If exercise was part of your life before having a baby, you might be anxious to go back to the gym or your exercise routine. If you didn’t exercise very much before you might be thinking about starting now to help you lose the extra pounds you gained in pregnancy. Exercise can help you recover, but if had your baby recently, you should start slowly and in moderation.

Recovery time

During the six weeks following childbirth you should take it easy. During this time you will still be spotting while your uterus goes back to its regular size. If you had stitches in the vaginal area, you probably won’t feel up to jogging. And if you have to breastfeed every two to three hours, you will have little time left to go to the gym.

Although you might be annoyed by the extra pounds you are carrying around after labor, it’s important for you to take it easy. Later on you will have time to start being more active as weeks progress. In fact, experts say that if during recovery blood becomes a brighter red, this means you have to slow down a bit.

The best exercise

As when you were pregnant, walking or swimming will be very beneficial. Walking at your own pace will enable circulation, reduce swelling and help your recovery in general. Besides, this is an exercise you will be able to do with your baby in his stroller. If you like to jog, you can increase the speed and distance gradually and even jog with your baby in a special stroller designed for this.

Swimming is a good exercise too, although it’s advisable to wait until the bleeding has stopped. But as with walking, it’s a low impact exercise that will help your circulation and healing process. If you feel energetic enough, you can take a low-impact aerobic class.

Listen to your body

It’s very important to listen to your body in these first weeks. If you are bleeding more than before or feel dizzy or overly exhausted after exercising, you should cut down on exercise.

If you’ve had a C-section you will probably need a longer recovery time until you can start exercising since your body is recovering from surgery. Walk at your own pace, because walking will help you recover faster and take the breaks you need along the way. As weeks progress you will notice how your energy and resistance increase gradually.

The secret to going back to an exercise routine successfully is perseverance. Shorter exercise periods but done daily are more beneficial than more intense but less frequent workouts.

Try to engage in activities in which you can bring your baby along, as walking or taking a Mommy and me exercise class. You will find that being with moms in your same situation will encourage you.