It takes some time after childbirth for the body's hormone balance to be restored to pre-pregnancy levels. Breastfeeding will prolong this return. If a woman has noticed that the quality of her voice has changed during pregnancy, it may take some time before she feels she has regained her old voice.
Life with a newborn can be extremely exhausting because of constantly interrupted sleep cycles long after recovery from pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Physical fatigue can lead to a lack of energy to devote to vocal activities. Until the baby sleeps better, for longer periods, the new mother may find that the tone in her singing continues to be whispery and her attacks less precise. It may also take time for the abdominal muscles to recover after being stretched for many months, which means that some of the muscles that support breathing for singing will lose their previous strength and tone. The rectus abdominis and other core link muscles tend to separate during the advanced stage of pregnancy to accommodate the growing uterus and baby.
For some women, i.e., those who first do not have central abdominal tone, those who are carrying large size, those who are expecting twins, those who became pregnant soon after giving birth, those who are genetically predisposed, etc., this separation is more pronounced than for other women. Weak abdominal muscles, as in rectus diastasis, contribute to poor posture, which in turn causes joint misalignments, nervous system interference, and low back pain and inflammation. Poor posture and misalignments can adversely affect respiratory support.
For singers in particular, every effort should be made to encourage the abdominal muscles to come together so that the breath support can return to what it was before pregnancy. In many cases, the two muscle sides come together on their own after a couple of months, or with some exercises designed specifically to bring them together. Note that recent research has shown that regular abdominal crunches and sit-ups, including those that require twisting the torso or flexion and extension of the spine, which are generally recommended to firm the abdomen, will actually worsen the separation, so they should be avoided during pregnancy and the first few months after delivery. The most effective and safest method of bringing the abdominal muscles together and firming them involves seated or standing isometric exercises during which the woman sits or stands up straight, pulls the belly button inward (as if she were trying to pull it up and toward the spine) and holds that position for ten to fifteen seconds several times a day. This exercise can also be performed early in pregnancy (as long as it is comfortable) to help maintain abdominal tone for as long as possible. Multiple contractions of the transverse muscles, activated when the stomach is drawn in, are encouraged. Sometimes it is recommended to avoid singing activities that require heavy use of the abdominal support muscles in the first few weeks after delivery until the separation disappears. Finally, sing to your baby as often as possible. This will not only help calm your baby and foster bonding, but you will also begin the process of recovering your pre-pregnancy vocal skills and your baby will begin to develop an ear for music and rhythm.
Valentina Carlile - Osteopath experienced in Osteopathy applied to Voice and Speech disorders since 2002. For information and reservations visit Contacts
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