Good posture lasts forever
When you are pregnant, as your tummy muscles stretch, it is easy to let them sag and allow your back to arch. Use the pelvic tilt standing position (PTSP) see - The Importance of the Pelvic Tilt to correct this.
After your baby is born (or babies) your tummy muscles remain stretched and it can be hard to stand in the PTSP. As you keep practicing, your tummy muscles will shorten and get flatter. Again, remember it took 9 months for them to stretch – they don’t always go back to normal straight away. It takes time, but like anything worthwhile, it is worth the time, patience and perseverance. 
Use the PTSP for the rest of your life to maintain good posture and a healthy body position.
Breathing
Stand in your ‘old’, let’s call it, “saggy back posture” (now the difference between this and your new posture may be subtle, but it is worthwhile trying this exercise to compare the difference in your breathing pattern).
“Saggy back position” – take a slow deep breath, filling your lungs up with air as much as you can. Relax.
Now correct your posture into the “pelvic tilt standing position” (PTSP) and repeat, taking a slow deep breath, breathing in as much air as you can.
Compare the difference, once again repeating both positions until you can feel which one allows more air into your lungs. The saggy back posture does not usually allow you to breathe as deeply as the PTSP.
You can also compare this when you sit using a really slumped position, versus the PTSP. Move from the standing position to sitting without losing your pelvic tilt or allowing your tummy to sag. Take a deep breath and compare this to a really slumped position, like a C curve in your spine which is often how we sit when we don’t catch ourselves doing this.
When you get air into your lungs more easily, there is more oxygen getting into your blood system to provide the cells in your body with what they need to survive. This can help you to feel less tired and sluggish and have more energy. It can also loosen your ribcage and upper back area, as this area will be expanding and relaxing normally when you breathe.
It is worth taking the time to learn the PTSP exercise. You never know, you might not need to exercise your pelvic floor muscles separately so much if you work them through the day this way. The flatter your tummy gets, the more you will be pleased with the results.
Remember, this new all-in-one exercise tones and works your hips, pelvis, back, abdominal and pelvic floor muscles all at the same time, while making you look and feel taller.
Exercising doesn’t get much better than that! 
To find out more about Good Posture get our NEW e-booklet Think Back and Connect - Staying strong in the middle for postnatal mums.
When you use it, you don’t lose it.
But you will lose it, if you don’t use it.
USE IT OR LOSE IT
Copyright 2011-2016. Demac Resources Pty Ltd. www.thepregnancycentre.com.au
Printed originally in 2000.