Exercise after a C Section

[nursegina]

I am 3 1/2 weeks post c section. I have a toddler and a new baby so exercise is kind of hard for me. I love to put the kids in the double stroller I paid out the butt for and walk but the weather has not been the best and we've only gone 3 times. I need some form of exercise I can do on a regular basis with the kids around. I don't have the money for a treadmill and I am not supposed to do any abdominal exercises yet. Anyone have any suggestions? Also, I was wondering what kinds of exercises are best after a c section?

[sstaples]

Ugh, I feel for you. I have had two C-sections and it was so tough getting back into the workout mode afterward. Good for you for even trying!! 3.5 weeks out!! You rock.
I waited until my 6 week check-up to work out my abs. I was nervous after some compications from my first C-section so I did A LOT of walking. I know you said that the weather hasn't been that great. I also bought a cool baby and me yoga video and did that a few times a week, careful not to work the abs. My son loved it and my daughter would bring out one of her dolls and do it right along side me.
After I had the all clear, I started crunches, twice a day with the baby by my side. Usually during his tummy time. I am 8 months out and I am up to 150 crunches in the morning and 150 at night. I do the yoga a few times a week and walk him in his stroller for about a mile every day (I live in AZ and this is the only time of year I CAN go outside). About a month ago I fell below my pre-pregnancy weight by about 3 pounds. Walk, walk, walk. That is what I think did the best for me. And weight watchers! I love them! Good luck.

[mommymuscle]

Hi All!
I too had two c-sections, I then was invited by my team of ob's to watch two more. WHy would I do that? Because pre/post natal fitness is my life!

One thing is for sure, NO CRUNCHES!!
First of all crunches do very little to alleviate the low belly sag that pregnancy leaves behind. And f moms who are not yet 10 weeks out from a c-section could end up with a hernia if they do crunches!

Until you are cleared for exercise by your physician you should do exactly what they said, recover. Gentle walking about the house or outside is fine for a few minutes a day, just enought to get the blood flowing and to minimize your risk of blood clots and pneumonia. Beyond that, working out may just set you back a bit.

For abdominal work post c-section it is best to do pilates style moves these work the deepest layers of the abdomen which are the ones stretched out the most during pregnancy!

Remember, wait until your doc gives you the green light, then be patient with your body, it will respond, it just needs time to adjust.

[Katie Rhodes]

Try restore the core, it is a mat based pilates workout and it has a c-section and pre-natal modificatio section. Better than that, try to locate a restore the core class in your area, all of the instructors are certified and educated on what to do post c-section.

Most importantly be patient...you doc cut through 7 layers to get that baby out and appropriate healing time is needed.

[Wendy Hoag]

Try some basic breathing to engage those deep abdominal muscles and build that strength. Great way to build strength while staying away from crunches!

Sit up straight, cross legged or comfy. Take in a big inhale that fills up your tummy with air. take the same amount of time to let all that air out, while pulling that naval into your spine. The trick is to stay sitting up, and not let that back round out. Just think of using those inside muscles to pull that naval in.

Good luck!

[Jonna Byars]

Hi nursegina, I also had 2 c-sections and you need to be careful with recovery. After my second section, I tried to start exercising too son and almost ended up with a hernia--be super careful. My ob/gyn informed me that although the external incision heals fairly quickly the internal incision to the uterus takes 9-18 months to heal. This does not mean you have to wait that long to exercise, but it indicates the severitiy of the damage that was done to the uterine muscle. As wendy mentioned your best bet early on after a c-section is deep breathing and gently movements. And, as Katie mentioned, later on down the road Restore the Core is an awesome way to go. When you have a c-section many, many nerves are cut and you have to reengage those deep muscles to help them work again. When I first started doing restore the core, I could feel tingling around my incision site, letting me know I was working muscles that had not been engagedd since my c-section. good luck! and try not to rush recovery!

[RUBYRUBY783]

be careful i did alot of work after my son was born c-section and my scar ended up coming open. I then had a longer recovery time and it was alot worse than if i would of just waited my 6 weeks

[Katie Rhodes]

It is the general rule to wait 6 weeks for a vaginal delivery and a little longer for a c-section. I don't recommend ever exercising before the 6 week window is over and your physician has cleared you to exercise.

[starob]

I was unable to exercise for a large portion of my pregnancy due to a partial previa (unfavorable position of the placenta over the cervix). I had a difficult labor and un-planned c-section. Anxious to get back in shape I tried easing back into my old exercise routine 9 weeks post my c-section with crunches, lower ab exercises and running on my tread mill. After the first week my lower abdomen was very swollen and sore. I have come to the realization that things are going to take a lot longer to get back to normal than I had hoped. As an alternative a friend (also recoving from a c-section) and I bought Z00 memberships and we go often and walk the Zoo with our babies and strollers. The Kids seem to like it, and the walking exercise seems to be just the right amount for now. I have read numerous blogs of women going back to rigorous exercising in just a few weeks (or less) with no difficulty. For those of you like me who have had a more difficult time of it, please know your not alone and don't push yourself too hard.

[Fittemeenfots]

Okay so im in the formal committee for the year 10 formal and we are contemplating on the venues that we can have it at

does anyone know any good places that are around sydney, our school is in the sutherland shire, so a venue that no more than 45 min away?

thanks