Post pregnancy exercise- when can you start to exercise after giving birth?

[PK4]

My little girl is just over 2 weeks old. I feel absolutely fine in my self. I'm not tired, I'm coping well. My body feels like it did before I was pregnant. The bleeding has stopped, there are no more period like pains etc. I want to start to lose some of the weight I gained (and abit more as I wasn't slim when I got pregnant). I've already lost the flab on my belly, but want to tone it up and just lose weight generally. When can I start to exercise? I feel fine in myself and I've been told it's 6 weeks until I can exercise. Why so long when I feel fine?! Did anyone else start exercising before the recommended time?

I had a C-Section so didn't do much for ages and greatly admire your enthusiasm. I think the general advice is that you wait for your 6 wk check b4 your do anything too strenuous. Our hospital actually gave us a leaflet with exercises in. Even after a C-Section I was still encouraged to get down on the floor and do pelvic tilts and other exercises for adominal stregnth from quite early on. Its a great time of year to get out and go walking with the pram and that won't cause you any probs. If you're really lucky it might even send the baby to sleep. Ha HaGood luck.

Yeh I've been walking everywhere as it's gorgeous weather. I really want to do this aerobics dvd I've got, but I haven't yet as I don't want to do myself an injury if I'm not supposed to do strenuous exercise yet.

I think that technically you are still under the care of your m/w for a mth after the birth so if you phone her she should be able to put your mind at rest.

Take it easy please - sometimes after birth (particularly a good birth) you are riding on a high and feel like you have tonnes of energy. Wait until after your 6 week check then gently ease into exercise again. And congrats on the birth of your DD - just keep up with the walking and healthy eating and you'll be in great condition to exercise after 6 weeks.

Dont exercise until 6 weeks after birth.

But do start doing your pelvic floor exercises in the mean time can make a huge difeerence