How soon can you start exercising again?

[Pitstop1986]

I know people say wait until 6 weeks post partum before doing any exercise, but I'm itching to do a YouTube workout/ a few sets of squats, lunges, etc at home.

My DD is 2 weeks old. I had a vaginal birth, no stitches or even a scratch on me for that matter. My bleed has been quite light, is still ongoing but it's like a light period.

I don't know why, but I've had almost a craving to get stuck into a bodyweight circuit for the past few days. Walking isn't cutting it.

I stayed fit and active throughout pregnancy.

Do I still have to give it another 4 weeks?!

Personally I’d wait on the high impact stuff start doing some yoga videos and walking - stopping if you get any heavy or weird feelings in your pelvic floor.
You could also do some post partum rehabs - there is something called 30 day kegle camp on YouTube which will help you reconnect to your core and pelvic floor.

You have a lifetime to start running and getting back to high intensity workouts but going too hard too soon could leave you with long term injuries especially while everything is still very elastic after pregnancy

. If you have an exercise bike that could work if you want to get a sweat on but spending the next month really getting back to basics and reconnecting to your core and pelvic floor will probably serve you better than trying to go hard too soon

I love the Every Mother app. You have to pay but it groups workouts into categories, there are some that are safe early post partum. Emphasis is on your core and repairing distasis recti - it's worked wonders for me. Might be worth considering?

Personal Trainer here who is post natal qualified and was equally desperate to get back to exercise after birth. DO NOT do any squats yet! You might think they just work your legs and glutes but they put a lot of pressure on your pelvic floor. Your ligaments will also still be loose from the effects of the relaxin making lifting things and anything high impact or jerky dangerous. You need to give your body time for your pelvic floor to recover and your abs to knit back together or you could be kicking yourself for doing long term damage for the sake of a few more weeks.

All exercise requires you to use your core so that needs to be the priority. When it comes to core exercises though not all are safe to do. And you might be suprised on what is and isn't. If you really want to start now then if you can afford it see if you can find a PT who will take you on pre 6 weeks (I wouldn't, level 4s might).

As a PP mentioned, if you really want to get a sweat on then an exercise bike or cross trainer would be the safest option.

Sorry if it comes across a bit ranty. I fully get where you are coming from but it's just not worth it. Your body has been through more than you think.

Light mainly yoga and upper body weights at about 6 weeks post c section. Had a women's health physio apt first to fully assess and give specialist exercises. I lifted weights up until 42 weeks so was fairly fit and was really raring to go!