The Benefits of Exercise After Giving Birth

As an exhausted new mum, the idea of hopping on the treadmill may not seem very appealing, but squeezing in a few exercise sessions each week can work wonders for both your mental and physical wellbeing. Experts recommend that women engage in at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity. It is important to be careful during your postnatal workout, though, as your body may still be recovering from giving birth.

Gentle exercise can be started as soon as you feel up to it--with the go-ahead from your doctor, of course. For most women, it’s safe to pick up an exercise routine around the six-week mark. Start slow, especially if you didn’t work out regularly before or during your pregnancy, and avoid high-impact activities that could cause more harm than good. As long as you’re careful and conscientious about your workout, you can enjoy a whole host of benefits from a postpartum exercise routine.

Boost Energy Levels

It may seem counterintuitive, but staying active can help to keep your energy levels high from day to day. This is especially important for sleep-deprived new moms, who need all of the help that they can get when it comes to boosting their energy. A postpartum workout routine can make it easier to keep up with the irregular sleep patterns of a newborn.

Unlike quick-fix methods like coffee or sugar, regular exercise keeps you awake and alert all day long. It might take some time to build up your stamina, but after a few weeks, you’re likely to notice a marked improvement in your energy levels from the time you wake up in the morning to the time you hit your pillow at night. You won’t have to worry about crashing after lunch.

Improves Better Sleep

Not only will regular exercise keep you alert during the day but it can also improve the quality of sleep you get at night. Staying active increases the amount of time you spend in slow wave sleep, which is essential for body repair and maintenance. It also decreases the likelihood of you waking up multiple times each night, which can leave you feeling exhausted the next morning.

Get Your Figure Back

Many new mothers are concerned about their figure in the months after giving birth. It can seem like an impossible feat to get back to your pre-baby body, but with regular exercise, you can start working towards a figure that will make you proud. Even light exercise helps you to shed extra baby weight and tone muscles that may have fallen out of use during your pregnancy.

In addition to exercise, it’s also important to eat a balanced diet when trying to lose weight after giving birth. Plenty of lean meats, whole grains, and produce in combination with a postpartum workout routine can help you to trim down. Not only will this make it easier to care for your new baby, but you’ll also enjoy a healthy self-esteem boost.

Fight Postpartum Depression

Exercise doesn’t just offer benefits for your recovering body. Working out after giving birth can also keep your spirits up, improving mood and relieving stress. This can help to alleviate the symptoms of postnatal depression, which affects more than one in every seven new mothers in Australia.

Pregnancy, even after birth, can wreak havoc on your hormones and your emotions. Exercising not only releases feel-good endorphins to give you a pleasant runner's high, but also helps to stabilise abnormal levels of estrogen, progesterone, and other chemicals in the bloodstream. This can keep you feeling just a little bit more sane during the first few months of your child's life.

For new mothers, exercising after pregnancy can help to return both the mind and the body to a healthy state. A regular postpartum workout routine helps to boost your mood and energy levels while also strengthening and toning your body. Just be sure to talk with your doctor beforehand, and avoid straining yourself during this critical recovery period.




This article has been written by Jackie Edwards