How to Get Your Pre-Baby Body Back

You’ve just had a baby and my, how things have changed. You’re undoubtedly feeling mixed emotions. On the one hand, your child is your new world and will now require your attention around the clock. On the other hand, your body is nothing like it was before pregnancy and you’re dying to find a way to get back into shape. Let’s take a look at some of the things to keep in mind when it comes to pregnancy recovery and getting your pre-baby body back.

Proper nutrition

Eating well is just as important in the postpartum stage as it is during pregnancy. Try to keep things simple; eat lots of high-nutrition foods that don’t take much time to prepare, such as fruits, raw vegetables and granola. These are also high-fibre options that can help with constipation, which is a common problem following pregnancy. Remember, a proper diet is essential to decreasing the impact of the health issues that contribute to fatigue. With so much energy being put towards caring for you child, fatigue can quickly become a factor. If you are fatigued, it’s going to be much harder to find the motivation to exercise.

Set yourself a goal

It could be a weight target or it could be as simple as fitting back into your pre-baby clothes again. Whatever the case, it’s always good to have a goal to work towards. It provides motivation and satisfaction when you see that you’re making tangible progress towards your target.

Get ready to exercise

Exercise is essential to getting your pre-baby body back. But remember, it doesn’t have to be strenuous. In fact, in the weeks following the birth of your child, strenuous activity is dangerous. Make sure you ease back into any sort of strenuous activity. In the first few weeks, it’s even a good idea to incorporate your baby into your exercise routine. Try going for a walk with your baby or dancing around the room with your baby to the sound of music. Remember, your goal is to burn more calories than you gain. This should not be done by eating less, but rather by exercising regularly.

Join a class

After your six-week check-up, if everything is progressing as it should, you may be ready to try some more strenuous post-pregnancy exercise to help really get that pre-baby body back. Look for post-natal exercise classes in your local area. These are a great option as the exercise is tailored to the needs of women who have recently been pregnant. Additionally, many of these allow you to bring your baby into class, allowing time for nursing and feeding and even incorporating your baby into exercise routines. Also, the motivation of having other mums to exercise and socialise with is invaluable to your motivation.

Consult your doctor

If ever you feel like something isn’t right or if exercise feels like too much work, consult your doctor to ensure there isn’t anything wrong. Common issues you may suffer include fatigue, depression, constipation, anaemia (a decrease in the amount of oxygen-carrying red blood cells in your body) and diastasis recti (the separation of the abdominal muscles into left and right halves).