Pregnant and postpartum women have significant and common issues with core and pelvic floor function. The reason for this lies in a number of mechanical factors that occur during the pregnancy. Firstly, the infant’s growth expands the uterus, subsequently stretching the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. Over time, they become more stretched and weakened. Secondly, the diaphragm is in charge of breathing and is heavily involved with posture; but it shifts in location as the uterus expands, and this alters its function. And finally, more oxygen is needed to support both the mother and the baby, so the diaphragm has extra demand to work hard to breathe, and posture takes the back burner.
These are a lot of changes to the body, so it makes sense that core function, pelvic floor function, proper breathing, and proper posture can slip through the cracks.
A key goal in the postpartum phase is to reestablish core and pelvic stability. We believe that breathing “360 degrees” can help to reinstate function in the core and diaphragm, and even rehab the pelvic floor. 360 breathing improves oxygen flow, re-stabilizes the core, and promotes correct posture and good movement patterns. If a postpartum mother is struggling with rectus diastasis, 360 breathing will help with the recovery. It’s recommended to pair 360 breathing with core-strengthening exercises and postural corrective exercises to reestablish core and pelvic stability (Fetanat, 2025).
