Weight loss/exercising after c-section?

[Yarrawin]

Hi all,

Just wondering - does anyone know where I can find some good - and free! - information about exercising after a c-section? I am going for walks but I'm busting to do more...

thanks!

[lilmisspositive]

Great thread. Sorry, no clue but subscribing. I do have a book that is coming any day now....Hopefully that will have good tips. but sure it would be fabulous if those that have already been through one could share. ; )

[Arimeh]

My OB's always said 6 weeks, just to let everything recover from the shock it goes through with the operation. The scar is fully healed at 3 months, so you should be able to do everything by then, if you have no complications.

I was up and exercising pretty quickly after my first one, but had an infection in my uterus the second time round, so I never really got back into exercising before falling pregnant again when DD1 was 7 months old.

[Mother Goose]

How long ago was the c-sect? (sorry, typing from ph so can't see tickers)

[1MOREPLZ]

personally walking up until the 6 week check up would be fine and once 6wk check up done ask you OB as arimeh has said...three months is the 'supposed' healing time....after that i wold say it should be back to 'normal'

[ladybird11]

generally they say 6 wks. I've had two c/s's and 'kept moving' with light walking (no big hills or brisk pace) up until that 6 wk mark.

if unsure check with your GP hun .

[Tammie]

Like everyone has mentioned, the physio recommended just gentle walking until 6 week. You can also do some stretching/strengthening exercises for your muscles. The basic rule I was given was not to do anything that strained your back as you lose you core muscles in the c-section.

Hope this helps some.

[Yarrawin]

Hi everyone,

I know it's 6 weeks until you can do more than walking - I have a week to go until I hit the 6 week mark but I feel so gross I want a plan of action for doing something a little bit more energetic from next week onwards!

The thing is, I don't want to pay for someone to tell me what to do and obviously I don't want to go overboard and hurt myself. I don't have an ob to ask and I'm not about to go forking out for a trainer who specialises in that area to essentially tell me what I should and shouldn't do but I have very fat, uncomfy bits in places I have never had them before, I have a medical condition that inhibits weight loss and I NEED to do a bit more exercise in order to shift that weight and get rid of the discomfort. Not only that, I don't have a single item of clothing I fit into post pregnancy (I gained a lot ) and I can't afford to buy new clothes so shifting the weight is the only option.

I just don't know what is safe to do once I pass the six week mark and what isn't, and the hard bit is that I feel fine already! At the moment I am taking gentle walks every day but I am trying to get some idea of what I can do to step it up a bit in another week or so without hurting myself and thought other ladies who have had caesareans may have 'been there, done that' and may be able to share their experiences?

[Mother Goose]

After your 6 week mark (and remember, some people need longer), you can step up the speed of your walking and introduce some smaller hills (with a gradual incline). Gradually build up to running.

You will need to wait a little longer to work on your core muscles. But when you're ready, you can start to do some things like The Plank (or hover). Tricep pull downs will help with your tummy muscles but shouldn't be done until around the 3 months mark.

Some cycling if you have a bike

Squats.

Have you looked around to see what's in your area? I understand about the financial side of things but some areas have free mums and bubs walking groups run by PT's. Many gyms will also do a Mum's and Bubs exercise session once a week for minimal amount - I think my gym was about $10 a class.

You can also do swimming. That is great for your core.

You may be able to start water aerobics again so long as you listen to your body and don't do what it objects to!

Good luck!

MG

[Tammie]

From 6 weeks I did 20 min sessions on a cross trainer which was great because it was aerobic but still low impact. Other than that I just walked with a mum's group and did some (slow at first) stairs.

Hope that's a bit more like the info you're looking for.

[Yarrawin]

Thanks Mother Goose and Tammie! Exactly what I was after. I have a habit of overdoing it with exercise and so want to make sure I'm well prepared this time because this is NOT the time to do my usual thing! Will look into all of that, thanks

[Tammie]

Good luck!

I found it so hard to get into exercise again. I lost the weight easy enough but am still trying to get rid of excess fat sitting around my stomach... I had Eli 15 mths ago! I find that my weight is just distributed differently now.

Let me know if you find something that works wonders on the stomach - I'm doing sit ups on a fit ball but I can't seem to do enough!

x.

[Mother Goose]

sit ups only work part of your abdominal muscles. you also need to work your obliques and transverse muscles. But the best way to get rid of tummy fat is good old cardio

[Tammie]

Thanks MG!

I do the ob's on the fit ball too but will have to look into transverse muscles as not even sure what they are!