Exercise classes for moms and babies, when?
After learning how to become a mom (plus getting some much-needed sleep), my next question was, when could I start hitting the gym? I needed to get my pre-pregnancy physique back!
After talking to physiotherapists who specialize in postnatal recovery (and reading some stories about the pelvic floor), I realized how important it was to get a solid pelvic floor before going back to training. This should and must be the start of my return to exercise!
Pilates for moms and bubs is a great approach to start getting you back to working out. The classes are created to recover the pelvic floor muscles together with the general muscles. Surprisingly, I walked out of most classes feeling like my muscle groups had worked and actually it was a wonderful feeling to walk outside knowing that I had done several exercises throughout the day.
Mainly moms and puppies attend the course so there is a level of understanding if puppies start crying and require feeding or changes. Also, trainers are really helpful in distracting your baby, giving him the time and opportunity to complete the routines. An added help is the fact that it’s not hard to get to since I didn’t have to find a babysitter!
Subject to your delivery, you can start mommy and baby pilates workout sessions as early as six to seven weeks after your delivery, however you should definitely seek the advice of your own obstetrician along with exercise advice from your moms and babies you choose.
Once you feel that your pelvic floor has regained some solidity, there are several alternatives for you to choose from and it all depends on your exercise preference. Some people enjoy low-impact sessions like yoga and swimming, while others (like me!) prefer high-intensity workouts that just leave you exhausted. No matter what your decision, there are plenty of workouts, including yoga, crossfit, personal training sessions, tennis, and dance that they offer mom-and-baby classes. If you’re a swimmer, there are plenty of pools that have an excellent in-house nursery where you can leave your baby while you swim (note that you’ll need everything clean after your six-week check-up before you can go swimming).
No matter what, whatever exercise class for moms and kids you start with, make sure to be patient and relax. Remember that it took your body nine months to adjust to pregnancy, so allow a little more time for your body to get back into shape!