Exercising After C-section

Can you walk on your lunch break, weekends, early in the morning? I would start 1/2 hour 3 times a week and work your way up. If you can't do 1/2 hour at a time break it up into 15 minutes.

Also Pilates is amazing and you can do it post-c-section. I would recommend a private instruction before you do it yourself because it is really important to have proper form. It can really shrink your figure and strengthen any core damaged by surgery.

Once you get comfortable with that I would recommend a gym with fitness classes and try to go on the weekends and a few mornings before work.

Good luck and congrats!

Walking is the best thing you can do right now.

Hi,
I would say pilates, by far, is the best think you can do for your core. I was such a non-believer for years and then did it for a year. All the years that I ran did nothing compared to what a year of pilates did. It also made my pregnancy so much more comfortable and my recovery from my c-section so much than my first, when I was not doing it. I work too, so I know it is so hard to fit in classes. Yet, the two hours a week I take for myself are SO worth it. Seriously, when do you really take anytime for you? But, if this does not work then try a tape. Even maybe start with a prenatal one. Although most have different levels anyway. At first I did one class per week and then a tape once or twice a week. I felt so much better in every way. My six weeks is up in one week so I am looking forward to starting again!

Don't be fooled into thinking that a billion crunches a day will fix it - that's the biggest myth out there!

The most important way to whittle your stomach is to watch your diet. Make sure you're eating enough calories a day, plenty of fruits and vegetables, hydrate often, and eat the right carbs: complex carbs with dietary fiber.

Remember, you cannot spot train! A nice combination of proper nutrition, cardio, and strength training will get you on your way to better health.

i found it very helpful to go to a physical therapist. he helped me figure out which exercises would be safest and still target the pelvic and abdominal muscles. he monitored my movements and corrected me when i was doing something in a more harmful or less productive way. my insurance paid for a certain number of visits, calling it "post-op" treatment. when that number of visits was up, i left with written explanations of each exercise. good luck!

I would talk to your doctor, but I was cleared to exercise at my 6 week checkup. I did work out a little before I was pregnant, but was forced to stop when I was pregnant for health reasons. There are some great exercises you can do with your baby. I would go to your library or book store and check the parenting section. You can do baby yoga, and other things. You can use your baby as a weight at the same time sharing quality time with your baby. I would lay on my back and place my baby on my shins and pull my knees to my chest. She loved it, and as she got older the intensity got higher because of her weight. I got my exercises off of a baby einstein DVD.

Walking and watching your diet is the best thing. It would not be safe to start any other regimen at this point, especially if you were not active before your pregnancy. If you need something extra, try walking stairs...not the stairmaster but actual stairs.

I took group fitness classes at 530 am (before work, before baby/toddler were up), showered there and headed home to start the day and head to work with hubby. Of course, I have an understanding hubby who was willing to get up with the baby/toddler if they got up early (though he LOATHES mornings). I suggest doing that or finding a gym or YMCA that has babysitting hours. We got a family membership so that the kids are included and watched for free when the "playroom" is open. It makes things easier and opens the schedule up a bit. Our playroom is open mornings and evenings during the week and Saturday 8am-noon.

Start slow and if you are new to exercise, invest in a personal trainer, get a free training session from the gym or get an experienced work out buddy so you avoid hurting yourself. I am an athlete and currently work out 4-6 days a week 20 weeks pregnant so I am not even going to try to tell you how to start....I have always jumped back into it (2 weeks after vaginal and 6 weeks after c-section with #2).

Best wishes!