SLAM Stories
Empowered Pregnancy

MY BIRTH EXPERIENCE AFTER SLAM PREGNANCY

Amazing! I ‘breathed’ her out in under 2 minutes and no tearing! I’ve been feeling great! Felt like I could start working out the day after haha! But I’m just trying to be very patient. I started Core Basics at 3 weeks postpartum, which I know is early, but I couldn’t wait!

MY 6-WEEK POSTPARTUM CHECKUP

I had my 6-week postpartum checkup this week. She checked my ab separation and said she couldn’t believe how well I’ve healed. I hardly had any gap and it isn’t deep at all! I told her it’s all because of my get Mom strong and Ashley Nowe. Seriously though. Thank you!

As I said, I started doing Core Basics again 3 weeks postpartum this time and SLAM Bridge after that. I’ve been feeling so great! Three babies in three years and thanks to you my core is stronger than it’s ever been! Also, she did a PAP and said my cervix is perfect and it doesn’t even look like a baby ever came out of there. I also credited that to Get Mom Strong!

I grew up playing competitive soccer and moved into weightlifting in college. I ultimately developed a lot of disordered eating patterns and behaviors around working out and nutrition. When I found out I was pregnant I was so nervous I would fall back into a bad mental space. 

DISCOVERING SLAM

I started using SLAM around 10 weeks and moved to the pregnancy program during my second trimester. I truly believe this program has made all the difference, not just physically, but mentally too. I have never found a program that has made me feel more empowered as a woman and soon-to-be mom. I am so excited to move through all the stages of postpartum and motherhood with this resource.

Ashley does an amazing job breaking down each part of the body that you should feel a movement. The exercises are FUNCTIONAL. I am not doing a million boring crunches. I am deadlifting and using loaded movements, aka stuff to prepare you to lift a baby and carry a car seat! It’s not just about ‘shaving off pounds’ and ‘getting a flat tummy’ with this program. It is about gaining knowledge about how bad*** all women are and celebrating what our bodies are capable of doing. If you can join, do it. You won’t regret it.

PAST BIRTH TRAUMA

I didn’t have preeclampsia or a C-section but I did have a very traumatic birth, I basically ruptured my pelvis during labor and couldn’t walk for months after. I was told slapping a metal plate on my pelvis with the only way, and with daily exercises and patience I can now say I’m 100% healed.

COURAGE & KNOWLEDGE TO PREPARE FOR BIRTH

I was petrified to get pregnant again but thanks to your SLAM Pregnancy program I not only stayed incredibly strong and stable during my pregnancy, but I learned all the breathing and labor techniques I needed to have a safe birth experience… no tearing, no birthing issues, and I could walk!

I knew I wanted a third child but it was a big decision in part because I was already dealing with a prolapse. After a lot of input from my physical therapist and knowing I had resources to keep me strong, like Ashley’s SLAM Pregnancy program, I decided to go for it.

SLAM SUPPORTED MY GOALS FOR PREGNANCY

One of the main goals of my pregnancy was taking care of my pelvic floor and training it for pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. Ashley’s content matched up with what I learned in physical therapy and her workouts paired well with the exercises assigned from my PT. This all became even more critical when I discovered at 13 weeks that I was pregnant with twins!

MY TWIN PREGNANCY & BIRTH

I was terrified of what this pregnancy would mean for my body, but I was able to exercise until I was 37 weeks. Even though I went to 39 weeks with twins who weighed 7lbs 5oz and 6lbs 13oz at birth, I felt strong and mobile almost to the very end. The coolest part was that I was able to start breathing exercises pretty immediately postpartum and my body and brain remembered what to do because I had trained my whole pregnancy. I loved that so many of the exercises were functional – I can’t carry a carseat without hearing Ashley’s voice remind me how to engage my pelvic floor and I need those reminders!

PREGNANCY SLAM GAINS

This was my smoothest delivery, I had the least trauma to my pelvic floor, and this has been the smoothest postpartum so far. Beyond the physical, I’m also so grateful for the overall message of Get Mom Strong.

After my first two pregnancies I was so concerned with looking like myself again and had such little knowledge of pelvic floor health, that I exercised in a way that led to injury. I’m now doing SLAM Bridge. I appreciate that this is helping me move and push my body in a safe way while my core heals. Yay for a program that offers smart support at each stage of the journey!

