Postnatal Diet & Exercise · Taking things slowly means that you begin incorporating exercises into...
Transcript of Postnatal Diet & Exercise · Taking things slowly means that you begin incorporating exercises into...
Postnatal Diet & Exercise Module 02
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2. Module 02- Walk before you run
Table of Contents 2. Module 02- Walk before you run................................................................................................................... 1
2.1 Before you start ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Pace yourself ............................................................................................................................................ 6
2.3 Exercises to avoid .................................................................................................................................... 8
2.4 Caring for a C section tummy ................................................................................................................ 11
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After 9-months of pregnancy and a number of restrictions to your physical activity, it’s common for women
to want to jump right back into their old workout routines. However, right now is a crucial moment to
properly heal since your body just experienced stress and a significant change with the birth of your child.
As you work hard to get to the physique you want, it’s important to adapt to a plan that will help, not hurt,
you. Taking things slowly and beginning at a low-intensity will lay the groundwork for when your body
recovers and is capable of more intense activity later down the road. Remember that slow and steady wins
the race, and while getting your body back in shape after pregnancy can feel like it will take forever, you
will find the greatest success by being patient and avoiding the setbacks that come with too much, too soon.
What you’ll learn in this module:
2.1 Before you start
2.2 Pace yourself
2.3 Exercises to avoid
2.4 Caring for a C section tummy
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2.1 Before you start
After giving birth it’s normal to feel a sense of anxiety about many things, and for some women getting back
into shape is one of them. Other women, however, often put their own needs aside in order to attend to their
newborn, leaving exercise as a low priority luxury that they’ll get to when they have enough time. As
discouraging as it feels, it’s important for women to know that there will never be a time where you “feel”
like you have the time for it. Unless you have an excellent support system willing to take care of the little
one often enough so you can devote some time to yourself, you probably won’t feel motivated to get moving
when a nap seems like a better alternative.
Most women realistically know that getting back to their pre-baby body is going to take some hard work, but
again, motivation is a key factor at play during this time in a women’s life. In order to kick-start your
motivation and determination, take a look at the benefits of post-pregnancy exercise.
relieves stress
boosts energy
improves overall mood
restores muscular strength, particularly important for the abdomen
promotes healthy weight loss
allows mother much needed time to herself when performed alone
allows mother and child bonding time when performed with the baby
can help reduce risk of post-partum depression and aid in its recovery
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When to start your exercise regimen
Starting your routine depends on when you feel your body is ready to be pushed. For women who give
vaginal birth, most doctors recommend roughly 6-weeks before any strenuous actions should be performed.
However, each woman’s recovery time will differ, so when you feel that you are easily able to get around
and are comfortable, whether at 3-weeks or 8-weeks, you know your own body best. Women who give birth
via C-section or any complications during birth should consult their physician before regular exercise
begins.
Just because your comfort level is where it needs to be, doesn’t mean beginning an exercise program is
going to be easy. Motivation and time are the key factors that keep women from working out after having a
baby, so prior to starting your workout, come up with a realistic plan of when and where you can get your
fitness time in. Having a plan and scheduling workouts will keep you from coming up with excuses and
from slipping out of routine. For instance, you might find that asking someone in your family to babysit a
couple of mornings a week gives you time to get to the gym, maybe plan that during the newborn’s
afternoon nap you strength train in your living room while watching TV, or every weekday afternoon you
take a nice stroll around the neighborhood with baby in tow. Whatever it is, planning it out into your
schedule will keep you accountable and eventually become a habit that will aid in losing the baby weight
and getting back to a figure that you feel comfortable with.
Another setback that many women face when planning to workout post-pregnancy is the myth that exercise
can affect breast milk production. In no way does exercise limit the amount of milk you can produce, and
studies have shown that it does not affect the baby in any negative ways. In fact, your baby is affected in a
positive way from working out, because you have more energy to take care of him or her. Even though
breast milk production isn’t a concern, when women perform high intensity activity, it can produce lactic
acid in your milk, which could make the taste of your milk sour to the baby. The result would be that the
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baby doesn’t feed as well due to the unappetizing taste. To avoid this, stick to low intensity exercise during
your breast-feeding months, or make sure you pump or feed right before working out. Pumping the milk
prior allows for your baby to feed after your workout without the negative drawbacks.
