Prenatal Yoga and Placenta Previa or Low-Lying Placenta
Over the past year a number of my prenatal students have been diagnosed with placenta previa or a low lying placenta, so I’ve decided to compile some of my research into how we can address this with yoga.
Placenta previa or low-lying placenta is when the placenta completely or partially blocks the cervix. Placenta previa is sometimes indicated by vaginal bleeding and other times it is discovered in an ultrasound. Check with your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any bleeding during your pregnancy. Check with your healthcare provider about any concerns you have during your pregnancy.
In some cases of placenta previa women are put on bed rest and/or a cesarean section is necessary in other cases the placenta moves out of the way of the cervix as the belly grows and a vaginal delivery is possible.
If your healthcare provider says it is okay for you to continue your yoga practice after you’ve been diagnosed with placenta previa or low-lying placenta, then here are some suggestions for ways in which you can practice safely and may be able to encourage your placenta to move, allowing for a vaginal birth.
Avoid strenuous activities. This includes anything you do on or off your yoga mat. This means, take it easy generally and in yoga hold poses for less time and perhaps go into them a little less deeply. If you feel that you are straining you should come out of a pose or cease the activity you are doing.
Even if you are on bed rest you can practice the first two techniques. The first and most important is pranayama. Breath, always! In a comfortable position watch your breath, observe each inhale and exhale and consciously try to lengthen your exhales and make sure you are letting all the air go (the inhales will follow on their own). Your breath should feel free and unstrained. Inhale and exhale through your nose, if possible. If you know ujjayi breath, practice that.
The next technique is to visualize your placenta moving up away from your cervix. If you know what your anatomy looks like, then great. If not, you can visualize a balloon. If you drew a dot on a balloon it would move as you blew up the balloon. In a similar way, your placenta has the ability to move as your uterus and belly stretch and grow throughout your pregnancy. Visualize your placenta moving up with each inhale.
Avoid pressure on the pelvic floor or abdomen by doing poses such as wide legged childspose. In standing poses such as warrior, parshvatonasana and trikonasana take a shorter stance than you normally would and focus on drawing up on the pelvic floor in the pose and while transitioning out of the pose. Your feet should also be further away from you in baddha konasana.
If you have inversions in your practice they can be useful throughout pregnancy and especially in the case of placenta previa since they reverse the flow of gravity, removing pressure from the pelvic floor. Again it is important not to cause any stress or strain, so only do inversions you are comfortable with and practice at the wall and with a yoga teacher.
Kegels or pelvic floor exercises are recommended throughout pregnancy to help build elasticy, strength and softness in the pelvic floor. In cases of placenta previa pelvic floor exercises should be practiced with as little weight on the pelvis as possible in a comfortable position and the emphasis should be on isolating the pelvic floor muscles, strengthening and relaxing without pushing in any way. Savasana or supta baddha konasana are two poses that may be comfortable for doing your pelvic floor exercises.
In the case of my students, their placenta previa was diagnosed from an ultrasound early in their second trimesters. They were given permission from their doctor/ midwives to continue with their yoga practices. I am delighted to say that in each of their cases their placentas moved by 27 weeks, so they were no longer previa.
http://www.webmd.com/baby/tc/placenta-previa-treatment-overview
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/placenta-previa/basics/definition/con-20032219
