Unforgettable
There are some moments in life that you never forget.
The room.
The faces.
The anticipation.
The exhaustion.
The tears.
And then suddenly, after all those months of waiting, wondering and perhaps thinking “Will I ever sleep again?” — there they are.
Your baby.
That first glimpse. That tiny face. Those tiny fingers. That little wrinkly body that somehow makes your heart feel as though it might burst. And it doesn't matter whether it is your first baby, your second, your third or your seventh.
It is still unforgettable.
I know this not only through more than 25 years working with fitness, movement, rehabilitation, Pilates and biomechanics, but as a mum myself.
I have three beautiful children.
So I know that extraordinary combination of overwhelming love, complete exhaustion and the slightly terrifying realisation that this tiny person is now entirely dependent on you!
We prepare for the baby. But do we prepare ourselves?
We buy the cot.
The pram.
The car seat.
The tiny clothes that make you wonder how an actual human being could possibly fit into them.
We prepare the nursery, read the books and make lists.
But what about preparing your body for the enormous physical journey ahead?
Pregnancy, birth and parenthood are not just emotional experiences. They are profoundly physical ones.
And that is where my passion for Pilates, rehabilitation and biomechanics comes in.
Ideally, preparing your body begins before pregnancy — developing strength, mobility, postural awareness, breathing mechanics and pelvic floor awareness.
And dads, this includes you too!
You may not be growing the baby, but you are about to become a professional baby carrier, pram pusher, floor sitter, bath-time bender and midnight pacing specialist! Parenthood is physical for both parents.
Your body is not a template
After more than 25 years in the fitness and movement industry — from group exercise and aqua fitness to rehabilitation, personal training, Pilates and biomechanics — I've learnt one thing very clearly:
Bodies are individuals.
Pregnancy is no different.
Your posture changes. Your centre of gravity shifts. Your breathing and abdominal mechanics adapt. Your pelvis and pelvic floor respond to increasing load. And then, of course, there is giving birth!
This is why at We Live and Move Pilates, I don't believe in simply giving every pregnant woman the same programme because she's pregnant. I want to know you.
Where are you starting?
How are you moving?
What has your body experienced?
What is changing?
What do you need now — and what will you need next?
And then… baby arrives
This is where the real fun begins.
Feeding.
Holding.
Lifting.
Carrying.
Rocking.
Bending.
Reaching.
Getting up from the floor.
Getting down onto the floor.
Getting up again.
And again.
Somewhere around the four-hundredth time you pick something up, you may wonder whether your baby is secretly running your strength programme! And then there is the sleep deprivation. Let's just say Pilates can't promise to fix that one. But it can help you look after the body that is trying to function despite it.
Postnatal rehabilitation isn't about getting your "old body back". Your body hasn't gone anywhere.
It has changed.
It has grown and delivered a human being — and it deserves care, respect and time. The focus is on reconnecting with your body, rebuilding strength and progressively developing the capacity to do the things motherhood and fatherhood ask of you. For some parents, returning to movement will be relatively straightforward. For others, it may take more time and individual attention.
And that's okay.
There is no single postnatal journey.
There is yours.
From “We're having a baby!” to “Where did the teenager come from?”
One of the things I love most about this work is that Pilates doesn't have to end when your baby arrives. I see it as part of a much bigger journey.
Preparing for pregnancy.
Moving through pregnancy.
Recovering after birth.
Rebuilding strength.
Returning to the activities you love.
And continuing to build a body that can keep up with family life.
Because babies become toddlers.
Toddlers become children.
Children become teenagers.
And suddenly you're wondering how on earth they got so tall while you were busy making school lunches! Your body needs to evolve with you. And somewhere amongst the nappies, bottles, washing, work, appointments and trying to remember where you put your coffee… there is still you.
Mum.
Dad.
The person you were before the baby arrived — and the person you are becoming. Looking after your body isn't selfish. It isn't vanity. It is about having the strength, mobility, confidence and physical capacity to live the life you want to live with your family.
A Gentle Reminder About Returning to Exercise
Every pregnancy, birth and new parent is different. There is no magic date when everyone is expected to be "back to normal" — and certainly no race to get there. Before returning to exercise after your baby arrives, have your appropriate postnatal check and, where needed, seek guidance from your doctor, midwife or women's health physiotherapist.
Your return to movement should be gradual, individual and guided by how you are feeling.
Some days your body will say, “I'm ready for a little more.”
Other days it may say, “Not today.”
Both are okay.
At We Live and Move Pilates, we take the time to understand where you are now and work with your healthcare advice, your birth experience and your individual needs.
No pressure.
No competition.
No "bounce back" mentality.
Just thoughtful movement, progressive strengthening and learning to trust your body again.
Because your body has done something extraordinary.
It deserves time. It deserves care. And it deserves to be listened to.
A Little Letter to the New Mum and Dad
Dear Mum and Dad,
One day, that tiny person you are holding will be bigger. The newborn cuddles will become wriggling toddlers. The first steps will become running feet. The first words will become conversations you sometimes wish you hadn't started! And somewhere along the way, you may forget just how extraordinary your own bodies have been.
So please remember to be kind to them.
Don't compare.
Don't punish yourselves for changing.
Don't rush because someone on Instagram says you should be "back" already.
Mum, your body has carried you through one of life's greatest transformations.
Dad, your body matters too. You are part of this extraordinary team — lifting, carrying, chasing, comforting and keeping up with whatever adventure comes next. Look after yourselves, because your children are going to need you for many years to come.
They will need your arms to hold them.
Your legs to chase them.
Your strength to lift them.
And perhaps most importantly, they will learn from you that looking after yourself is not selfish.
It is part of looking after the people you love. So take the time.
Breathe.
Move.
Strengthen.
Rest when you can.
Ask for help when you need it.
And remember — you don't have to do this perfectly.
There is no perfect parent.
There is simply your family, your journey and the beautiful, messy, exhausting, hilarious adventure ahead. And when you look back one day at that photograph of the tiny newborn you first held, I hope you remember something else too:
You were there.
You showed up.
You gave everything you had.
And you took care of yourselves along the way so you could keep showing up for them.
That, to me, is what being Unforgettable really means.
With love, Jeanette
Founder, We Live and Move Pilates
Ready to take the next step?
If you're preparing for a baby, moving through pregnancy, finding your feet again after birth — or you're a dad who would like to feel stronger and more confident in your body too — I'd love to help you start where you are.
You don't need to be fit.
You don't need to know Pilates.
And you certainly don't need to have it all figured out.
Just come as you are.
Together, we can work out what your body needs now and build from there. Because this isn't about creating a perfect body. It's about creating a body that can Move with Life.
WE LIVE AND MOVE PILATES
Move with Life!
Copyright 2026 Jeanette Lasek, We Live and Move Pilates. All rights reserved. Content may not be republished or redistributed without explicit written permission. Short quotes are permitted provided that a full backlink to ww.weliveandmovepilates.com is included.
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