Postpartum Exercise: Benefits and Optimal Timing to Initiate Physical Activity After Pregnancy

After childbirth, some parents are enthusiastic to start their everyday exercise regimens. Coming back to fitness isn't as forthright as hopping on the treadmill or rejoining pre-baby pilates classes.

New moms should approach postpartum exercises with realism and determination. Considering that it took roughly 40 weeks to grow a pregnant body, it may take nearly as long to start awareness like one's pre-pregnancy self again.

When Can You Start Exercising After Giving Birth?

As per the American Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), women who had a natural vaginal delivery can commonly start light walking within a few days of delivery.

ACOG generally suggests 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week, equivalent to roughly 20 to 30 minutes of walking each day. However, it's essential to progressively increase activity levels to reach this target.

Begin with a five-minute walk and gauge how you feel eventually. If there's no bleeding, pulling, or displeasure, add walk time progressively over the following days.

Avoid carrying your baby in a front-facing carrier or pushing them in a stroller during these initial outings, as the strain might be too much.

Once comfortably walked for a week or two, you can progressively include gentle upper-body stretching or contemplate joining a postpartum exercise class after receiving approval from your healthcare provider.

If you had a C-section or encountered difficulties, you may required to take a slower way. Ask a healthcare provider to conclude when it's harmless to begin exercising and how much exercise you should employ every day.

Read Also: Areola Darkening: Is This an Early Pregnancy Symptom?

Benefits of Exercising After Pregnancy

Exercising helps sustain physical stamina and safeguards against certain chronic health circumstances, making it essential to continue physical activity after gestation. Additionally, exercise allows numerous benefits for postpartum recovery, including:

• Enhancing the stamina of the muscles in the abdomen.
• Lessening the danger of postpartum depression
• Improving sleep quality
• Boosting energy levels
• Alleviating stress
• Aiding in weight management

How to Begin Postpartum Exercise

Before beginning postpartum exercise, wait until the doctor gives you the green light, which might take numerous weeks or longer, particularly if you have a C-section or labor difficulties.

In the meantime, contemplate the following steps to design a post-pregnancy workout routine:

1. Begin gradually and continuously reintroduce exercise into a routine. Refrain from pushing yourself too hard, particularly in the first two weeks after delivery.
2. Wait until any postpartum bleeding has halted before raising the strength of workouts.
3. Be mindful of breastfeeding and refrain from concentrating on weight loss instantly after delivery.
4. Evaluate the stability of the pelvic floor and consider incorporating kegel exercises into your daily regimen.
5. Stay attentive to diastasis recti and steer clear of exercises that could pressure the abdominal muscles.
6. Consider the impacts of relaxin hormone on joint strength and choose low-impact exercises at first.
7. Delve into numerous types of postpartum exercise, such as walking, yoga, or baby-and-me classes.
8. Continue proper hydration to help in postpartum recovery and breastfeeding.
9. Pay attention to your body and rest when necessary, particularly during the early months of parenthood.

Related Article: Embracing the Postpartum Belly: How Will Mothers Address Their Postnatal Abdomens