...to start doing sit-ups 3 weeks post-partum??

[fancynancypants]

Can I start on the tummy exercises yet?? Or do I really have to wait until after the 6wk check?

The muscles are there but are so loose. I can pull my tummy right in but if I relax it sags a lot... I feel I need to do some serious exercises to get it all back firm again.

Also, any recommendations for good effective exercises I can do at home? I'm thinking sit-ups, plank, leg-lifts, that sort of thing??

I was told by my midwife I could start straight away with 'crunches'.

She said lie flat on my back, lift my head and shoulders off the bed, hold for a couple of seconds and repeat.

It doesn't sound as if your are ready if it sags. I would just stick to the PN excercises on the leaflet until the check.

You might be fine but you'd be kicking yourself if you gave yourself an injury.

Press ups are amazing for your stomach muscles. I found this out when I tried to do one two weeks post partum and couldn't manage it as my stomach muscles were so shot! A few months later I was fine again - you'll get there, take it easy!

Are you talking about the exercises that are specific for women who have recently given birth? I asked my midwife about them (I'm 2 weeks post-partum) and she told me I could start them whenever.

You need to be really careful about post-natal exercise, particularly stomach crunches. If your muscles haven't knitted together again yet (which they won't have at 3 weeks) then crunches will have the opposite effect and make your stomach stick out! Do the pelvic floor exercises but you need to wait for 6 week check up before starting any other exercise.

My stomach muscles seriously parted company with each other (twice) and I was advised to just stick to the pelvic floor exercises until after 6 week check. Only if that was ok could I start sit ups etc. This was info from a hospital physio who specialised in post natal issues.