Getting back into exercise after having a baby.
After having a baby life just isn’t the same, no doubt exercise isn’t top of ones ‘must do’ list. However, in time getting back into a healthy routine of regular exercise not only helps mum but will help baby too.
What is the best way forward? This will depend on how much exercise you were doing before and during your pregnancy. If you managed to exercise right up to the end of your pregnancy, you can start light exercise right away.
Of course all new mums can start exercising pelvic floor and lower stomach muscles as soon as they feel ready. When you feel up to it a gentle walk with your ‘baby in buggy’ would be a good way to get back into some exercise – this can also lift your mood.
Walking is an excellent start as you can extend the distance or increase the pace very easily to suit your level of fitness.
Swimming is best avoided for the first six weeks to avoid picking up an infection.
Once you have had your 6 week check you can join an exercise class – best to avoid sit-ups or high impact exercise such as running until your pelvic floor has recovered.
A good goal in terms of exercise would 3 times a week of about 30 minutes.
Regular exercise and eating sensibly will help you to return to a healthy weight. However, don’t rush into shedding that baby weight through excessive dieting especially if breastfeeding. This may cause more harm than good. Allow yourself a year to return to pre pregnancy weight – a goal of half a kilo a week would be sensible. Losing weight more slowly makes it more likely that the weight stays off.