The 3 Best Ways To Get Into Postnatal Fitness
The 3 Best Ways To Get Into Postnatal Fitness
When I was pregnant, I assumed that I would be back being as active
as I always had been within 10 days after giving birth. I hadn’t gained
much weight during pregnancy and I thought as soon as my daughter was
born I could get back into fitness easily. Oh how wrong I was! Postnatal
fitness is often not given a second thought to during pregnancy. But
getting back into fitness after giving birth can be a lot more difficult
than initially expected. But here are some tips to ease into postnatal
fitness.
I have been an active person my whole life. In fact as soon as I could walk I started to learn how to dance. That is why I presumed I would be able to be active again pretty much as soon as my daughter was born. However, the reality hit me pretty quickly after she came along.
Firstly, I had a brand new baby. I could barely catch five minutes to get a quick shower once a day never mind fit in a workout. Plus, I was constantly exhausted. Secondly, during my pregnancy I had developed a severe separation of the abdominal muscles, something that is quite common. However, this would mean some work to knit back together and initially there was discussion of physiotherapy to repair it. So it became obvious I wouldn’t be working on my core anytime soon!
Many women, like myself, are incredibly naive about how long it will realistically take to be back to full action. I mean, most of us think (or more realistically hope) we will be back in our favourite leggings and jogging within the week.
It takes nine long months for your body to create your perfect little human. It is sensible to think that it will take just as long to get back to the way it was before. Just a heads up ladies, your body may never get back to exactly how it was before pregnancy!
Of course, postnatal fitness is a wonderful thing and if you can participate in it, then you should. If for nothing more than your own sanity. Having a baby is such hard work and if fitness was the thing that made you feel great before pregnancy, then that could be just what you need to feel human!
We all need that one thing that is just for us, away from baby to feel some resemblance to who we were before they came along. Even if it is as simple as a hot shower or putting on makeup. But if yoga was your escape before, getting some postnatal yoga could be exactly what you need as a new mother.
The important thing is to remember that everyone is different. Don’t expect too much too soon and be realistic about what you want to do. Remember that just because your best friend only had bleeding for two days and then was in skinny jeans a week later, doesn’t mean your body will recover the same way.
Most importantly, that is not a bad thing! You just built a human! That is something incredible and a huge stress on your body. Don’t rush to lose that baby weight and feel the need to dive back into strength training. Give yourself a break. If your body needs rest, put your feet up. Go wild, have a slice of cake with a cuppa and wear your baby weight as a badge of honour showing you did something amazing.
When you feel ready to get back into fitness and want to start a postnatal fitness routine, that is great. But just take a couple of things into consideration in order to stay safe and get the most out of postnatal fitness.
Even if it is a significant amount of time before your bleeding stops, don’t rush to be super active. Take this as your body’s way of telling you to slow down. Plus, often postnatal bleeding can be very heavy and that in itself can take a lot out of you.
That doesn’t mean you are banished to the house for almost two months. But maybe hold off on the postnatal yoga and instead try and get in a light walk with your new bundle of joy. Take her for a stroll around the park and show her off. This way you are keeping active but not overdoing it.
Also watch for warning signs from your body. Many women feel the bleeding has subsided and jump into prenatal fitness, then the bleeding returns full force. Again, this can be your bodies way of telling you to slow down.
I have been an active person my whole life. In fact as soon as I could walk I started to learn how to dance. That is why I presumed I would be able to be active again pretty much as soon as my daughter was born. However, the reality hit me pretty quickly after she came along.
Firstly, I had a brand new baby. I could barely catch five minutes to get a quick shower once a day never mind fit in a workout. Plus, I was constantly exhausted. Secondly, during my pregnancy I had developed a severe separation of the abdominal muscles, something that is quite common. However, this would mean some work to knit back together and initially there was discussion of physiotherapy to repair it. So it became obvious I wouldn’t be working on my core anytime soon!
Many women, like myself, are incredibly naive about how long it will realistically take to be back to full action. I mean, most of us think (or more realistically hope) we will be back in our favourite leggings and jogging within the week.
It takes nine long months for your body to create your perfect little human. It is sensible to think that it will take just as long to get back to the way it was before. Just a heads up ladies, your body may never get back to exactly how it was before pregnancy!
Of course, postnatal fitness is a wonderful thing and if you can participate in it, then you should. If for nothing more than your own sanity. Having a baby is such hard work and if fitness was the thing that made you feel great before pregnancy, then that could be just what you need to feel human!
We all need that one thing that is just for us, away from baby to feel some resemblance to who we were before they came along. Even if it is as simple as a hot shower or putting on makeup. But if yoga was your escape before, getting some postnatal yoga could be exactly what you need as a new mother.
The important thing is to remember that everyone is different. Don’t expect too much too soon and be realistic about what you want to do. Remember that just because your best friend only had bleeding for two days and then was in skinny jeans a week later, doesn’t mean your body will recover the same way.
Most importantly, that is not a bad thing! You just built a human! That is something incredible and a huge stress on your body. Don’t rush to lose that baby weight and feel the need to dive back into strength training. Give yourself a break. If your body needs rest, put your feet up. Go wild, have a slice of cake with a cuppa and wear your baby weight as a badge of honour showing you did something amazing.
When you feel ready to get back into fitness and want to start a postnatal fitness routine, that is great. But just take a couple of things into consideration in order to stay safe and get the most out of postnatal fitness.
#1 - Wait for the Bleeding to Stop
So this is something that is completely individual to each woman. I remember my best friend who had a baby six months prior telling me she only had bleeding for two days. Great I thought. Nope. For me it was six weeks.Even if it is a significant amount of time before your bleeding stops, don’t rush to be super active. Take this as your body’s way of telling you to slow down. Plus, often postnatal bleeding can be very heavy and that in itself can take a lot out of you.
That doesn’t mean you are banished to the house for almost two months. But maybe hold off on the postnatal yoga and instead try and get in a light walk with your new bundle of joy. Take her for a stroll around the park and show her off. This way you are keeping active but not overdoing it.
Also watch for warning signs from your body. Many women feel the bleeding has subsided and jump into prenatal fitness, then the bleeding returns full force. Again, this can be your bodies way of telling you to slow down.
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