Why you shouldn’t return to your normal exercise programme 6 weeks post birth
Be it returning to exercise 6 weeks..
6 months...
Or 6 years after children it's critical that you return the right way.
If your GP said to you at the 6 week mark "Your fine to just go back to doing what you were doing before"......
We wana explain to ya why you are most certainly not fine to just go back to doing what you were doing!
Without sounding like the fun police this is super important and it's info we wish we knew with our first babes.
As exciting as it might be to get back into the gym or back out running there are important things to consider.
It's not at all to say you can't get back there - you totally absolutely 100% can!
But think about this...
Have you ever had an orthopedic surgery say a knee surgery or something and after 6 weeks just been told to head back to the gym and do whatever? Eeeek no way!
You would make a gradual return, you would work with qualified professionals, you would see your surgeon multiple times to check progress, you would start with slow movements, stretching and mobility and slowly but surely increase a little load and eventually get back to where you were right?
This would be over a period of months, possibly a year - no way in 6 weeks.
We need to view having a baby as the exact same.
Why? Because...
The physiological changes that take place during your 9 month pregnancy are incredible, your bod has been on a journey!
Changes that take place in your adrenal system, hormonal changes, posture changes they unfortunately don't just revert back to pre baby status just because the baby is out. :(
Your core system has been under stress during pregnancy and birth.
The pressure that has been placed on your abdominals, connective tissue as well as your pelvic floor is pretty full on! We gals are bloody amazing just throwing that in here.
If you have delivered via C section you have undergone major abdominal surgery which also affects the whole core system and it's functioning.
The core unit after all this stress does not revert back to it's pre baby functioning all on it's own... if only right?
As well as this your day to day life has changed significantly be it baby number 1,2 3 or more everything changes and your sleep paten will be all up the wazzzoo for sometime! Lack of sleep compromises the bodies ability to heal and recover.
Now considering all of the above do you think it would be wise on your body to just got for that 5k run you were doing before babe arrived or hit that same gym routine?
Lol it's a big fat NO from us.
Essentially your 6 week check should be about making sure you are on a pathway to healing and that things are on the right track. It doesn't mean things are back to normal just yet.
Ren & Jen x
