#FitMom: Postpartum Exercises
Doulas of Denver knows how difficult it is to rearrange home life and routines when bringing home a new baby but we also know how a bit of exercise can positively impact postpartum life in many ways.
Postpartum recovery is different for all women, but a regular fitness routine can help speed up that process both physically and mentally.
It may sound a little impossible to find the time to exercise when you have just brought home a new baby but there is always time for something you want and deserve.
Exercise is directly linked to mental health, reducing stress, relieving anxiety and releasing endorphins in your brain.
Having a healthier state of mind will improve your confidence, your relationships and help you cope with the transitions of bringing home a baby.
The great thing about postpartum exercise is that you have so many options to accommodate your healing body.
Pelvic floor exercises are a great starting point for postpartum fitness and recovery.
These exercises will strengthen your pelvic floor muscles that have been weakened from pregnancy and childbirth. They are gentle exercises that directly affect your vaginal muscles and strengthening them can not only fix stress incontinence but make sex after childbirth more pleasurable. These are most commonly known as Kegel exercises.
Kegel exercises can be done at any point of the day or night and require only a little focus. The more you repeat this exercise the faster your muscles will strengthen and your body will heal from childbirth.
Another great way to begin a new fitness plan for mom is simply going for walks.
Whether you go for a walk around the neighborhood with friends, or bring your bundle of joy along in the stroller, walking is a low impact exercise that has several health benefits! It helps improve your mobility while giving your body a chance to heal without too much strain. Bringing your little one along is a bonus for bonding time!
Baby bonding time can be easily implemented into your postpartum fitness.
Beginning a fitness routine with your children will ensure a healthier lifestyle for everyone and can become a life long experience you can share together.
There are several, simple exercise moves for you with baby in tow and Doulas of Denver found a great article from Fitpregnancy.com with how-to exercise tips with baby. You can read the full article here.
As time moves along, your body adapts once again to the physical changes and can handle more movement which means your postpartum exercise routines should adapt as well.
It is suggested to allow your body 6 weeks to heal after childbirth, sometimes longer if you have had a c-section. Once you are feeling up to the task, try taking on a postpartum fitness program that is a little more challenging. Most importantly listen to your body and do what feels right for you!
Doulas of Denver can assist in your postpartum recovery. For more information on the services we offer please contact us.
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