After Pregnancy Workout

Working out as a new mother or right after giving birth might the last thing you have in mind.

And it is understandable and normal and you should give your body

the time to recover before starting to workout.
Is after pregnancy exercises even good for you? How long should you wait? What type of after birth workout should you do? Let’s answer these questions and more, in the article below.

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Why should I workout after pregnancy?

Working out at any stage in life is important and necessary. After pregnancy it can even be more needed. Going back into a gentle workout can help you heal and recover faster after childbirth and may help prevent postnatal depression. Regular activity can relax you, keep you fit and help you feel more energetic.

There are many benefits for after pregnancy workouts such as strengthen and tone abdominal muscles and pelvic floor muscles, promote better sleep, promote weight loss, feel positive about yourself and overall feel happy!

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How soon after pregnancy can I workout?

While many women feel mostly recovered by 6-8 weeks it might take you longer to feel like yourself again and it might even be sooner for you!

If you had a straightforward vaginal delivery, you can start gentle exercise as soon as you feel up to it, even after 1 week. After birth exercises could include walking, gentle stretches, swimming, pelvic floor and tummy exercises after birth.

It's recommended to have your postnatal check before you start any high-impact exercise, such as aerobics or running and also to see a pelvic floor physiotherapist.

If you had a more complicated delivery or a caesarean (C-section), your recovery time will be longer.

Be sure to check with your doctor before starting after pregnancy intense workout.

 

​Can I exercise if I’m breastfeeding?

Gentle and moderate exercise shouldn’t affect breast milk quantity or quality. It is important to stay hydrated if you're breastfeeding. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day and during your after-pregnancy exercise.

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What type of after-pregnancy workout should I do?

Focus on postnatal exercises that are targeted to women after childbirth.

For example, special tummy exercise after birth.
Special pelvic floor exercises that will help strengthen these muscles which usually become weak after pregnancy. It is important to do the exercise correctly by a professional and not to over do it so you won’t harm yourself.

Pilates is a great after-pregnancy workout to do. Be sure to tell the instructor that you’ve recently had a baby as some exercises are not recommended soon after childbirth.

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Walking, swimming and any low-impact activity is good as an after-pregnancy workout.

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How can I stay emotionally healthy after childbirth?

It's important to look after your mental health as well as your physical health. Postnatal depression is common and doing some gentle exercise can help to boost your mood.
Read more about how to stay emotionally healthy for a better postpartum recovery from this ebook:

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Remember that you are an amazing mother and that you are doing your best!

Also remember that you are not alone!

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Join my Facebook group – Connect & Restore your body after pregnancy with Pilates

Click here to join!

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Dedicated specifically to women after childbirth.

You’ll get to hear first-hand from other mothers going through similar issues as you might face yourself and I’ll be personally sharing fantastic insights about motherhood, workout and more!

The group is completely FREE and currently accepting new members so if you think it would benefit you and your motherhood journey, we'd love to have you involved!

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