What you need to know before beginning your plan
Become knowledgeable about low and moderate intensity exercises within the first 5-6 months post-
pregnancy so that you are well equipped with plenty of physical options prior to starting. Preparing your
home with light dumbbell weights and a yoga mat can be the little push you need to actually get something
done, even when life seems too busy and hectic. Here are the other key points that will make beginning
physical activity motivating and healthy while promoting results.
Include a minimum 5 minutes pre and post workout to stretch your muscles
Begin at low-intensity, working up to moderate, and eventually high-activity after 5-6 months’ time
Drink plenty of water during and after your workout
If you feel pain or fatigue of any kind, take a break or stop your workout for the time being
Wear a very supportive sports bra, and if you’re nursing stock up on nursing pads in case leaking occurs
Any time you begin a workout routine, it is crucial that you don’t just jump in headfirst. If you have any
lingering questions or concerns prior to beginning your plan, discuss it with your health care professionals.
Your first priority right now is your newborn baby, but along with that comes your own physical and
emotional well-being so you can take care of your baby now and in the future to the best of your ability.
Before you start your workout, be prepared with a schedule and plan, knowledge about the exercises your
body can take on at this time, and the understanding that only you know what feels right for your body.
Therefore, allow yourself to take the time you need to heal and when the time is right, you can start a plan
that is both realistic and challenges your body.
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2.2 Pace yourself
Women often have a tendency to take on a lot of responsibility on to fulfill the many roles in their lives.
From being a professional, to a wife, to a friend, and now to a mother, you may have many shoes to fill all at
once. It’s easy, especially after giving birth, for women to think they are capable of all these things and more
at one time. That’s why many women are eager to continue to push themselves to the limits in the form of
exercise not long after childbirth. The number one thing you can do for yourself and for your baby at this
time is to pace yourself when working out and working toward your goals. Far too often women who push
the limits too quickly end up exacerbating tears, prolonging pain, and becoming fatigued and even bedridden
in ways they could have easily avoided. In setting up your goals and a schedule for yourself within the first
few months post-partum, taking things at a slow and steady pace, and gradually working up in intensity over
time will allow you to reach optimum results that will benefit your body and ability to care for your
newborn.
Be realistic
Setting achievable and realistic goals for your body is the first step in pacing yourself. Remember, that it
took months’ worth of carrying a child as well as the strain of birth, whether vaginal or C-section, to affect
the changes in your body at this time. Many times new mothers are aware that they will have to lose “baby
weight,” however, what often comes as a surprise is that in addition to excess weight, their body
compositions have changed due to pregnancy. This isn’t a bad thing, and it’s completely normal, it just takes
extra work, more patience, and a realistic mindset to move you in the right direction. 9-months’ worth of
hormonal and physical changes will not be remedied overnight or with a “quick fix.”
Another reality for new mothers is that every woman’s body doesn’t adapt to exercise at the same rate. A
relatively fit woman who worked out throughout her pregnancy and who had a birth without complications
will likely be prepared to start moderate exercise after a few weeks’ time. However, if you’ve experienced
any pregnancy or birth complications or were not previously in good shape, you will have to wait a little bit
longer and start at a lower intensity and slower pace of working out.
Signs you should exercise at a gradual pace:
Had an assisted birth
Had a caesarian section
Experienced other complications during birth
Are experiencing leaking of urination
Are experiencing back, abdominal, or pelvic pain
Are producing vaginal blood or recovering from vaginal tears
Weren’t in optimal physical health or weren’t very active prior to or during your pregnancy
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Where to begin
Taking things slowly means that you begin incorporating exercises into your routine when your body feels
ready. You shouldn’t be going for a 3-mile run, nor should you be bench-pressing heavy weights at the gym.
Instead, you’ll start with stationary floor, seated, or standing exercises that begin to strengthen internal
muscles, but don’t require much movement. A good place to start would be with pelvic exercises. Pelvic
exercises will strengthen lower abdominal muscles and reduce the risk of leaking urine when you later begin
sit-ups and other core exercises. The pelvic muscles should be your first step to lay the ground work for
more moderate exercise later on, allowing yourself to adapt to your internal core muscles being worked, but
not using any extraneous energy or difficult movements that will put your body in distress.
In addition to pelvic strengthening, your next move should be to get into the habit of walking. Begin with a
5-10 minute walk around the neighborhood with the baby in a stroller, and if you feel good, over time,
increase your distance, time, and even pace. When walking, be sure to allow yourself recovery time and rest
at home. A walk sounds like it wouldn’t take much out of you; however, when you begin walking after
pregnancy your body will absolutely need some time to adapt to the movements.
