Post-Baby Exercise: Getting Started

Easing back into exercising post-baby can be tough – you’re figuring out your new life, you’re likely sleep-deprived, and you’re taking care of a brand new, tiny human! – but I promise that getting your body moving again will feel great. Remember that your body is probably not going to move like it used to, so be patient with it, and prepare for your first post-baby exercise to be something easy and low-key. Before getting started, please ensure your doctor has cleared you for exercise.

Here are my suggestions for easing back into a post-baby exercise routine:

Start With Walking

Start your post-baby exercise journey with a low impact exercise like walking. Your body has been through a lot, and you want to make sure you go easy on yourself when you start working out again. Walk a mile and see how your body feels before continuing on.

When you give birth, your core and pelvic muscles can get compromised. Walking can help restore function to these muscles in a safe and practical way.

A great thing about walking is that you can take your baby with you – a nice stroller ride can soothe your child to sleep! It also gets you both out of the house for some fresh air and a change of scenery. Try making walking a part of your new, daily routine.

Exercise Videos

Getting out of the house for scheduled classes, or even impromptu drop-ins, is probably not likely during those first few months. Hello, exercise videos!

The great things about exercise videos are the variety of workouts you can do; yoga, pilates, zumba, there’s something for every interest and level. Because your core and abs will need a lot of work, focusing on low-impact workouts, including pilates and yoga, will be beneficial to your body.

I am a huge fan of exercising at home; there’s hassle-free parking, no line for the shower and you can fit it in when it works best for your schedule. Babies take awhile to settle into a schedule, so working out at home when the opportunity arises is a great option to have.

HIITM (High-Intensity Interval Training)

Moms don’t have a lot of time for themselves. When you’re feeling ready to  amp up your exercise output (and you have been cleared by your doctor), high-intensity interval training may be just the thing to satisfy your craving for a more intense workout.

High-Intensity Interval Training utilizes short, quick bursts of energy with short rests periods in between. Getting your heart pumping will burn calories. Even when you’re done with your workout, your body still burns calories, this is known as Excess Post Oxygen Consumption (EPOC).

Here’s a 10 minute HIIT workout you can utilize:

• 1 minute of jumping jacks | 30 seconds rest
• 1 minute of push-ups | 30 seconds rest
• 1 minute of jumps squats | 30 seconds rest
• Rest 1 minute then start again

Join a Community

Having a good attitude about your body as you start your post-baby exercise journey is important. Find a support system to share stories, tips, and new mom experiences with. Mom fitness groups are all over the place! A quick search on-line can have you joining a like-minded, supportive community of Mom’s all working toward feeling healthy after pregnancy.