The Reality of Exercising after having a Baby

Did you know by 12 weeks post-partum you could *potentially* start higher impact activity like running, dancing, skipping, jumping? If you’re feeling confused and overwhelmed about what exercising after having your baby, then I have what you need. My Beyond the Bump Guide is one of the most valuable resources you can have in your new mum tool kit. It contains a REALISTIC post-artum checklist to help you navigate the practicalities of those early months post-partum PLUS the exercise guidelines you need to know after having your baby. You can download your Beyond The Bump Guide here - it’s free!

These guidelines are in place to ensure that you as a new mum do not rush in to activities too soon that may put your recovering body under too much stress and potentially cause more harm than good. Returning to higher impact activity after having your baby is a step-by-step process and when done correctly can see you return to the activities that you love stronger than ever (It’s ultimately the reason why I created my Beyond Fitness Online Membership, complete with a phase-by-phase approach to post-partum fitness, to help mums recover, restore and rebuild their strength, fitness and confidence after having their baby and long beyond!)

 But let’s step away from the guidelines for a moment, and step back in to the reality of motherhood.

Yes, at 12 weeks if you’ve taken the correct steps, your body may technically be ready to take your exercise to the next level – but are YOU ready?

When I spoke to the mums of my Mum & Baby class about this topic, while many said the returned to higher impact activity 3-9 months after having their baby, for most the reality was that they were just too tired and over stretched to actually make it a regular thing.

As one of the mums said -

“I went back running 3 months post-partum. I literally ran out of steam. I didn't have the time or energy, so I stopped.”

At 3 months post-partum you are more than likely still contending with broken sleep, an unpredictable or ever-changing routine and still navigating all the life changes that happen when transitioning in to motherhood.

As another mum said -

“While I’ve answered yes that I’ve returned to higher impact exercise, it’s the consistency of doing it is where I have a challenge”

It can be really hard to want to do an activity that you love, knowing that technically you are ready but everything else just isn’t aligned. I know the feeling all too well – When my 2nd born was almost a year old, I had to pull out of a half-marathon just a few weeks before hand, as close to a year of little to no sleep had left me constantly sick and carrying niggling injuries that wouldn’t shift. It wasn’t the right time.

After my 3rd baby was born, I was adamant I wanted to return playing competitive camogie (after a 12 year break!!) . When she was 6 months old I hoped to start the new season, until I realised that it was actually about to cause too much mental stress in terms of time management, juggling things with my hubby, energy management. So, I waited another year and it was the best decision I could have made.

When in the thick of motherhood, it’s so important to remain focused on what you CAN do, not on what you feel you SHOULD be doing. This is in terms of what your body is physically capable of right now, but also in terms of your energy and your schedule. Life with tiny humans is hectic. Don't ever underestimate the amount of work you are doing on a daily basis. As a womens fitness & nutrition coach I am all for movement and exercising and making your needs a priority, but what that looks like with vary wildly depending on the stage or season that you are in.

Find a system that works for you right now – perhaps that’s workouts that can be done from the convenience of your own home. Maybe it’s lower impact exercise like Pilates which will continue to build your body strength while still maintaining your energy reserves. Perhaps it’s managing your expectations of yourself and opting for 10 minutes of movement whenever the chance allows.

Trust me Mama -  if you are in the trenches right now, simply surviving is ok. Your day WILL come to thrive.

Hold on.

Do whatever you can to keep yourself afloat.

Let it be easy.

Allow your actions to be imperfect and messy.

You don’t have to have it all figured out.

Take a breath.

Give yourself grace.

And if you haven’t heard it yet today – you are doing an amazing job. xx