variety of all Canadian meal kits. 

Best of all, there is zero food waste and we are eating healthy recipes I’ve never made before! 

If you want to try it, use my promo code NIKKI80 for $80 off including free shipping! Check the link in my profile! 

And now next time someone at home asks you what’s for dinner, you’ll have a great response 🙌

#mealprep #hellofresh #ad
  • Prenatal Pilates
  • Postnatal Pilates
  • Belle Fusion Pilates
  • Online Programs
  • Shop
  • My account
  • Instructor Login

stay in the know

Sign up for our newsletter and get 3 key workout moves for each stage of your journey.
Select which applies to you:
    • Privacy Policy
    • Shop Policy
THE BUMP METHOD™ AND BELLE METHOD™ ARE © THE BELLE METHOD INC, 2021 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Made with Type and Colour + BSpoke Media Inc.