How soon can you exercise after a c-section?

mcooper014

How long did you wait to start exercising after your c-section?  I'm really looking forward to running again, I had to stop towards the end of my second trimester because it was causing really bad ligament pains and have been using the elliptical machine since then.  I'm scheduled for a c-section in less than 2 weeks because my baby is breech.

mcooper014

Crash Into Me:

Considering a c-section is surgery, I would wait until your doctor clears you.  I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but it is what it is.

Thanks for your reply, I definitely plan to wait until my doctor clears me, I was just asking what other women went through to see how long that actually was for them.

tdavis126

My ob cleared me at my 2 week appointment to walk. She was very strict on that I only walk and to not overdue it.  By 5 weeks postpartum I felt good enough to start running and went ahead without approval but I felt really good. I also didn't push it to hard when I did start back, I eased into. And then at 8 weeks I started doing Jillian Michaels Body Rev workouts. I'm now 14 weeks postpartum and my incision barely bothers me.

Angela814

I'm planning to start walking as soon as I'm comfortable. I despise running, so I won't be doing that, but I would like to start weight lifting again. My plan is to see how my incision is healing and how I'm feeling. I figure by my 6 week check up, I should be good to go.

JG362009

I started running again about 4 weeks pp -- a really nice and easy 3 mile run.  But, I ran the night before my c-section so I was in great shape and used to it.  I had also been walking about as long as I would want to run (so walking about 3-5 miles a day) starting about two weeks pp so I didn't take a long break.  I did a 5K 7 weeks pp and felt like I was running my same speeds and distances about 2-3 months after my c-section.  Good luck! 

saracee2013

Hi Ladies,  I know it's hard to get all the answers to your pregnancy problems. I would definitely check with my doctor about exercising after a C-section. Personally, I've been going through waves of uncertainty a lot because I'm going through my first pregnancy, and all the mixed answers on the web dont help. You might want to try searching for your answers here: https://bit.ly/135rGq8 It's a great blog from the Women's Home Journal that introduces an awesome tool.

HollyBee013

I started walking at about 3 weeks.  I got the all clear from my doc at 8 weeks and 8 weeks after that, I did a 5k mud obsticle course.    I didnt do it well, but I still did it!  It felt really good to run.  But, after I got the all clear at 8 weeks, I started working out 2 days a week and walking/jogging 1.  You will know what is too much for you, just dont overdo it!

sept17/05bride

I got the go ahead at my 1 week check to start walking and move forward from there.  My docs instructions were if it doesn't hurt, you can do it, but start slow.  It was definitely slow going for a few weeks, but took my first run at 4w pp and felt pretty good and from there added some strength training with light (read 5 and 8lb) weights.

darrahmccall

I'm a runner and started running at about 5 weeks. Definitely worked my way up though. It felt amazing to run once I was able to. :-)