B Is for Breath: The Secret Weapon to Your Core, Labor Prep and Postpartum recovery.
Let’s take a deep breath together, mama. No really. Inhale… and exhale.
Feel that? That breath you just took isn’t just relaxing - it’s powerful. And in pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery, breath isn’t just a tool. It’s a superpower.
Breath is the "B" in our ABC Method for a reason. It connects your mind to your body, helps regulate your nervous system, supports your core and pelvic floor, and prepares you for one of the most intense physical events of your life: birth.
Let’s talk about why breath matters so much, and how to start using it as your secret weapon.
Breath Is More Than Just Breathing
We know what you’re thinking: "Breathing is automatic. I’m doing it right now."
Totally. But most of us are doing it inefficiently - especially during and after pregnancy. Stress, poor posture, a baby putting pressure on your diaphragm and lack of awareness lead to shallow, chest-dominant breathing. That kind of breath doesn’t fully expand the diaphragm, and it keeps your core and pelvic floor disconnected.
That matters, because breath is the foundation of core function. Every inhale and exhale impacts how your abdominal muscles and pelvic floor engage. When used intentionally, breath can:
- Reduce pain and tension
- Improve posture and alignment
- Enhance core and pelvic floor activation
- Calm the nervous system
- Make labor more manageable
- Support postpartum healing
It’s not woo-woo. It’s science. And we teach you exactly how to harness it.
Breath for Labor Prep
When labor kicks in, your nervous system does too. Things can get intense fast. Intentional breathwork gives you something to anchor into; a way to stay calm, connected, and focused.
Here’s how breath helps during labor:
- Keeps your body out of panic mode
- Helps regulate contractions by controlling tension
- Supports pelvic floor relaxation for pushing
- Conserves energy over the long haul
One of our go-to techniques is 360 breathing, where you expand your ribcage and belly outward (instead of breathing shallow into your chest). Exhale slowly and intentionally, syncing breath to movement or the rhythm of contractions.
Breath for Recovery
Postpartum, breath is your reset button.
After birth, your core muscles and pelvic floor need time to heal and re-engage. Breathwork helps rebuild those connections gently and effectively. Before you lift, squat, stretch, or even carry your baby, your breath sets the tone.
Using intentional exhalation during effort (like standing up or lifting a car seat) reduces pressure on your core and supports pelvic floor activation. Over time, this leads to less leaking, better strength, and a body that feels more stable.
How to Practice 360 Breathing
Here’s a quick how-to:
- Sit or lie down comfortably with one hand on your belly, one hand on your ribs.
- Inhale through your nose and feel your ribs, belly, and back expand outward in all directions.
- Exhale slowly through your mouth, like you’re blowing out a candle. Feel your core gently draw in and up.
- Repeat for a few minutes, focusing on slow, full breaths.
You can build on this foundation with movement, core work, and posture adjustments, all of which we guide you through in the ABC Fit Virtual Gym.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need fancy equipment or hour-long workouts to start rebuilding your strength. You just need your breath.
Whether you’re pregnant and prepping for birth or deep in the postpartum weeds, breathwork is one of the most powerful tools you can tap into.
Inside the ABC Fit Virtual Gym, we don’t just tell you to "engage your core." We teach you how to breathe in a way that activates and supports it; step by step.
Start with your breath. Build from there.











