When Is Your Body Ready For Post Natal Exercise?

Mamalettes do you know that losing baby weight is a matter of a healthy diet and post natal exercise?

Many mums are worried about getting back in shape after child-birth, and although most mums are ready to give what it takes to get back in shape, they might however be unsure as to when to start exercising.

According to experts, when you can resume exercise depends a lot on the birth experience itself.

A lot also depends on how fit you were when you had your baby. If you exercised right up until the end of your pregnancy, you can do some light exercise and stretching from the start.

If you stopped exercising during your pregnancy or are a newcomer to fitness, then it is better to start exercising more slowly but if you did regular exercise up until the end of your pregnancy, and your baby's birth went smoothly, you can do some light exercise and stretching soon after the birth.
However, you should take up exercise more slowly if you;

• Didn't exercise regularly before or during pregnancy
• Had an assisted birth
• Had complications in labour
• Had a caesarean section
• Are having problems with leaking urine

Although, you can begin exercising your pelvic floor and lower tummy muscles as soon as you feel ready. Pelvic floor exercises are essential to protect against leaking urine after birth. It is important that you strengthen this muscles before you begin to do lots of tummy muscle work or sit-ups, or you may find that you will begin to leak urine during exercise.

However, if you had a normal, vaginal birth, then you can start within a few days of giving birth, as long as you start with mild exercise at first.

Note that:

• It's not a good time to start dieting soon after giving birth, especially if you are breastfeeding.
• If you weren't active during your pregnancy, start with a 15-minute programme and gradually increase to 30 minutes. If you stopped your usual fitness routine as your pregnancy progressed, begin at the level you stopped exercising at when you were pregnant and increase the intensity or time as you feel ready.
• Most women should wait at least six weeks until after their postnatal checkup before attempting to start exercising in your room or a gym.