Within the first 1-2 months, these are the two exercises you should be focusing on. After your first post-natal
checkup with your doctor, as long as you received the go-ahead from your physician, you can begin upping
the ante and expanding your exercise routine into something that will produce long-term results. Remember,
you grew a life inside of you and went through the most physically challenging thing a woman can ever
experience. Every day post-pregnancy woman is working out toward getting their “old” body back. Some,
unfortunately, push themselves with too much too soon, resulting in disappointments, loss of motivation,
and longer time to recover. Listen to your body and your doctor, and adapt to the more stationary exercises
first. There is plenty of time to pump up the volume in the future.
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2.3 Exercises to avoid
After giving birth, your body will enter the phase of healing. How you take care of yourself at this time will
determine how well your muscles perform in the future and whether or not you will lose the excess weight
you gained from pregnancy easily or not. In addition to weight, the exercises you do can either promote
healthy weight loss or they can cause negative, long-term effects on your body. Be sure to understand which
exercises can cause harm so that you can avoid them at the very beginning of your recovery and know when
it’s safe to incorporate them back into your routine.
Sit-ups and crunches
No matter whom you talk to or ask about exercise post-baby, women are going to focus on wanting to flatten
those abdominal muscles that have weakened and expanded over the course of the last 9-months. Online
there are endless amounts of advertisements and articles about how to get those abdominal muscles back
into shape. However, what women most need to know is that performing sit-ups and crunches too early after
giving birth can have extreme adverse effects on those internal muscles. Working out those inner abdominal
muscles can bring on Diastasis Recti, otherwise known as “abdominal muscle separation.” When the
abdominal muscles tear, they leave other parts of your body vulnerable; for instance, your uterus, bowels,
and some other organs can be compromised by not having the proper abdominal support to function
normally. Other concerns of Diastasis Recti is that it will cause constipation, back pain, and extreme and
rare cases can lead to a hernia since the tissues surrounding the organs have torn from excessive movement
and exasperation.
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Running
As previously stated, post-pregnancy, women should walk before they run, and this is true for multiple
reasons. Most doctors recommend beginning to run again anywhere between 6-weeks to a 1-year. To many
women anxious to get their bodies in shape, the prospect of a year sounds outrageous. However, each
woman has individual needs she will discuss with her doctor and different symptoms that either speed
recovery of joints, ligaments, and muscles, or symptoms that inhibit them from moving forward with intense
movements. It’s no secret that running is the best exercise for cardiovascular health, as well as one of the
best ways to feel better physically, emotionally, and mentally. However, post-pregnancy, a top priority is
minimizing stress to the pelvic and abdominal region. Without low-impact, core stabilizing exercises to lay
the ground work, running could become painful, produce urinal leaking, lead to bleeding, or reopen stitches.
In addition, after giving birth to your child, your joints and ligaments are likely loose and less able to
support you when working at full-impact. Your feet hitting the ground repeatedly could result in torn
ligaments, sprained or broken bones, and just overall pain and fatigue. Start your workout routine with
walking, and gradually work up to jogging and running when your doctor suggest you’re ready or when your
body is telling you that picking up the pace is the right thing to do
Other high intensity aerobics
Similar to running, any high intensity workouts that will make you break a significant sweat can cause more
harm than good after you’ve had a baby. It’s easy to think that really working the body with high impact,
intense moves will help shed the weight you’re looking to lose; however, performing extreme movements
might cause bodily harm, broken bones, aches and pains, and even more dangerous internal tears in your
muscles and organs that could take long-term care to heal or even make you a candidate for surgery. High
intensity interval training is the current “buzz” word used by gyms and trainers to enforce weight loss. After
being cleared by your doctor after your six or eight week checkup, you might be able to begin incorporating
some of these exercises into your workouts. In the meantime, stay clear of the following cardio activities and
focus on slow, low-impact movements that will build muscles that can help you sustain these moves in the
future.
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Jumping jacks
Mountain climbers
Burgees
Jumping lunges
Jump rope
Box jumps
Elliptical trainer
Cycling or spinning
Tabatha
Kickboxing
Dance fitness
Sports
You might feel inclined to get outdoors and breathe the fresh air, which is great for women to de-stress.
However, it’s important that you don’t partake in any sports right away, no matter how big of an athlete you
normally are. Whether its swimming, soccer, volleyball, tennis or even sports with less movement like golf,
you need to be cautious so that you don’t bring on any injuries. Take advantage of the first 6-weeks post-
natal to rest and rejuvenate your muscles in a slow and steady way prior to joining in on a game.
