Postpartum body

[Catarinah]

I gave birth to my first baby beginning of January and am wondering how long it took other women to start exercising after birth? Before getting pregnant I ran rather often but since having him I have been 4 times. I use to love running (for mental clarity really) but not I physically feel like I'm exhausted all the time and even the thought of going is off putting. I do walk often (although I don't even do that that often now as he's going through the 4 month regression/leap and is waking hourly ish every night. I'm giving myself quite a hard time for doing no exercise as I feel like I'm not looking after my body and just feel wobbly. I need to stop this self hate really because I'd obviously do it all over again in a heartbeat for him, but just wondered if this feeling is normal?

You're feeling completely normal and I'm right there with you!
I look at myself and criticise the rounder face and my weight (even though the gain was normal for me), then feel worse because our bodies do an amazing thing, it's a cycle!

Baby is 12 weeks now and I was a keen horse rider, just started that again last week and have been taking 2 - 3 mile walks whenever I can. Riding isn't an issue for me, just wanted to make sure my stitches had healed but find it so hard at times to be motivated for walking! I do always feel better for it though.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself. January really isn't that far away and your body still needs time to fully heal, it was 9 months of growing a little one and then the trauma of birth (wish I could follow my own advice ha!) so things aren't going to be as they were for a little while. If you feel up to it, try and build up from smaller runs to bigger ones but don't feel you must do it, baby eventually will get into a more secure pattern and give you a bit more time. Try and think of things you could maybe do in the house or garden that give you a bit of you time without exerting yourself too much?

I think I'll just start walking a but more when I have the energy for it as thw outdoors does help clear my mind too. Yhe lockdown is certainly making me feel worse about things. I went for a walk yesterday and forgot his nappies in the car, he of course had a poop and I had to run back to the car and drove back to meet dh with him so I could change his nappy.... That run was 1.5 miles and felt like 10k :o

I know its not running, but have you considered buying some kettlebells? Theres a million circuits you could make up with them. When you have the energy you could do a quick circuit? Then your getting something without having to worry about someone else being in to watch the baby.

Thats how ive managed getting back to fitness.