Being pregnant is certainly one of the most amazing and most challenging parts of a woman’s life. Of course, if you live in Australia, the challenges of pregnancy are easily overcome because you have access to all the care that you need. Everybody talks about how important it is to take care of yourself during and after pregnancy, but how little time you’ll have to do so is usually underestimated. Your baby will have to be a priority for a long time but that doesn’t mean you should neglect your mental and physical health.
Being a new mother is hard for many reasons, one of the main ones being that your body needs to heal. As well as that, you’ll notice some changes and gain a new shape that you didn’t use to have. This can be fairly discouraging for most women as they are used to looking a certain way. So as not to take a toll on your confidence and self-worth, you need to make an effort to regain your pre-pregnancy shape. Every woman likes feeling beautiful, and getting your old body back can do wonders for your happiness. Remember, a happy mother makes for a happy baby.
1. The first days
It’s important to start exercising after the first few days of giving birth just so your body can get used to being active again. That being said, you can’t overdo it. You’re still very sore and sensitive from giving birth, which is evident even when you start feeling a little better after a couple of days. Ideally, you should let your body rest for one week and then slowly start exercising.
One of the best exercises you can do after giving birth is isometric exercises. They’re the type of exercise that focuses on building muscle through resistance. If you want to bond with your baby while exercising, a very simple thing you can do is lie on the floor on your back. Place the baby on your tummy then tighten your abdominal muscles and push the baby upwards as you breathe. You’ll be inhaling while you push the baby up and exhaling as you set them back down.
Walking is another thing you can do start moving. You’ll have a lot of obligations and responsibilities, which means you’ll be on your feet a lot. This is good news because walking is one of the most convenient things you can do to help your body regain shape. First of all, cardio is bound to build endurance and stamina, making you more capable of handling taking care of the baby and the house. You can also carry your baby and walk around the house with it. This way you’ll be strengthening your arms, tightening different muscles along your body, and bonding with your baby at the same time.
If you want to kick it up a notch with walking, you can always walk in place when you’re doing chores like washing the dishes, for example. Don’t be afraid to take solo walks outside the house, either. Building up your strength will get you ready to tackle the neighborhood and some surrounding hills, too. As your baby grows, you can even bring them along with you. You’ll be surprised how much muscle pushing a stroller around builds.
2. Establishing a routine
Now that you’ve started exercising in your first days of being a new mother, it’s time to start establishing a routine. The key to getting back in shape is to continually exercise. Building your routine is going to be hard in the beginning, because your schedule is mostly concerned with your little one right now. The gentle exercise you’re doing in your first days after giving birth will be an excellent path to a lasting routine.
Not only is it easier for your body as it gets used to exercising regularly, but it’s also much easier for your schedule. It’s better and simpler to fit in simple exercises into your day than to try to fit in full workouts right away. Build up to your final goal, don’t start at the ending.
More often than not, new Aussie mums have trouble starting their new exercise routine because they don’t feel it working. Saggy skin around the abdomen and breasts can be a huge disadvantage that hinders your success. Instead of becoming more confident as you exercise, you’re actually getting demotivated by the day as your skin is still saggy, no matter how good you may feel. This is why plastic surgeons in Canberra state that this is a procedure undertaken after pregnancy that focuses on the breasts and abdomen. It’s common for new mothers to opt for it because it sagging breasts and tummy are rectified with this procedure.
Thus, this can be the perfect boost you need to establish your routine. That’s especially true since you’ll be doing mostly light exercises in the beginning, and your body will have time to heal from the procedure while getting used to being active again.
The best practice for establishing a routine is to exercise at the same time every day or every other day. There must be a time in the day when you can just put the baby down and do your exercises. Even if it’s just half an hour, it will be enough to get you used to exercise at a certain time. If nothing else, you can always use the time when your baby is napping wisely. Other than that, you can wake up somewhat earlier or go to bed a little later. Whatever free minute you have in the day, use it to establish your exercising routine.
3. After six months and more
Once you’ve established your exercising routine and your body has mostly healed from giving birth, you can step it up a notch. Going slow and steady wins the race, and this is the time where you really get to prove that. When it comes to exercising six and more months after giving birth, you have a lot more options to choose from.
First of all, you can start with the pelvic tilt. This is a great way to strengthen your abdominal muscles. Of course, make sure that your abdominal muscles didn’t separate during birth before you attempt this exercise. If the doctor hasn’t informed you in the hospital, you can always check with them now. With your knees bent and feet flat, lay on the floor. Then slowly tighten your abdominal muscles as the pelvis rolls towards your upper body. Instead of using your bottom muscles to move, try using your tummy muscles.
Another simple yet effective exercise you can do at home is the swan stretch. This is an especially good choice if you have a sore back and want to strengthen your back muscles. You should lie on the floor with your palms on the floor beside your shoulders. Then simply lower your elbows to your hips and let the upper part of your body move off the mat until your ribs are lifted. Make sure that there is no tension in the lower back.
If you want to try something different, there’s always Yoga and Pilates. These two types of exercises are good for the mind and the body and work on strengthening your core. As well as that, you’ll learn just how strong your body is and improve your mental health. The best part about Yoga and Pilates is that they can be done at home and at fitness centers. This way, you can choose what’s more comfortable for you. Lots of YouTube videos will show you exactly what to do and how to move while you’ll still get to keep an eye on your little one. On the other hand, if you’re itching to get out of the house a little, you can always enroll in a class and meet some new friends.
Finally, one of the most fun things you can do to regain shape is to dance. Whenever you can, have a little dance party at your house. Play all your favorite tunes and don’t be afraid to really move your body. This activity can be fun for the baby, too. They’ll love watching their mum be happy and goof around, but they’ll also love to participate if you choose to dance together.
Conclusion
Even though the road to regaining your pre-pregnancy shape is long and tiresome, it’s worth it. Being in shape doesn’t just mean being beautiful and confident, it also means being healthy. Your body will be much stronger and heal more easily, allowing you to nail every new challenge as a mother. The basis for a strong relationship with your child and good mental health is being physically fit and able to handle your new life. You’re not just getting in shape for yourself, you’re also doing it for your child. We’re confident that with some dedication and time, you’ll be in your pre-pregnancy body once more.
