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AIBU?

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exercise AFTER pregnancy

17 replies

onestep2 · 06/06/2019 11:36

Currently I am 37 weeks pregnant and am still going to the gym at least twice a week. (to be fair im not doing much now, low weights, taking it easy kind of thing)

I have always been a gym goer and love exercising (yes im one of those people who generally get a buzz from working out – although Ive always been a size 10/12 and I don’t diet or anything – I just generally really enjoy the gym/fitness classes )

After baby arrives in an ideal world if birth all goes to plan how long should I expect to be away from the gym?
AIBU to ask you to tell me how long after giving birth you waited before going back to the gym to do any sort of exercise. (yes I know I can go walking / swimming etc but they just don’t cut it for me)

Now I KNOW I shouldn’t be worried about this, but I am. The gym is my happy place and generally always has had a positive effect on my mental frame of mind. I don’t plan to rush a return to exercise until I feel my body is ready and will be listening to my body and taking it easy when I do return.

Just looking for a bit of advice / experience really.

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jellybellydancer · 06/06/2019 11:41

I worked out until around 34 weeks pregnant 3 times a week (4-5 times before I was pregnant though). I started back in the gym when my baby was around 8 weeks old. It took me a while to get back into it and I definitely took it slower. I felt physically back to normal around 5 months after birth. Before then I just took the baby for walks, I could feel the strain of just that.

I also do a ��buggyfit’ class once a week in the gym that I can take the baby to. That’s good as it’s for mums post birth so a great way to get back into it.

nauseous5000 · 06/06/2019 11:43

It really depends- will obviously be longer if you end up with a csection or bad tear. If this is your first, you also can't imagine how exhausted you'll be by lack of sleep just yet. Plus if you breastfeed you won't have the time to do more than half an hour in the early days. I'm not trying to be negative, but I'd recommend no expectations on how quickly you can return and see how it goes. It took me 4 months because of healing time, sleepless nights and being able to take my boobs away for a sufficient time, but I don't know if this is typical

onestep2 · 06/06/2019 11:53

@nauseous5000 i didnt take anything you said as negative! it is my first so i have no idea what to expect after the birth in terms of healing etc. i dont have too much expectations to bounce back or anything, just hopeful that maybe 2/3 months after birth id be able to do some form of exercise again. but like you said it depends on a huge range of factors.

@jellybellydancer i defo will start off short walks until i feel like im ready to return. Just makes me anxious that i wont be able to exercise properly (and i know it will probably be last thing on my mind when baby gets here)

OP posts:

Phillipa12 · 06/06/2019 12:08

I used to run, a lot. I resumed my running all be it gently after i had my 6 week check. Dr knew i ran and just said to take it slow and steady, this was after baby no4 that i had by elcs and i also breastfed. Mind you, i couldnt have restarted after 6 weeks with dc2 as my recovery from that elcs was torturous! Everyone is different in there recovery and how they manage baby in the first few months, you just have to see how you feel and if your up for a 30min hiit session from you tube then go for it.

Deelish75 · 06/06/2019 12:55

With my first I had a normal pregnancy, swam three times a week until 37 weeks. I haemorrhaged during childbirth (nearly 2 pints) but didn’t need a transfusion and left hospital with iron tablets 🤷‍♀️ felt like shit until DS was about 4 months started swimming again and was back to normal within a few months.
With my second I had a horrible pregnancy, never felt exhaustion like it and had anaemia, didn’t exercise at all, birth was fine and straightforward. I felt very unfit afterwards and even tho she is now 4.5 my fitness levels are still rubbish.
I feel it was easier to get back into shape after my first because i’d exercised even though I’d had more traumatic birth.

Liverbird77 · 06/06/2019 13:42

My son is 21 weeks and I am back to normal classes.
I started with a mum and baby park fitness class when he was about nine weeks.
I am now back doing spinning, circuits etc.
I wanted to wait, not only because I needed to recover, but also because I needed to prioritise sleep!
We are now in a good routine. I do early morning circuits Mon, weds and Fri and a mum and baby fitness class on Tues.
I also do circuits on Saturday and sometimes spin or circuits on Sunday.
I am trying to walk much more too. I always say I'll go swimming a couple of times a week but CBA to be honest

Liverbird77 · 06/06/2019 13:43

I also had a pph @Deelish75
Absolutely horrible.

bluebluezoo · 06/06/2019 13:54

15 years .

I used to be fit pre baby. Then had a horrendous pregnancy and birth, and was wiped out. Did some bits of buggyfit and the like but once back to work it was the endless round of work, nursery runs, baby to bed and dinner and housework before collapsing into bed.

Second child 3 years later. Another c-section.

Biggest difficulty was finding classes that didn’t cost more than my mortgage, and were at times that fit around shifts/school runs/kids ballet and swimming lessons.

Now kids are and age where they can be left for a couple of hours so I can go sat am and keep going through holidays. Plus i’ve found some classes which i can go to while they’re at swim class which helps.