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Excessive strength training
Every woman should invest in a pair of light dumbbells for at home workouts after giving birth. However, if
your normal fitness repertoire consists of heavy strength training, now is the time to take a nice long break
and turn the volume down? Stick to light hand weights that are 10lbs. or less when beginning, and slowly
work your way back up to your normal lifting volume. Avoid any weighted leg exercises, squats, or lunges
until you’ve reached your first post-natal visit with your physician to discuss how well your body is healed.
Don’t opt for large weights like barbells that would force you to bend over and put a lot of pressure on your
back or hips. Instead, in a seated position begin with working your arms, keeping the lower body and core
stabilized and just doing simple bicep, triceps and chest moves that won’t irritate the rest of your body or
your back.
2.4 Caring for a C section tummy
The period of time following the birth of a baby is the most stressful time for families, particularly new
mothers. For women who are recovering from a caesarian surgical delivery, this stress can be even more
severe since the recovery time is longer and the ability to do physical activity of any kind is restricted. Not
only does this refer to exercise, but this refers to bending down to pick up the baby, going to the grocery
store which includes walking and lifting things, and performing house work. Rest and relaxation are the key
ingredients to care for your C-section tummy; however, understanding what to expect after your delivery
and how you can promote healing will significantly reduce the stress associated with the post-partum phase.
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What you can expect
Many symptoms can result after a caesarian birth, so the best way to prepare you is to know what to expect.
Here are some of the more common features that women experience in the first 6-weeks following C-section
births.
Dizziness and shortness of breath during quick movements
Pain that might require medication (be sure to discuss this with your health care provider if you plan to
breastfeed, since anything you put into your body will affect the baby as well)
Your uterus will need to shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size. This is called the “involution” process
and will result in significant bleeding within the first 6-weeks. Because of this, you will need to use
menstrual pads to soak up the blood (don’t use tampons as you don’t want to further disturb the uterus or
vaginal walls).
What to avoid
In order to make the most of your recovery time after your C-section, you need to beware of activities that
will irritate your abdominal muscles and uterus. Keep the following activities at bay for the first 6 to 8
weeks of your recovery.
Lifting and bending, which can affect regular household chores as well as have an effect on your ability
to lift your newborn child
Sexual intercourse
Using tampons
Baths, pools, or hot tubs
Climbing stairs excessively (at times you won’t be able to avoid this depending on the construction of
your home)
Avoid exercise or strenuous activity until 6 to 8 weeks or your doctor gives you the go-ahead
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What you can do
It can feel discouraging since doctors, family, and friends will constantly be telling you to rest and not to do
things. However, while you’re resting and healing, you can still find plenty of ways to promote care after
your caesarian. Here are some of the best things you can do for yourself to care for your tummy at this time.
Drink plenty of fluids in order to keep hydrated, restore your energy, and avoid constipation
Eat plenty of fiber that will promote healthy bowel movements
Keep changing tables and feeding supplies nearby to avoid getting up often
Care for your incision by cleaning with soapy water in the shower (but not rubbing or scrubbing)
If your tummy folds over the incision area, keep a dry pad there to protect it from accumulating sweat
and moisture
Understand that you will have scars, but that after 6 to 8 weeks you can use scar reducing ointments that
will lighten and reduce the visibility of your incision
Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends, family, and neighbors so that your responsibilities can
be lessened
Utilize the opportunity for extra sleep, because as a new mother there are few times that you will be able
to selfishly take advantage of others around wanting to help, and no other time than post-partum
caesarian recovery that you will need rest more
After having a caesarian section, women are most often concerned with the physical aspects of their surgery.
However, it is the emotional recovery that often needs the most attention paid to it and is the most surprising
to new mothers. You’ve brought a beautiful newborn baby into the world, and at times you may struggle
with feelings of inadequacy since you’ll have to rely on others so often within the first several weeks. There
should never be shame in asking help from your loved ones during this difficult time, and seeking help
should bring relief rather than stress. When you are with the baby, it’s a good idea to take extra time to sit
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with him or her to bond. This will put your mind at ease that the little extra things you aren’t able to do
throughout the day won’t be affecting your relationship and bond with your baby. Women often have pride
in having vaginal births, but C-sections are very common and make the birthing process no less significant
or heroic. Take pride in the healthy birth of your child and try to expel any negative feelings associated with
the surgery so that you can focus on the health of you and your baby.