They say that becoming a mother is something that changes you forever. Although this goes mostly for the emotional part, your body also changes tremendously. Following child birth, it’s normal to want to go back to your fitness routine as soon as possible. However, experts advise you to slowly get it back, and through certain steps. Here is what you should keep in mind, regarding postpartum exercise.
Start With Low Impact Exercise
It’s important to keep in mind that giving birth is a long-recovery process. You don’t have to get frustrated because you want to se instant results. In fact, the key to getting back to your exercise routine after pregnancy, is starting slowly, but steadily. Therefore, don’t jump straight into CrossFit or Zumba few weeks after birth. Instead, begin with low impact exercises, such as walking, stretching, and yoga.
Listen To Your Body
Depending on wether you’ve had a natural-vaginal birth or went through a C-section. Each process comes with its own difficulties for your body. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, if you had an uncomplicated natural delivery, you can start working out as soon as few days after. However, listen to your body, and if you experience any type of pain, stop and focus on resting.
On the other hand, if you had a C-section, (even if you were active during pregnancy), it’s preferable to wait few weeks, and talk to your doctor for recommendations on when it’s best to get your fitness routine back after pregnancy.
Try To Meditate More
In addition to yoga, meditation is definitely a great way to start slowly easing back into your exercise routine after pregnancy. Not only that it helps you relax, but also deal with your emotions. Research shows that over 80% of women go through postpartum depression, and it’s hard for them to reincorporate emotionally to their new life. Meditation though, will help you work on adjusting your state of mind, and releasing tension.
Exercise Your Core Muscles
Once it’s safe for you to go back to your fitness routine, don’t forget to keep it light. Realistically, you will need a few months to be able to go back to your initial training. Therefore, at the beginning, focus more on your core and floor muscles. Your pelvic area suffers a lot during pregnancy and delivery. So, make sure to check mom-approved fitness workouts, to help you recover without causing much harm to your body.
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