Health

Pregnancy can take a toll on a woman's body so Gold's Gym fitness expert Corry Matthews has some easy exercise tips for new mommies to get back in shape.

 

The first step before a new mom begins a regular exercise routine is to consult her doctor. One can usually resume a fitness routine 4-6 weeks after a vaginal delivery, and 6-8 weeks after a cesarean birth.

 

Once the new mother is physically ready to begin exercising, it is important to concentrate on overall fitness, rather than spot shaping.  "Overall fitness is the goal after pregnancy," says Matthews, "focus on getting a little here and a little there."

 

There are many ways that a new mother can exercise with her baby but the focus should be on strengthening the abdominals (hollowing and crunches), lower back (small range of motion back extensions) and pelvic floor (kegels).

 

Some great ideas for exercising with the new baby include resistance training and cardiovascular workouts. An easy way to practice resistance training is doing squats while holding the baby. This strengthens the mother and allows her to watch over the baby at the same time.

 

A comfortable cardiovascular workout would be walking while pushing a stroller. This workout can be as long or as short as the new mother desires, and is a great way to show off the new baby to the neighbors!

 

Yoga is another great way to work out while bonding with the new child.

 

"It took 40 weeks to have a baby, so give yourself 40 weeks to get back into shape," Matthews says. "Be patient!"