Postnatal exercise- Did anyone else exercise very soon after giving birth?

[whathaveIletmyselfinfor]

I had my first dd1 11 days ago and went for a jog 4 days ago and the gym 2 days ago (mostly doing low impact exercises and arm & ab work) I was going to the gym all through my pregnancy up until 4 days before the birth anyway so I feel fine doing this and really enjoyed it.
However when I asked my midwife about postnatal exercise she advised I wait until my 6wk check and my mother is nagging me not to exercise yet and terrifying me with prolapse stories!
Did anyone else exercise fairly soon after giving birth and if so did you have any problems as a result? I feel so much better after exercising so I would really like to keep it up if possible. Would love to hear from you, thanks!

I wouldn't go jogging yet. Just go walking and push the baby, thats a good enough workout at this stage.

No sit ups but you could do some pelvic tilts and pelvic floor exercises.

Its usually about 6 weeks that you will feel knackered so take it easy.

congrats btw.

I also went to the gym throughout my pregnancy and after having DD went for a jog when she was 3 weeks old. My midwife told me to take it easy till the bleeding stopped (2.5 weeks in my case) then if I wanted to exercise have a go and see how I felt. She said take it easy and don't try a long fast run but that a gentle slow run should be fine. She did say if I started bleeding again it was my bodys way of saying I wasn't ready for exercise and listen to your body and not to 'push through' like you normally would.

I did gentle short jogs for a couple of weeks and easy gym workouts then got back into it properly. I found I felt loads better after exercise and have me more energy and felt great not having a huge bump in the way.

Think it is important not to overdo it though and listen to your body.

Guess different midwives have different thoughts in this though??

Congratulations btw

I exercised right up to the end when pregnant DD. Was up and about taking her/dogs for walks after a few days but left the gym for about 3 weeks.

Started back just on the low impact machines (cross trainer etc) that was all fine but somewhere along the way I must have done something a bit wrong as I got a small hernia on my stomach just above my tummy button. Doc said it was a result of abs coming back together causing it..possibly due to crunches although he couldn't say for sure. It never actually caused any problems and has popped back now I'm pregnant again but didn't look great and apparently could have been problematic if got inflamed.

Anyway my point, after all that, is take it easy on the stomach stuff, leave the sit ups until your the gap has naturally closed and take care when you are doing a work out that engages your core..

I know what you mean about feeling better from it, I have so much more energy after a workout..But you do have to be really careful particularly with the stomach muscles..and it is possible to get the flat stomach back again without rushing it, just takes a while and a looootttt of sit-ups! And then you will get pregnant again and it will all go to pot

Exercise referral guidance is 6 weeks post delivery. But quite frankly if you were gymming/active before I don't see why you can't get back to light, low impact exercise. Ie walking, rowing, cycling and pelvic floor work. Obviously it's different to each individual and you'd just know if your body is saying 'no this is too much'

Thanks everyone for all of your advice. Picklesrule I cannot imagine ever having sex again let alone getting allowing myself to be pregnant again! :)

I was advised to take it slowly, listen to your body and not push yourself, but in principle a little exercise is not a bad thing if your body is used to it

It is really important that you don't try to build up your abs or do sit ups before your stomach muscles have knitted back together, otherwise they will tighten and pull the gap apart, resulting in a hernia. It can often take a good six months or so before the gap closes, but you can check when you lie flat on your back (it will close top to bottom). You can do gentle movements across the body (right hand to left knee etc) to work this area without harm.

Some midwives (in my experience) seem to be very anti-exercise and my Mum was certainly of the generation that pregnancy/post-natal are incompatible with it so you have my sympathies there!