Exercise in the postpartum period

Exercise in the postpartum period-is it safe?

Intensive exercise during the postpartum period is contraindicated by specialists in gynecology and obstetrics. This is related to the fact that this is the time of recovery of the female body after pregnancy and childbirth. It is also a period of dynamic changes to return to the functioning of the body before pregnancy. What’s more, the postpartum period also sees the healing of the wound from a possible cesarean section or perineal rupture. Intense physical exercise could thus lead to complications such as wound dehiscence, abnormal healing or the occurrence of various infections.

How to exercise in the postpartum period?

Postpartum is a special time that is necessary for a woman’s body to return to the state it was in nine months ago. For this reason, it requires a lot of patience and acceptance. Each body regenerates at its own pace, so nothing should be imposed. According to the recommendations, physical exercise should be abandoned for the duration of the postpartum period and should be resumed with the approval of the attending physician 6-8 weeks after delivery. However, postpartum is a time when daily activity, especially in the form of walking, is highly recommended. Postpartum and pregnancy is a period of increased risk of thromboembolic disease. So excessive lying down and lack of movement is not recommended. Of course, with a newborn at home, it’s hard to talk about an excessive amount of time spent resting, but it’s important to remember to be active not only in the apartment, but also outdoors. Faster marches and breathing and relaxation exercises are recommended by physiotherapists. On the other hand, exercises that affect the abdominal muscles are strongly discouraged. It is best to consult a urogynecological physiotherapist, who will show safe postpartum exercises tailored to the needs and capabilities of a particular woman.

When can you start exercising?

Practicing sports, understood as, for example, attending the gym or exercising abdominal muscles, is possible only after the postpartum period and with the approval of the attending physician. In the case of cesarean section delivery, the return to exercise is possible later than in the case of natural childbirth. The same goes for visits to the pool, which should be abandoned during the postpartum period. In turn, physical activity should begin as soon as possible after delivery. This is extremely important due to the aforementioned thromboembolic risk. The possibilities related to movement depend on the delivery route. After a Caesarean section, it takes longer for a woman to remain motionless than after a natural childbirth, when in most cases she can take care of the baby on her own and get out of bed after just 2 hours.

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