Question about Post Partum Activity

[AuntG]

I deeply apologize if this has already been gone over a million times, but I am wondering whether I am out of my mind wanting to start exercising so soon after birth. I am four days post partum, and I have already been doing some extensive walking -- going back and forth to the hospital to see my daughter.
I gave birth at home unassisted on Thursday, and felt great right away. As it turns out, my daughter has Down Syndrome and that's the only reason she's in the hospital now.
I've been going back and forth and walking a lot and other than not having my baby at home, I feel great (besides some edema).

So, how much is too much exercise? I'd like to start back at Curves even if ever so slightly, mainly for stress relief. Bleeding is at a minimum now, and I had no tearing at all.

Am I being unreasonable? What are some reasons I would not want to try?


I appreciate any input at all. Many thanks!

[Jane]

It's important to wait until the ligaments have returned to a more normal state. I wish I could wave my hands for you, but in general, ligaments that are several centimeters long are several inches long in pregnancy. Post partum, without the large uterus, the organs are not held in place well. Perhaps you have a bit of a "jelly belly" that is starting to tighten up as this week ends. Lots of the movement occurs in that first week, but continues for 6-8 weeks postpartum. You wouldn't want to do much until things tighten b/c it encourages prolapse of the organs. Kegals are good - restrengthening the muscle net to hold things. But walking or weights or Curves is not so good. I advise limiting stairs for the first week, if possible, for instance - it's so jarring and unnatural to walk up stairs. We are made to go up slopes, not stairs. Walking is sorta okay - if you need it for your mental health, do it, but don't push it.
My other suggestion is to avoid abdominal work until your stomach muscles have come together as much as possible. Otherwise, many exercises pull them apart, worsening the diastisis.
Congratulations on your daughter. I hope she is home soon.

[AuntG]

Thank you for the info. I will try to be more patient!

It's frustrating to feel so good and still have to take it easy. But, I will be a good mama and hold off on the exercise until later.

Many, many thanks!

[CEG]

I went jogging at 2 weeks PP with both of my kids. I didn't experience any issues with it and my midwife (who is also a runner) said she did the same thing. I had also run throughout my pregnancies up until giving birth. The runs made me feel energized and helped my mood.

As a nonmedical opinion I would say go ahead and do only what is comfortable and nothing more. If you start to feel a any pain or a big increase in bleeding, I would stop- but expect your bleeding to increase a little with the increased activity. As a nurse we tell people to wait until their six week checkup and ask their doctor, which I think is excessive.

[fruitful womb]

I second Apricot. I didn't know the thing about stairs. We have stairs. Before the birth we brought our bed down to the living room. Dh wouldn't let me use the stairs until I protested at 4wks pp to have my room back in order. Dh knew what he was talking about. The only way to prevent Pelvic Organ Prolapse is to avoid it. A little p.o.p. is normal after giving birth. Your body has time to heal. Rest as much as you can so your pp recovery is successful. I'm doing all that I can to restore my organs back in their place and I'm paying a heavy price too. I did too much to soon. Congratulations on your new baby girl!

[SublimeBirthGirl]

Listen to your body. If it's too much, your body will tell you. I always overdo when it give birth. After my 2nd I felt so great, then ended up bleeding more and getting sore because I overdid it too soon.

[AuntG]

It IS hard to sit still when I feel so good! I have stairs and, sheesh, I have been going up and down them since about two hours post partum! Now I'm checking my abdomen to see if anything feels out of place!! :

It's also hard to rest when I want so badly to be at the hospital everytime it's open.

My little girl pooped today so that was something to celebrate!!!!!!!!!
She had intestinal surgery so the poop is a good sign that everything went well and is waking up in her!

Thanks to everyone for the input. I will take it easy, and try not to overdo it. I don't see myself running in two weeks -- except maybe for the phone --, but ... maybe four??

[CEG]

Congrats on the dirty diaper! It sounds like things are going well!

I should add that I was doing more running to the refrigerator than anything else at 2 weeks PP, but I do think the best way to go is to listen to your body. With a little one in the NICU I am sure you have extra stress to get rid of. Swimming would also be a great low-impact activity depending on how your bleeding is. Best wishes.

[tlcdoula]

I would suggest following what your body is telling you to do! After the births of my children I was pretty much up and going right away too.

[Twinklefae]

Originally Posted by Apricot

It's important to wait until the ligaments have returned to a more normal state. I wish I could wave my hands for you, but in general, ligaments that are several centimeters long are several inches long in pregnancy. Post partum, without the large uterus, the organs are not held in place well. Perhaps you have a bit of a "jelly belly" that is starting to tighten up as this week ends. Lots of the movement occurs in that first week, but continues for 6-8 weeks postpartum. You wouldn't want to do much until things tighten b/c it encourages prolapse of the organs. Kegals are good - restrengthening the muscle net to hold things. But walking or weights or Curves is not so good. I advise limiting stairs for the first week, if possible, for instance - it's so jarring and unnatural to walk up stairs. We are made to go up slopes, not stairs. Walking is sorta okay - if you need it for your mental health, do it, but don't push it.
My other suggestion is to avoid abdominal work until your stomach muscles have come together as much as possible. Otherwise, many exercises pull them apart, worsening the diastisis.
Congratulations on your daughter. I hope she is home soon.

OKay, I'm momentarily high jacking here, are you serious about the stairs???? There are six flights between me and the car, and ground level. Do you mean that once I'm home from the hospital I'll have to stay home as much as possible? There is no elevator or any other options....

[Jane]

I stand by that same advice, limit stairs for the first week. Surely you aren't going to need to do those 12 flights a bunch in the first week?

[wumanh]

Signs you are doing too much:
Bleeding had lessened and returns to bright red
Feeling more pressure and soreness in the crotch area
Emotional up and down. weepy
I really like my moms to take it easy for the aforementioned reasons of ligaments and organs settling back into place. Also for the bleeding to stop sooner. Women who get too active too quickly seem to bleed longer and some crash- emotionally and energetically- later. Resting in the beginning avoids this.
Listen to your body.

[Twinklefae]

I don't think I'll need to do them a lot, but I will need to do them. To get back up to the apt. after the baby's born for one, and to get down and back from the PKU test for another. I suppose limit isn't the same as don't do it at all, but I was a little freaked out by the thought of being stranded in my apt!

[wumanh]

Do you get a visiting nurse visit? Some states have this for new moms. Have her do the PKU at home then you don't have to go out. You would be surprised how much energy it takes just going home from the hospital or going for a doctor visit. There is no rush to get the test done.

[Twinklefae]

I'm in Canada, and I do get a Nurse visit, but she isn't able to do the test, I have to go in for it... or else wait for over 24 hours at the hospital. (Unless I have a smooth birth this all becomes a moot point, as I'll have it done before I leave. I currently plan to go after waiting the mandatory 6 hours.)

[blissful_maia]

I think nice gentle walking in the fresh air is not a problem, but I really recommend that you listen to your body. Aside from immediately after the birth, the most common time to have a PPH is 7-10 days postpartum and I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that moms expect to go right back to normal! Just be gentle with yourself, you just did a tremendously strong thing growing and birthing a baby, and your body needs to heal!

[Twinklefae]

Well, I think I'll be allright as long as I take it slow. Thanks for all your help! Sorry to the OP for completely highjacking the thread. :