Postnatal exercise – where to start! Exercising after baby can be confusing (and that’s coming from someone who has spent the last 8 years working with postnatal women). Of course, we’d love a textbook on exactly what to do, in the same way, we’d love a manual for motherhood 😉 however, it doesn’t exist. But some broad guidelines do! So here we go!
Brain says yes, body say no..
The epic buggy walks with your NCT mum friends, the runs with your brand spanking new running buggy, getting back to your fave Bootcamp or CrossFit community are so tempting if you feel ok.
The thing is that postnatal healing extends beyond that initial 6-week window. And let’s face it, the 6-week GP check isn’t that in-depth, often comprising of a couple of questions and no physical check. Click here to read my blog on how to own your 6-week check
Personal healing time after baby depends on so many factors so here are a few to consider:
- type of delivery
- damage to the tissues from tears, assisted births or episiotomies
- how well you’re eating and drinking
- sleep(!)
- length of time between pregnancies (if this isn’t the first)
- any existing issues such as pelvic organ prolapse
Wonder what you can be doing?
Here are some ideas of where you can start if you are wanting to exercise after baby:
- Re-establish breathing pattern and connection to the pelvic floor
- Isolated pelvic floor work
- Stretching and mobility
- Light walking/gentle movement
- Relaxation and rest