What did your post-birth return to exercise regime look like?

[Givemethebiggestslice]

I’m due any day now.

Really keen to return to exercise ASAP.

Was pretty fit pre-pregnancy but unfortunately have not been able to exercise at all for 8 months due to severe sickness.

What did your post-birth exercise regime involve? Any advice appreciated.

Unfortunately DH works long hours (out house 6am - 8pm) so going to gym once he’s home is not an option.

I do have an exercise bike and rowing machine at home. Is it realistic to put baby in basket / swing chair while I use these?!

I also have a large garden so could put baby in buggy outside and run laps of garden (I know you can’t run with the baby until it’s 6 months old).

I just feel like I’ve lost my identity not being able to do any sport so really keen to get back to it

Anyone?

You could do any of your suggestions, depends on how happy your baby is to be left for periods of time. Personally, I waited until my baby was 3 months old when I started to feel a bit more human and then joined a gym with a crèche. Good luck!!

Hi,
I was the same as you, pretty fit and active before pregnancy. I remained fairly active in pregnancy too, I was lucky in that I had very few symptoms except being knackered.
I would wait and see what your birth is like. I have some friends who’ve been back doing quite high intensity stuff pretty quickly, but others (especially after c-section, or like me with a third degree tear), that have had to take it slowly. I started after a couple of weeks with one short walk a day. Then longer walks, twice a day. I’m 6 months post partum and do yoga once a week (weekend morning so husband has baby), a buggy fit class and one slow run with the buggy. I’ve been doing this for about a month. Before then I was doing exercises the physio gave me to help repair my internal muscles.
I would wait, see how you feel, and start slowly. The baby will consume you & you might want to wait longer before starting anything - don’t set targets now. Just aim to get outside and moving around a bit at first.
But to answer your question - it’s fine to put baby in the bouncy chair or on a blanket next to you while you exercise, if they let you!! Mine was happy in his chair for about 20 minutes at a time from 8 weeks ish.

Good luck with it all xx

Learning to walk to the postbox and back. (SPDx2 followed by CS and VBAC) Then increasing the distance until I could do a couple of miles.

Postnatal DVD

Buggyfit class

Return to conventional exercise at 5m and 9m pp.

The same as before; nothing.