In the documentary Pregnant in America, an American doctor recounts his visit to Uganda that dramatically changed his perception of birthing. Unlike something he would have experienced at a hospital here in the U.S., her delivery was completely natural. He was surprised at how simple the process of birthing could actually be. Within moments of delivering her baby, this woman put her baby in a sling next to her breast and got to work tilling in her garden! What amazed me the most about this story was that, after accomplishing the most difficult physical task her body would ever undertake, she went right back to doing strenuous work.
It makes you wonder just how differently things are done in the rest of the world. We love convenience and comfort in the U.S., and after delivering a baby, mothers here are told to rest. For weeks. The standard recommendation for resuming exercise following the birth of a child tends to be six weeks. The six-week mark is also when you see your doctor so that he/she can see how you are doing physically and emotionally. It is at this six-week checkup that your doctor will give you the okay to exercise. But why wait six weeks to begin with?
Martica Heaner, a Manhattan based exercise physiologist and nutritionist, wrote an excellent article explaining why there is a six-week guideline in place. Your body goes through a lot of changes during the pregnancy and delivery: your ligaments stretch out and get flexible; your joints get loose and therefore, can be less stable; and your pelvic floor muscles could be weakened. Some of these changes can persist even after you deliver, thus the rationale behind telling you to wait six weeks to give your body time to repair itself.
The other point that Dr. Heaner brings up however, is that the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that you can exercise anytime after you deliver, as long as it is medically and physically safe for you to do so. Obviously, if you have had stitches because of an episiotomy, or you are recovering from a Cesarean section, you want to wait the recommended amount of time that your doctor gives you.
I personally decided that I was going to wait six weeks to exercise for two main reasons:
- Breastfeeding leads to things like engorgement and leaking, so I wanted to give myself time to get a routine established with my daughter. Both engorgement and leaking are very uncomfortable, so I knew I would not be exercising while those things were happening!
- The first weeks of a baby’s life can be utterly exhausting for the mother. I was waking up every two hours to feed her. Throughout the day, I was walking around like a zombie. Had I even attempted to exercise, I would probably have fallen over dead.
And now my six-week mark is less than two weeks away. I am looking forward to getting back on track so that I can get back in shape. It has actually been quite awhile since I have been on a fitness routine! Now that I have you to hold me accountable, there is no turning back.
Next time, I will provide you with my current weight and measurements and make some goals for myself.
Recommended Reading:
How a Natural Birth Contributes to a Speedy Recovery- One more reason to have a baby naturally! Your recovery is so much faster, and you can get back to your physically active lifestyle that much quicker.
Don’t miss out on this series! You can read all of the posts in Losing the Baby Weight right here.
{ 0 comments… add one now }