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.

Cat-cows for me are the best 😍

I would recommend pilates for the lower back and pelvic floor - the after effects for DC2 were a lot less than DC1.

Having a shower and washing my hair.

That feeling of real cleanliness really revived and refreshed me and made it easier to cope with being a new mum.

Going swimming once a week helped. It was me time as well as good exercise. It was really mindful swimming and as I went at the same time each week I got to know the other swimmers too. I felt so much better after a swim, and it was gentle exercise.

Just to add to this, I realised something else that was a huge win for me but other people take for granted: being able to take a bath! Bath time has always been a precious moment of relaxation and just 'me time'. And us mothers know we sure as hell need it!

But after giving birth, it's not always possible straight away as healing takes time and the length of the healing is always different for each person. It was painful after DD2 so I wasn't able to lie down inside the bathtub due to the severe pain. So for the longest time I had to make do with showers. Then came that moment when the pain was much better and I was finally able to have baths again! It was quite emotional as I felt I was exploding at that time from all the stress and not being able to unwind in the way I loved best. Now I don't take it for granted.

@MaddyMumsnet @CeriMumsnet @MNHQ @EllieSmumsnet

Bumping as seems like a winner has yet to be picked for this. Can you let us know the who the winner is please?