Exercise after baby...

ilovejud

When I asked my doctor when I could start easy walks around the neighborhood she told me "nothing" for 6 weeks!  I am feeling pretty good already and just had my baby Tuesday... My doctor was fine with me running my whole pregnancy so I was surprised when she told me "no."  When did you start walking??  6 weeks seems like a really long time....

SittinUnderAPalmTree

My doctor said light walking was fine.  I also exercised my whole pregnancy, up to the day before I delivered.  I started walking 9 days after having DD.  I had my postpartum check-up at 3.5 weeks and was cleared to run then.  I guess each doctor is different.  

wildfloweragain

At 2 weeks you can start walking and light toning exercises.  I did that and I'm not a super fitness nut.

SFAug07

I went for a 3-mile walk with baby in the stroller two days after my easy vaginal delivery and went running a week after birth. I ran a full marathon 2 months after delivery. I also ran daily up to the day I gave birth so I was in good shape.

thatjessie

I started at like 2 weeks I believe. I went with my body. I had a vaginal delivery that healed really easy.

SSILVEIRA

To me it seems like 6 weeks is a very conservative out-dated number especially for women that exercise frequently.  I think if you never exercise and are out of shape then 6 weeks would apply.

BeautifulBooks

My midwife told me to just watch my flow. If you start bleeding more, you are overdoing it and need to slow down. And the major thing to avoid is stairs as that strains the pelvic floor muscles. Walking (especially outdoors) I would think would be super healthy for both you and baby. :-)

SushiNoMore

I went back to the gym 2 weeks after having an easy vaginal delivery.  My midwife just told me to listen to my body.  I'd also been exercising throughout pregnancy.

IncogNeato

My discharge papers said I could start walking by a week or two, and just to listen to my body and take it easy. I was walking on the treadmill and doing the elliptical at a slower pace by 2-3 weeks and working out almost normally by 6 weeks but I avoided things with lots of pressure on the pelvic floor like high impact aerobics, running, or squats. I waited for doctor approval (and for the pressure in my pelvic floor to dissipate.)

 If you take it slow and watch for cues of overexertion like increased bleeding or pressure you should be fine.