Is it worth getting back into shape between baby 1 and 2?

[bluemonday2020]

Hello,

I gave birth to a lovely girl in Jan 2021. I stopped all exercise now for 6m due to lack of time/working on my diastis recti/still breastfeeding. We would like to have a second baby soon, so is it worth trying to lose the weight now or wait after baby 2 (if all goes well). Thanks!

I'm not a fitness person but I opened this just to say I wish I'd done more with my diastasis recti (it went back in terms of 'normal' life but I think I could have done a better job as they gave up almost immediately with this pregnancy) and also my pelvic floor. Again, all fine for normal life but I've had more mechanical issues with this pregnancy than I had with the first, I hadn't realised how much less strain my muscles etc would tolerate this time. I was in really good physical shape first time though.

I've got no medical expertise, but the advice all seems to say that the healthier you are pre-pregnancy, the lower your risks during pregnancy for complications like pre eclampsia, so I think it's worth it to try and get into shape a bit.

They also advise big gaps between pregnancies of over a year so that your body can recover a bit from a previous pregnancy, so it makes sense that if you're having a shorter gap, you should try and help your body recover from the first pregnancy as much as possible in that gap.

@bluemonday2020 I would say yes to losing the weight before getting pregnant. Obviously if you get pregnant sooner great and you will be fitter going into the second pregnancy and be able to keep up some form of exercise.

I just read a brilliant book which was just published called Stronger. It's written by a physio therapist called Megan Vickers and has loads of practical exercises and suggestions for healing things like diastasis recti.

I personally wouldn't want to go for another pregnancy until I felt physically fit and healed. I got into shape before this second pregnancy (started swimming and roller skating which I've given up now) and eating low-carb. Lost 10 kilos in 6 weeks and went into the first trimester feeling fit and like I had lots more 'core'. It doesn't take too long to get your body into a good place- you can do it in a few months- and it means you go into pregnancy much lower risk for yourself and your baby.

It’s really much easier to find time to exercise with just one so I’d start now just to get stronger for your next pregnancy. Gets you back into the habit and is really worth doing. It’s much harder to do this after two (or more)

Thank you so much ladies xxx

Yes 100 %. Look at strengthening your core as well ( MUTu system is fab for post baby and pregnancy )

I was quite fit before my first pregnancy and, whilst it wasn’t a walk in the park, was relatively easy. I planned to have two close together so never bothered getting ‘back in shape’ in between. I’m now 36 weeks into my second pregnancy and have really struggled, there has been a noticeable difference in my energy levels and my ability to cope physically. I’m now quite worried about how well I’m going to manage with the birth, and wishing I had kept up some level of fitness in between.
So, whilst I don’t think you should worry about trying to exercise to look perfect, or to be a certain weight, I do think it’s good to keep your fitness up. Pregnancy takes its toll on your body so it’s good to be prepared for that.

Defo worth getting stronger abs losing first baby weight too - pregnancy will be much easier carrying less weight in as best shape you can be. I think you’d incrementally gain more weight with the second if you didn’t bother and it would be hard work losing both in one go!

I started off fitter and slimmer with my second pregnancy and it’s been a lot nicer so far (24 weeks along). I’m 40 and feel great. I weigh 3 stone less than I did at the equivalent point in my first pregnancy (not sure what the hell i was eating the first time! Everything apparently!).

But we waited 2 years before starting to try again so I had lots of time.