Back to gym after baby - when?

[HazleNutt]

Currently 6 months pregnant with DC1 and I teach some fitness classes (bodypump, zumba and similar) as a hobby. Will keep teaching for as long as I can, but obviously will need to take a break at some point. Gym is being very nice and offered to find a substitute for the time - but of course they'd like to know when I might be coming back.

I understand it varies, but in case I manage to have a quite straighforward birth with not much damage, what would you guess is realistic? What has been your experience?

I can only comment having had a c-section but if you do have a cs you'd need to allow at least 6 weeks. Having been very fit pre-preg I wasn't able to exercise during pg (SPD/PGP) so am prob taking longer to get back in than you will need. I started walking after 6 weeks with dd in a sling and after c10 weeks could have started doing more if I had tried a bit harder. I've just started Pilates and spinning and dd is 15 weeks. One thing to think about is how long you can leave your baby between feeds if you are breast feeding - dd won't take a bottle and I can leave her for max 2 hours. Good luck!

Leave it for at least 6 weeks post birth - your relaxin levels will be in overdrive. I went back to exercising when DS1 and DS2 were 3 months old. Until then walking and pelvic floor helped.

Thanks, 6 weeks would be excellent, if I could manage that. Gym is very close, so if i have 1-hour class to teach, I'd be easily there and back in less than 2.

Any other opinons?

Gentle exercise - 2 weeks, but more major stuff I'd say 6 weeks, even with an easy birth.

But I do think that you will be inspirational for other ladies who are pregnant, so it will be great when you do go back.

My advice is take it really slow when you do get back to exercise - your pelvic floor will not be up to running yet and you should treat it as if you're a beginner for the first few weeks. So if you're going to be taking a class, take lots of breaks yourself and instruct/observe lots - and I'd say nearer the 2 or 21/2 month mark.

Also if bfing bear in mind your babies schedules might not fit in with your class timetables (does settle down lots once they are 3 months plus). Be ready for lots of cluster feeds when they have growth spurts.

thank you, I'm due in June and the schedule is not so busy in the summer anyway. so if I can tell them that I'd probably be back some time in September-october, they should be fine with this.