THIS IS MY THIRD BABY, MY FASTEST BIRTH, AND MY BEST RECOVERY.

I gave birth on April 20th after doing your SLAM Pregnancy program. This is my third baby, my fastest birth, and my best recovery. I pushed for like five minutes and have had no pelvic floor issues so far; no leaking postpartum! Also, I came into this pregnancy with a mild DR and I’m pretty sure your program helped me improve/close the gap even while pregnant. So, so grateful!

On the left is me currently and the right is my previous pregnancy at the same point in pregnancy. With working out and using your tools to focus on my core, I’ve been able to not have coning and a much tighter stomach.

It’s led to less back pain and gives me such hope for postpartum recovery. It’s also shown me that being strong is so much more than a number on the scale. I’m 20lbs heavier than I was last pregnancy yet smaller because I have real muscle!

FUNCTIONAL AND BENEFICIAL FOR MAMA AND BABY

I CANNOT recommend SLAM Pregnancy enough! I am a former collegiate softball player and current certified personal trainer, so staying active is not only something super important to me, but one of the favorite parts of my day. After dealing with infertility, you tend to be a little more cautious (maybe even a little nervous) about what you can do with your body. I wanted to continue to train and strengthen my body, but I wanted to be sure it was not only safe for mine and my baby’s body, but also beneficial. SLAM Pregnancy has not only been filled with fun and challenging workouts, but I know for a fact that every single exercise performed is for a purpose and is designed to be safe for whatever stage of pregnancy you’re in. The peace of mind and ability to keep moving my body has contributed to an incredibly smooth pregnancy so far and I cannot thank Ashley enough.

STRENGTH IN KNOWLEDGE

I did this program after I had my son in 2020 and I was able to almost entirely heal my 4 finger diastasis recti and I had stopped peeing myself all the time.  Yes, it took over a year but it really does take time and work.  When I got pregnant again, I felt defeated because I started leaking again and of course my diastasis recti came back.  But holy sh** ladies! I had my dream birth, unmedicated and I was able to breathe this baby out of me in less than 30 minutes.  The doctor almost missed the birth because my labor was so fast.

I'VE GOT THIS!

I just have to say I have never felt stronger and I know I’m on a long road to recovery but I KNOW I can get there. Hopefully this inspires or helps one person today.  We women are so beautifully strong!

CHALLENGE IS ACCEPTED

I have never had a program be so life changing! With SPD, vulvar veins, incontinence and the typical body changing pains made for quite a challenging 3rd pregnancy yet it was the best I felt physically and mentally! This program targets all the right areas for pregnancy strength and pelvic floor health. I’m so excited for the “4th trimester” resources as I recover and the SLAM programs I still get access to, to further my pelvic floor and fully body strength! I rave about this program to all the women around me. Even my local pelvic floor PT fully supports and encourages this program! Ashley is relatable, realistic, hilarious and educated and I’m so thankful for her willingness to make such a transformative program!

I just wanna say: thank you! I switched from SLAM to SLAM Pregnancy (when I finally didn‘t feel so nauseous and had the energy to) and I love it! During my last pregnancy I did some pregnancy workouts too but yours are so much better. Like I really think these are going to prepare me the best for all of what‘s to come. And I love the advice section. It‘s already given me so much information I wasn‘t really aware of although this is already my second pregnancy.

Just gave birth to my 3rd baby and have never felt this good postpartum. The weekly tips gave me confidence in the birth that I wanted and I was able to advocate for myself and my baby through the entire process. Feeling so much gratitude for the strength and confidence that came from doing this program and can’t wait to get back to doing SLAM.

LOVING THAT YOU INCLUDED A FOURTH TRIMESTER PROGRAM

I gave birth last week and the epidural only worked on half my body, by the time we realized it was too late to redo it. I have to say, your breathing technique saved me! I’ve taken lamaze a couple years back and it didn’t come close.

It went great, thank god. Me and the baby are both well; this is my first baby to not end up in the NICU and having her right away was really nice. I am loving that you included a fourth trimester to your program. You really covered it all!