When do you go back to the gym?

[Kmama2]

DD was born in the summer so I remember taking short walks around 2-3 weeks post partum and doing serious walks around 6 weeks I think??? Can't remember exactly. My midwife says to take it easy till 6-8 weeks post partum. Does that seem excessive?? ( 8 weeks?) Its cold now so I will be going to the gym and doing cardio.
What about Yoga? Should I wait 6-8 weeks to return to Yoga?
FYI- Vaginal birth at home with a few stiches..

[firewoman]

I think you could do yoga when you feel up to it. Walking when you feel good is alright to. Just listen to your body and don't do too much too soon. If your bleeding has stopped or is light, but then gets heavier and/or turns bright red again that is a good indication that it is too much. I think waiting on heavy cardio until six weeks is a good idea. I won't be going to the gym before 6-8 weeks depending on how I feel.

[southernmommie]

I agree. You can't really go by a set time table. You have to go by your body. Meaning your blood loss postpartum. Every person is different and every pregnancy is different. I made the mistake of trying to help out my mom a day after my bleeding stopped at 2 weeks. That afternoon I almost passed out. It was too soon to start helping around the house at that time. Although I've had previous post partums where I could do that and it not affect me the same way. Just listen to your body and keep a watchful eye on your postpartum bleeding. That is your number one sign of when to return SLOWLY back to normal.

[zjande]

I personally don't do anything exercise related at all until I've completely stopped bleeding. For me, that means 6-8 weeks. I want to be very sure I give myself time to heal.

[threadbey]

I will wait at least 6 weeks before doing anything more than a two-block walk (and will do that only when no one else can take ds to school). I had a severe uterine prolapse after ds and now I take postpartum recovery very very seriously. Luckily, I seem to be doing much better this time!

[jaylily]

I would rest even after the blood has stopped. I want to say about 6 weeks before doing anything too serious and especially if you are breastfeeding, while your supply is being established. That was the general consensus on my son's DDC and it made sense to me. It does depend on you and your own body though... of course!

[Nature]

I consider chasing 4 kids to be all the exercise I need.

[completebeginnings]

As a woman it is really important to stay down as long as you possibly can to allow your uterus and accompanying muscles to shrink back and lie where they need to go. Prelvic prolapse(your uterus actually falling out of your vagina) is really common for women(80% have it by age 50) and childbirth and high activity levels make it worse. Studies have shown that women who lay flat and are down longer after birth actually have flatter stomachs postpartum them those that push it and start exercising because they have allowed their body to heal.

For our clients our general rule (regardless of how easy the birth is):
3 days in bed up only for bathroom
4 days in bed able to sit up as needed with 1 hour a day on the couch etc.
1 week only sitting in the home(no cleaning lifting etc.)
1 week mild work around the house(dishes etc.)
no exercise until bleeding stops
no running/ab work until at least 8 weeks pp (this is really hard on our womanly parts)

It sounds extreme but our clients have great success in breastfeeding, low bleeding, low levels of pp depression and low prolapse levels (both my preceptor midwife and I have severe pelvic floor prolapse issues so it hits true to home for both of us).