How long until I’m able to return to my full, pre-pregnancy exercise routine?
There is no fixed rule for this, and it is important to remember that your body had nine months to develop to full term. During this time, many changes occurred gradually so it will also take time for things to revert back to the way they were before.
With a newborn, there are additional stresses on both your time and energy levels that also add a little (or a lot of!) extra challenge. The key is to start off gently, and based on how your body feels and with the guidance of your healthcare professional, you can gradually increase the duration and intensity of your workout. Rushing things can lead to injury, so be patient and go easy on yourself!
How quickly can I get my pre-baby stomach back?
I get this question ALL THE TIME! And no one ever likes the hard truth: the answer is “probably never.” But another truth is that you can still have a nice flat six-pack stomach, it just won’t be the same as your pre-baby stomach
Are there any risks or physical warning signs I should watch out for? Always base your exercise on how you feel on the day. If you don’t feel 100% then scale down the intensity or duration of your exercise. If you are experiencing any back pain, pelvic pain, abdominal pain, reduced bladder or bowel control, or if you experienced any difficulties during your pregnancy or birth, these should be discussed with your doctor or physiotherapist prior to commencing exercise. They can then give you the best guided advice on what is safe for you.
Consult with your doctor or midwife before starting any postnatal exercise program.
You may need more time than you think to heal from childbirth. This is especially true if you had a caesarean delivery. However, you can begin exercises to tone your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles as soon as you feel ready.
If you had an episiotomy (a cut in the perineum to widen the opening during delivery) or tore your perineum during birth, pelvic floor exercises can help to speed your recovery. See your doctor, midwife or physiotherapist for more information.
Gentle tummy exercise
Pregnancy splits your abdominal muscles down the middle. It is important to make sure your muscles have healed before you do any vigorous abdominal exercises, such as abdominal crunches.
In the meantime, you can tone your tummy by performing an exercise that strengthens the deepest muscle layer (transversus abdominus). You can perform this exercise lying down, sitting, standing, or on your hands and knees.
Be guided by your doctor, midwife, physiotherapist or exercise physiologist, but general guidelines include:
· Keep your lower back flat.
· Breathe out and draw your belly button back towards your spine. Your lower back shouldn’t flex or move.
· Hold this position and breathe lightly. Count to 10.
· Relax and repeat up to 10 times per set.
· Do 10 sets, as many times per day as you can.
· You may like to perform your pelvic floor exercises at the same time (see below).
Tummy exercise – stage two
Once the gap in your abdominal muscles has closed, you can progress to more demanding exercises. General guidelines include:
· Lie on your back, with bent knees and both feet on the floor. Put your hands on your thighs.
· Breathe out, contract your abdominal muscles and lift your head and shoulders off the floor. Slide your hands towards your knees. Only aim to get your shoulder blades off the floor.
· Keep your head and shoulders stable. Hold the position, then slowly ease your shoulders and head back to the floor.
· Repeat up to 10 times for one set.
· Perform around three sets per session.
· You may like to perform your pelvic floor exercises at the same time (see below).
Exercise for the lower abdominal muscles
The lower abdominal muscles are located below your belly button. To work these muscles gently, guidelines include:
· Make sure your abdominal muscles have healed. Until the gap is closed, only perform the ‘gentle tummy exercise’ option.
· Lie on your back with your knees bent and both feet flat on the floor.
· Contract your abdominal muscles.
· Slowly slide your feet away from you, aiming to straighten both legs. The idea is to straighten the legs without arching your lower back.
· If your back starts to arch, stop and slide your feet back towards your bottom.
· Aim for 10 repetitions per set.
· Perform around three sets per session.
· As your lower abdominal muscles get stronger, you’ll be able to slide your feet further and further away.
Pelvic floor exercises
The pelvic floor muscles are tightly slung between the tailbone (coccyx) and the pubic bone, and support the bowel, bladder, uterus (womb) and vagina. Childbirth can weaken these muscles and cause problems, such as incontinence, later in life.
To exercise them, you must first direct your attention to these muscles. To help you identify these muscles, they are the ones that you tighten to stop urinating (weeing). These exercises can be performed lying down, sitting or standing.
Try to relax your abdominal muscles. Don’t bear down or hold your breath. Gradually squeeze and increase the tension until you have contracted the muscles as hard as you can. Release gently and slowly. Then perform the exercises, which include:
· Squeeze slowly and hold for between five and 10 seconds. Release slowly. Repeat 10 times.
· Perform quick, short and hard squeezes. Repeat 10 times.
· Squeeze, then clear your throat or cough lightly. Repeat three times.
· Aim for five or six sets each day.
Types of postnatal exercise
Keep in mind that your ligaments and joints will be loose for at least three months following the birth, so avoid any high-impact exercises or sports that require rapid direction changes. Vigorous stretching should be avoided too. Recommended postnatal exercise includes:
· Brisk walking
· Swimming
· Aqua-aerobics
· Yoga
· Pilates
· Low-impact aerobic workouts
· Light weight training
· Cycling.
See your doctor for further recommendations and cautions.
General suggestions for aerobic exercise
Be guided by your doctor or midwife, but general suggestions include:
·
1. Give yourself sufficient time to heal, particularly if you have had a caesarean birth.
· 2. Consult with your doctor or midwife before starting any postnatal exercise program – you may be advised to wait or adapt your exercises.
· 3.If you are having trouble with the techniques required in the above exercises, please consult a physiotherapist,
· 4. Aim for slow, gradual weight loss of around half a kilogram per week.
· 5. Wear a supportive bra.
· 6. Avoid any activities that place stress on the unstable pelvic floor and hip joints until strength and stability has improved. Be careful
· 7 .about activities that require sudden changes in direction (for example, high-impact aerobics, running and contact sports). This varies
· 8. Depending on the type of pregnancy and delivery you may have had.
· 9. Initially, exercise for only five to 10 minutes at a time. Increase the length of your workouts gradually.
· 10. Ideally, your exercise sessions should eventually last between 30 and 50 minutes.
· 11. Drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise.
· 12. Don’t push yourself too hard – if you feel breathless, slow down.
· 13. If you experience pain, slow down or stop.
Remember that it may take you months to return to your pre-pregnancy shape and weight, so don’t be discouraged by slow pr
Warning signs to slow down
Don’t overexert yourself. Your body gives out warning signs if you are exercising too hard, and these signs may include:
· Increased fatigue
· Muscle aches and pains
· Colour changes to lochia (post-partum vaginal flow) to pink or red
· Heavier lochia flow
· Lochia starts flowing again after it had stopped.
See your doctor or midwife for further information and advice.
Top Five Tips for Exercising after Birth:
o Check with your Doctor prior to commencing any post natal exercise.
o Listen to your body, and gently ease back into exercise.
o Take your rest days!
o Mix in a strength and conditioning exercise like Pilates with gentle cardio such as walking or swimming.
o Aim to slowly build up your strength and stamina, and know that it’s ok for this to take a few
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