Exercise after giving birth.

Knottie83732320 · January 2016

I plan to talk with my doctor about this at my appointment Thursday but wanted to ask here because I'm curious. For those of you who have had a child already how long did you have to wait after giving birth to exercise? I lost 132 pounds before getting pregnant and I love walking.

PrimRoseMama · January 2016

Knottie83732320 said:
I plan to talk with my doctor about this at my appointment Thursday but wanted to ask here because I'm curious. For those of you who have had a child already how long did you have to wait after giving birth to exercise? I lost 132 pounds before getting pregnant and I love walking.

I wasn't cleared to work out until 6 weeks PP. Trust, depending on which way things go at your labor-- just getting up to pee/take care of the kids & function is going to be work the first month PP.

I had 3rd degree perineal tearing with stitches. I wasn't allowed to lift my daughter until 6 weeks PP. Walking doesn't sound horrible, but you have to watch out in the beginning because it's easy to overdo it. Basically, monitor your lochia (bleeding).

Your job is to take care of yourself for the first year. Weight loss can happen & you need to remember you will have just gone through a major physical event/trauma on your body.

bbiutmcph · January 2016

It will for sure depend on your delivery. Walking is usually a good start but with my first I didn't get cleared for any form of exercise until 9 weeks PP. My second and third I was much luckier and able to do short walks with our dogs at about 3-4 weeks and real exercise at 6 weeks. My best advice is to not set concrete goals with time frames in the weight loss department and take it day by day. The first few weeks are survival mode physically and mentally. Making sensible nutrition choices and listening to your own body are key. Talking with your doctor is a great move though and they can offer advice based on you.

doozer1345 · January 2016

I started walking 6 hours after my C/S but wasn't up to workout or starting regular workouts until 6 weeks after. Depends on the birth method and what your doctor says.

lionstigersbears · January 2016

I had a tiny tear, 3 stitches, but placement wise got totally screwed and it bothered me for 10 weeks. I started "walking" 2 days post partum. As in, walked half my block and back very carefully and thought I might die. I did it every day, each time a little further away. My midwife was fine with this as long as I wasn't speed walking, going more than 20 min or so, or having increased bleeding because it's good for your healing! I found if I didn't do an Epsom salt soak each night that I'd be much more sore while walking so I'd recommend it!

cMichelle0423 · January 2016

Most doctors will clear you for exercise after or around 6 weeks. However you may not even feel up to it then. It took me over 2 months to feel relatively normal after my last pregnancy. Last thing I wanted to do at 6, even 8 weeks postpartum, was work out. That includes going on walks.

cmerribury · January 2016

6 weeks for exercise is the norm. During this time you WILL lose weight, as your body releases a lot of the water it retained, blood from your uterus, and your uterus shrinks back down in size. By the end of the 6 weeks I was down 30 pounds from doing almost nothing. I did walk a bit here and there, a mile or so at a very slow pace, when I felt cooped up. But I was careful to take it easy and monitor my bleeding and heart rate.

Parker16772 · January 2016

Like everyone said it really depends on your body and your birth. I had a c-section and wasn't cleared for excersie until 8 weeks. I did take some long walks with the baby (either in the stroller or wearing him) when the weather was nice prior to being cleared just to get out of the house. My doctor said that was fine as long as I felt ok and wasn't pushing myself. Honestly I didn't feel up to any kind of hard workout until months after but I would think walking would be fine.

Knottie83732320 · January 2016

Thanks for the feedback! I didn't plan to do hard or intense workouts just some walking. I hope I will feel up to it but like you all pointed out I might not.

Sarcasm101 · January 2016

I got cleared to work out while I was still in the hospital. But I didn't tear and had a really 'easy' labor. I was on the stairmaster 3 days after giving birth.

PugsandKisses · January 2016

Sarcasm101 said:
I got cleared to work out while I was still in the hospital. But I didn't tear and had a really 'easy' labor. I was on the stairmaster 3 days after giving birth.

I have never heard a provider clearing a patient in the hospital. Even with a easy birth, the uterus still has to heal. Increased activities prevent healing, increases bleeding and potential hemorrhage , increases the risk of infection, increases DVTs and uterine atrophy.

RMLandy · January 2016

I was walking laps around the hospital pushing my son in the bassinet the same day I give birth. I don't think walking is an issue if you have a normal labor with no complications.

delujm0 · January 2016

i started taking LO for walks in the stroller around 3 weeks. But like WALKS...slow, slow walks. Actual execrise i waited until my 6 week PP appointment to be cleared, even though i felt good enough to do some lower impact activity around 4 weeks, i still held off just to be safe. i wanted to make sure everything had healed properly before doing anything above a leisurely walk.

Bigboobsmcgee · January 2016

delujm0 said:

i started taking LO for walks in the stroller around 3 weeks. But like WALKS...slow, slow walks. Actual execrise i waited until my 6 week PP appointment to be cleared, even though i felt good enough to do some lower impact activity around 4 weeks, i still held off just to be safe. i wanted to make sure everything had healed properly before doing anything above a leisurely walk.

This. I had 2 very normal labors with no complications but it's still not wise to do very much until you are cleared at 6 weeks. Even just standing up to do dishes, blow dry my hair, etc would make me bleed a ton in the first few weeks PP.

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