How to get started with exercise postpartum

Louise doing up her trainers while teaching how to get started with exercise postpartum

Don’t make the mistake of diving in at the deep end, even if you feel ready.

Where you start is more important to where you end up.

If you are someone who enjoys being active, then I don’t doubt you want to get back to all the activities you enjoyed pre-pregnancy.

Whether that’s HIIT sessions, running, netball, swimming, cycling, lifting weights…

And you can, and you will, get back to these.

But right now, it’s not about diving straight into these activities when you feel ready to start your fitness journey after having a baby.

Your body has been on the most incredible journey.

It has grown and birthed a baby.

It has changed over this time.

Whether you are recovering from a vaginal delivery or a c-section, your body needs to build its fitness and strength back up.

Here is a good place to start:

  1. Connect with your core

Focus on your breathing, pelvic floor and abdominal muscles

Louise doing core exercises with a band

  1. Mobilise the body

Ease away aches, pains, stiffness and tension

  1. Focus on functional movements

These are the exercises that replicate the everyday mummy movements you are doing, squatting down, bending over, twisting, standing up etc

Once you’ve started with these.

You then want to progress over time.

  1. Add in more load / resistance

Use bands or dumbbells to make the exercises more challenging

Louise with a kettlebell

  1. Increase the complexity of the movement

More range of movement, play with the tempo (slower is often harder), choose a harder version of an exercise

  1. Introduce impact

Get more dynamic

And then…

  1. Return to the sports you love!

Don’t rush.

Returning to exercise after having a baby is a marathon and not a sprint.

Your body will thank you in the long run for starting simply and getting solid foundations in place, and then progressing over time.

Do you want help getting started? Check out my coaching options to help you get started, progress forwards and return to an active life symptom free.