SummerInSun · 06/06/2019 15:21

I couldn't exercise at all during either pregnancy for medical reasons, but had easy births both times (small premature babies - causes lots of other stresses but they do come out easily). I was walking all around pushing the buggy as soon as each of my DC were out of hospital and started very gentle jogging again at about 8 weeks after DS1 and 5 weeks after DS2. But it is very, very personal. Also, if you are lifting weights, you need to be careful that you are taking into account the extra strechiness of ligaments (I think?) after pregnancy, and have been checked for diastasis (spelling is wrong but it's the vertical split in your stomach muscles).

Why don't you try to find a personal trainer who genuinely specialises in and has been properly trained in post-natal fitness and have a discussion with her? Someone would probably have a free chat before the baby comes in the hope you pay for a couple of sessions afterwards. There is probably someone attached to your gym.

randomsabreuse · 06/06/2019 15:33

About 6 weeks before a little bit of gentle exercise.

Major thing is to check for diastasis recti and to do gentle core exercises first - you will be given a leaflet with pelvic floor and core exercises after the birth.

Things like Bodyfit by Amy and Carifit (Joe Wicks has a couple of these free on YouTube) are a good starting point.

I did my first parkrun about 3 months pp and am back to near enough everything at 6 months. Biggest limitation is time because DH works crazy hours and my older one is an awkward age - and personality - so I have competing pressures on my not got a baby asleep on me or feeding time.

With one child to juggle I'd be getting a lot more done.

Angeldust747 · 06/06/2019 15:40

I agree with @randomsabreuse, be careful of your abdominal wall after birth as certain exercises can make diastasis recti worse. Everyone has it to some extent, and it may not be an issue but if you don't know what you're doing you may make it worse.
The guidelines are around 6 weeks, but it really depends on how the birth goes. Walks in the fresh air at first will do a lot of good for you and baby x

Karigan195 · 06/06/2019 15:46

How long is a piece of string?

Depends very much on how baby is born.

Then very much on how your body feels.

Without a shadow of a doubt you need at least 2 weeks when the nasty hormone withdrawal leaves you blubbing like a total head case and you feel like your nether regions are falling out but after that it’s better from there.

When you do though remember that you’re supposed to avoid some exercises until the muscles have repaired such as crunches etc. Best google that as I can’t remember off the top of my head.

I’m going to get back to my exercise ASAP too so we’ll both just have to see how it goes :)

cocodash · 06/06/2019 16:24

Thanks for the replies.

It will just be a case of trial and error once baby is here to see how I feel and how I heal and how I can fit it in.

I will have a search about any core exercises beforehand.

Think it's just hard to imagine not being able to go to the gym just now as it's always been my thing and routine!!! But I fine well know very soon there will be wee person dictating my routine lol

Poetryinaction · 06/06/2019 16:36

I was very fit running before pregnancy and found pregnancy very easy all 3 times BUT
DC1 - left with stitches and sore back aftwr birth, and carpal tunnel. Found I couldn't run whilst breastfeeding. After a year I was pregnant with dc2.
DC2 - much easier recovery but same issue with boobs. Started running after a year and got very good.
DC3 - nightmare birth and diagnosed with weak pelvic floor and diastasis recti after birth. Took uo swimming after a year instead. Slowly returning to running.

You may find it harder than you think to leave the baby. Whatever you do, look aftwr your pelvic floor! Good luck!

ryanreynolds · 06/06/2019 16:37

I'm due anytime now. My plan is to spend the first couple of months doing as much walking as I can (later pregnancy been blighted by PGP so not done much more than yoga, swimming and very slow walking!), possibly getting a subscription to TV.Fit for at home and then aiming to re-join the gym in the autumn to really whip myself back into shape.

All does, however, depend how the birth goes...I am very worried about losing the 2.5stone I've put on (and the weight I should have lost pre-pregnancy!) but trying to not put any pressure on myself...like you I'm a FTM so no idea what's coming my way!!

JangoInTheFamilyWay · 06/06/2019 16:38

For the first 6 weeks go gentle until you are cleared for exercise. However after this don't just jump back into your normal routine, you need to work up slowly - you might find it a bit frustrating but you can cause long term problems if you don't.

As a pp said make sure your abdominal muscles are healed before doing crunches or planks etc. Doing pilates for Diastisis recti (a postnatal class or just from you tube will help). But also make sure your pelvic floor is solid before doing anything with impact or you will regret it later!

Light weights should be fine from 6 weeks, just try not to push yourself too hard, if you are fit now you might be back to normal by 16 weeks or it might take longer. Just pay attention to how you feel as you go. Good luck

Mumandprolapse · 03/01/2020 17:11

Be careful exercising too early ! I felt great 6 weeks PP so started doing light exercise and have myself a bladder prolapse. You can’t see the damage the birth etc has done to your pelvic floor so give it as long as you can to heal !

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