Giving birth and looking after a newborn are extremely exhausting experiences. Some mornings you may not feel like getting up, let alone getting active, but improving your fitness after having a baby is beneficial for your physical and mental health. Studies have shown that exercise can help keep you calm, boost your energy levels, and even promote recovery after childbirth.If you had a fairly uncomplicated birth, you could start exercising again as soon as you feel physically able. However, if you had a cesarean section or any other medical intervention, it would be recommended to wait until you speak to your healthcare professional at your 6-week postnatal check to get their advice on the best steps going forward.In this guide, we’re going to take a look at how you can get fit again after having a baby:Join a postnatal class
There are plenty of fitness classes you can join shortly after giving birth, and the great news is that you can often bring your baby along.Your midwife may advise you on the best classes in your local area, but you may also like to carry out your own research online to get a feel for what the classes involve.
Postnatal classes are designed
specifically for new moms and are intended to help you get back to your
previous level of fitness, slowly and steadily. Postnatal classes offer a
variety of popular workouts, including swimming, yoga, and
very light weight training.Jogging
Those who have continued to stay
active throughout their pregnancy will find it much easier to get back into jogging after birth. With that being said, jogging is also
a great introduction to fitness for newbies. Weeks before you reach this stage,
you should carry out pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your abdominal floor muscles. Don’t
forget: your body has been through a great deal over nine months, and it needs
time to recover.
You may not have anyone to take care of your baby when it comes to your daily jog, but thanks to a jogging stroller, you can safely take your little one with you. This specialist stroller is typically designed with three wheels and a hand brake as opposed to a foot brake, which makes it easier to control while running at a fast pace.
Keep active in your daily
routine
If you don’t feel up to high-intensity
physical activity just yet, don’t worry. You can still keep active by
incorporating gentle fitness into your normal routines. Make an effort to use
the stairs instead of the elevator, and when making short trips, aim to walk
instead of jumping in the car. Strength training
Once you feel ready to take on more
strenuous exercise, you could consider strength training. This workout will increase
your metabolic rate over time and burn off excess baby fat, which you may be
feeling self-conscious about right now. For certain exercises, you can use
small weights to boost your physical strength, but only do so when you feel
ready. It’s likely you’ll need to start slowly and build your stamina.
