exercising after c-section delivery

aabrown07 · January 2013

I am now 5 months out from a c-section. I am really wanting to start exercising again but am struggling with finding the time and am scared that it will hurt a lot. Any suggestions as to what type of exercises to start with would be helpful. Also, when do you find time to exercise without giving up too much time with LO? I work all day and I feel bad working out when I get home. Help please!!!

hogrefea · January 2013

Start going on long walks with your LO. Go to a mall if it's too cold where you live. Or find a gym with a mommy and me evening class.

+ASH+ · January 2013

Third vote for walking - you don't want to push yourself. Standard answer for exercising seems to be 6 weeks post-op, but my doctor told me to save the heavier things (weight-lifting, etc.) for 12 weeks. Walk, walk, walk

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carrotsoup70 · January 2013

I am about 3 1/2 months out. I walk too but to increase intensity I actually wear my LO. It adds about 12 or so extra lbs which makes a BIG difference. I also do lunges, squats and calf raises instead of the mommy rock. I can already see a difference.

pepomntpat · January 2013

Walks are good. Have LO in a carrier for some extra resistance.

I also did resistance work with LO in a carrier or using her as a weight once she had good head control. You can do push ups with baby laying on the floor and give her a kiss every time you go down.

Here are some other ideas:

https://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/related/mom-baby-exercises-0811#slide-1

ETA: The only thing that was uncomfortable for me was ab work. I just started really slowly-modified more than I thought I needed and worked up slowly. Nothing else hurt, but if it does, just slow down or back off a bit.

Kie310 · January 2013

I start with walking b/t 2-3 weeks (this week with this one!) and at 6 weeks when I get the all clear I will start with the elliptical. 30 minutes and slowly work up to my full hour 4 times a week.

I do my work out right after I put my son down to bed, then I shower get things ready for the next day and then go to bed. It cuts into "me" time but it works. I hope to follow the same schedule with this one too.

JG362009 · January 2013

I started running again about 4 weeks pp and it felt really great. I now run 5 days a week and crosstrain one day a week. I usually work out really early in the morning before work or after my kids have gone to sleep at night.

rjade9 · January 2013

I just got the go ahead today at my 6wk appt. I am going to be doing turbo fire, it's a dvd mainly cardio. I'm pretty nervous because I was on hospital bedrest for 9 weeks so I barley have endurance to walk up stairs lol.

Dh and I are going to either do our workout early in the moring or later at night when ds1 is still sleeping.

ginifred · January 2013

I got the all clear at 6 weeks to exercise. I started running again around 10 weeks after c-section. I don't think I even attempted any type of AB workouts until 3-4 months pp.

andinatep · January 2013

I started exercising about 6 weeks after my second c-section, when I got the all clear from my doctor. I started by putting the boys in the carriage and going for walks. I also did 30 minutes of step aerobics on the Wii Fit during nap time. I gradually moved up into more intense workout programs. I am now 28 weeks pregnant with baby #3 and I am trying to keep up with my exercise. I already have my plan in place for after the baby is born and I get the okay from my doctor. Listen to your body and go slow. You will eventually be able to do more intense things. :-)

JSabs09 · January 2013

I started walking immediately after I returned home - so week 2. I had the itch to start jogging at 3-4 weeks but held off until 4 weeks - I walked/jogged on my treadmill. Week 6 I was back at kickboxing when I received my ok from the doctor and did some CrossFit as well. I'm 14 weeks out now and I've been exercising like before I was pregnant since week 6.

In regards to finding the time, you need to make the time. My husband takes DD for at least an hour in the afternoon after work so I can work out for approximately 30 minutes and then pump/shower. Good luck!

darrahmccall · January 2013

aabrown07:
I am now 5 months out from a c-section. I am really wanting to start exercising again but am struggling with finding the time and am scared that it will hurt a lot. Any suggestions as to what type of exercises to start with would be helpful. Also, when do you find time to exercise without giving up too much time with LO? I work all day and I feel bad working out when I get home. Help please!!!

I went through same thing, I had the baby blues so I started running again at 6 weeks I needed to for my mental health! It hurt a little. I started walking first for a few min, then ran for 10 min then built up to 20. I just knew it was making me a better mommy and healthier all around.

darrahmccall · January 2013

When lo was about 3 months I took him Running with me in stroller.:-)

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