For Those Navigating Pregnancy: I Found a Free Resource That Makes Life Easier

When You're Pregnant, You Scour the Internet for Answers

I know it can be hard to find accurate information about pregnancy. I wish Google had a certified pregnancy module where you could read from experts and have access to medical journals. There is a lot of misinformation on the web from people telling you that eating spinach is bad for you to old wives' tales on how to predict your baby's sex.

Pregnancy is a vast topic, and it's hard not to be anxious when you have a thousand different questions from what can you eat, what exercises are safe, what pain is normal, and whether it's okay to be around cats.

I am currently pregnant. I just hit the 20-week mark, which means I'm halfway through the process. There is so much I need to do before my little one arrives. I need to put a nursery together, find a pediatrician, and pick out a middle name. (My husband and I agreed on a first name rather quickly, but selecting a middle name has us scratching our heads.)

Since I know it can be tough to navigate pregnancy with its myriad of questions, I wanted to direct people to a free resource that's educational: Pregnancy and Postpartum TV.

This is a great FREE resource to refer to outside of your doctor and/or midwife. Below I've highlighted reasons why following the YouTube channel can make a difference on your journey.

Who Is Jessica Pumple?

Exercise is recommended while pregnant. I discovered Jessica Pumple on YouTube while searching for prenatal workouts. I instantly got hooked on the videos on her channel. She has a calming presence. Her workouts are creative and don't push you too far —you can always make adjustments.

Jessica Pumple is a certified bariatric and diabetes educator, dietitian, and pre and postnatal fitness instructor. She helps people going through pregnancy and postpartum. She has a ton of videos about how to navigate labor. She has recommended diet plans. She also has several free ebooks. Seriously, her YouTube channel is a godsend.

Pumple focuses on strengthening the core and losing baby weight through what she calls "non-gimmicky evidence-based strategies." She works with the top obesity physicians in the United States and offers education for healthcare professionals on effective compassionate obesity and weight management. 

What You Can Expect from Her Workout Videos

Pumple's exercise videos are easy to follow. She encourages you to bring water. Every video is different.

You can follow her content at any point in your pregnancy. She notes on videos whether they're safe for the 1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd trimesters. She has videos for cardio, strength training, pilates, yoga, and HIIT (high-intensity interval training). Her videos are usually about 10–30 minutes long.

Doctors do recommend exercising about 30 minutes a day, so if you're struggling to find a routine that's comfortable for you, Pumple's program might be a good place to start. At the very least, it is free to use, unlike a gym membership.

What to Expect From Her Educational Videos

It's a good idea to put her educational videos on when you're eating lunch or have a few minutes to spare for video-watching. She has resources for people who have gone through a c-section, miscarriage, or are struggling with diastasis recti. 

She has several videos that prepare women for natural labor. She also has videos about the best foods to eat. She explains things well and makes you feel included. She never talks down to her audience.

A Compassionate Leader

One of the things I love about Pumple is her capacity for empathy. She smiles at the camera often, and it's a genuine and reassuring smile that is uplifting when you're navigating the weirdness/insecurities of pregnancy. She ends her workouts with a positive mantra.

This is definitely someone I recommend following if you're pregnant. It's a great place to absorb positive information and prepare yourself for labor.

You can also follow Jessica Pumple on TikTok.

If you know someone who is pregnant and looking for this kind of information, please share this with them. It could give them a boost of confidence.

***

Originally published: https://medium.com/the-hub-pub/for-those-navigating-pregnancy-i-found-a-free-resource-that-makes-life-easier-2cb5a5d86c36