Exercises
Cat -cow was originally a yoga exercise used to take pressure off the low back and strengthen the core muscles. Later on it was found to have an affect on pregnancy and assisting in positioning baby.
First, with yoga the position is changed with breath changes. But with pregnancy it should be done much slower as baby is floating in water and needs longer to move than others. Also we like to have the knees spread a little wider to give baby's head plenty of room in the pelvis. So the positions are changed no sooner than after a very slow count to 15. It is also done for at least 15 repititions each direction. This way it is not only helping mom but it is helping baby too.
The heaviest parts to baby are the spine and head. The exercises work with gravity to help put baby in proper position. When the back is swayed, as in the photo, then it encourages baby to lay with his back to the floor and get the pressure off from the mother's back. If it feels really good to her then she can linger in this position for a while longer. Then when she changes to the 'cat' position where her back is arched high then it encourages baby to put the head down into her pelvis. This has baby laying with head down and back outward to make the mother more comfortable and also help baby to learn to find proper birth position.
These exercises are generally done, starting in the second trimester and followed through twice daily, for at least 15 minutes, until delivery.
Click here for YOGA PREGNANCY MUSIC - RELAXING SOOTHING MUSIC WITH GENTLE AMBIENT SOUNDS FOR PRENATAL EXERCISES AND PREGNANCY YOGA