Tiny wins that made a big difference - what movement helped you feel good from pregnancy to motherhood? £200 voucher to be won

[MaddyMumsnet]

From pregnancy through to motherhood, the way we move often changes - and sometimes it’s the smallest movements that make the biggest difference.

This thread is about those tiny wins.

What movement helped you feel good during pregnancy or early motherhood?

It might have been a short walk, stretching, swimming, kitchen dancing, moving around the house , or just getting outside on a hard day. Big or small - it all counts.

Inspired by conversations with This Girl Can, which celebrates all the different ways women fit movement into everyday life.

💛 One lucky MNer will win a £200 VEX, for getting involved in the conversation.

When DS was tiny and DH had gone back to work, my tiny win was going out for a walk with the pram every day. No matter how tired I was, I'd do it and without fail, it would make me feel better having been out in fresh air, posting a couple of thank you cards, saying hello to a stranger.

I had horrific SPD in pregnancy and just about the only thing that didn't make me cry was having a bath!
Since she was born, walking to work and back is my break and when I get my thinking done.

Swimming - I took time to go swimming at lunchtime whilst pregnant - it was somewhere to think, move more freely and feel rejuvenated afterwards - still swim when I can.

A gentle supported squat was really helpful to me in late pregnancy, as it opens the hips, eases lower-back pressure, and encourages baby into a good position, and my advice to other mums is to take it slow, use cushions or a chair for support, and always listen to your body.

Getting out for a walk in the fresh air was the main thing I did. It made such a difference to get outside when I could.

I also had separated tummy muscles after DC2 so the physio gave me gentle stretches to do. They were well worth doing.

Swimming in pregnancy! But I hated busy pools as my bump felt vulnerable. I found quiet times to go

Walking with the pram - my son would nap and I felt better for getting outside

My tiny win was getting out for a walk in a nature reserve near where I live - after dinner when my DP came home and took over.
The silence (apart from birdsong) was something which I NEEDED to cope with the stress of being a new mum. That 40 minutes to an hour gave me the headspace and de-stress to continue with the noise, lack of sleep and everything which comes with a newborn.
I still do this now and will take DC in my all terrain pram.

I guess I'm not the only one judging from the other replies, but swimming! I'd actually like to make more time to go but I also found walking helped a lot.

yoga - before pregnancy, during, after…then teaching the kids!! Good for mind as well as body

The first time after he was born that I managed to dance along to a whole song on the radio without getting out of breath or experiencing incontinence was a little win for me!

Breathing work with a focus on my pelvic floor and ribs saved me after a prolapse with my first. With my second I did this from day one and was able to stay symptom free most of the time. It feels like you’re “doing nothing” but I’d urge every mum to spend at least one feed or bedtime focussing on this 💕

Yoga when I was pregnant the first time was lovely

mum focused gym classes were great - core awareness

walking - so nice to get outside. Even at toddler pace it was good to get out the house and move.

dancing with kids or with my earphones in while cleaning the kitchen

tried les milles at home classes and apple fitness is super for the variety

kids are a bit older now and about a year ago I started to boogie bounce. I love it - enjoy the class, music. It’s the only thing I’ve ever looked forward to and gone to consistently over a long period of time.

it’s so hard sometimes to fit it in but so worth making it a priority

After having DS (12 years ago) I decided to try couch to 5K. Growing up I was never a “runner” and hated it as exercise. However carving those 30 min out for myself meant so much more than the physical activity. I am still not a great runner but it’s something I still do regularly , usually to take some time for myself and get some fresh air.

I think for me it was walking, getting out for fresh air. And I also loved prenatal pilates.

Love reading these replies 💛 It’s such a good reminder that movement doesn’t have to be big, sweaty or consistent to matter.

If you’re reading along and thinking “I didn’t really do anything”… chances are you did.
A walk down the road, stretching while the kettle boiled? What was the smallest bit of movement that helped you feel even slightly better?

And just a reminder - one reply will win a £200 VEX voucher, so it’s well worth sharing 💫

My firstborn was 6 months old when we went into lockdown in March 2020. While the world felt like a scary place I loved getting out for our afternoon buggy walks, strolling around neighbourhood streets I hadn't previously explored as I didn't have the time while I was working. I remember everything feeling SO quiet as if the world had ended, as we rarely saw a single soul, with everyone holed up inside, but walking while pushing him, looking at his gorgeous baby face, and listening to my 'Quarantine Walks' playlist (that I still love!) gave me the endorphins and fresh air I needed as a new mum.

I walked and walked and walked. Throughout pregnancy and after. I also swam which kept me supple.

Being able to squat, even if it wasn't as deep as before! And walking, lots of walking. Honestly, I thought I would spend my time in bed, but I'm glad I was able to do much more than I gave myself credit for.

Being able to bend in ways that I wasn't able to during my pregnancy but after I had healed from giving birth. It was like I recognised my body again.

Pregnancy yoga

Being able to swim gave me so much joy. Honestly, it's so effortless and yet powerful.

I loved walking around a big park during buggy naps, it boosted my mood to get outdoors and be active, while still being able to be with my baby.

A daily walk around the block with my newborn son safely snuggled into the pram helped me build a of routine in the early days post-birth.The lack of sleep really hit me hard, anxiety was very high & mood was very low - getting out (even in the grey days of January!) helped so much. As the months went on, the days grew longer & the bare hedges I had strolled past in the winter (often with tears streaming down my face!) started to sprout new leaves & it gave me so much hope!

My tiny win was walking with DS in a sling. Just moving around my house, climbing the stairs and swaying in the kitchen with him strapped to me meant I was able to move but still have him close.

Mine was reformer pilates! I always thought you had to be really flexible but its amazing! Clears the mind and its my favourite weekly thing i do