Approach wtih Caution

If you have been struck by motivation and feel ready to re-start jogging/lifting weights/dancing/whatever activity you like again there are a few safety considerations you need to take first:

• After pregnancy your joints are still more elastic and unstable. This is due to the relaxin that built up in your body during pregnancy. It caused all of your joints to loosen and become unstable. It can take many months post pregnancy for your joints to return to normal – in simple terms this means avoid/minimise high impact exercises and be careful not to overextend your joints when stretching or doing anything else that places pressure on them.
• If it is early days you are still probably not getting enough sleep. If you are one of the lucky ones that still manages to squeeze in 8 hours a night it is likely that you sleep is disturbed so does not have the quality it should. Either of these factors means you will be more tired. This in turn makes you more prone to injuries while exercising and likely to physically fatigue more quickly when working out. So take it easy on yourself, don’t try doing your pre-pregnancy workout intensity straight away, instead build slowly back to that point.
• Your stomach. Its going to be flabby weak and not working anywhere near as well as before you are pregnant. You’re probably tempted to start doing crunches to help flatten it? Well don’t start yet. During pregnancy your stomach muscles separate and if you start doing crunches or similar before these muscles have come back together you will actually weaken and damage them further. I will post a short video during the next few weeks to explain how to tell if your stomach muscles are ready to start being worked.
• If you had a caesarian you have some additional precautions. If this is you do not do any exercise other than walking unless given the all clear by your obstetrician. You have just had a major operation and doing too much too quickly opens you up to potential complications as well as having the potential to long term put you back a lot more than just waiting until the all clear to start.