Walking after birth?

So I'm due in 4 weeks and I had plans to start going for short, easy walks a couple days after the baby was born. I thought it would help me recover quicker and be a nice activity to get me out of the house so I don't feel too cooped up. When I told my SIL, who has a 5-month-old, she said that I need to wait until I get the ok at my 6-week check-up because you're not supposed to go for walks. That seems like forever to me! Has anyone else been told this? I guess I should ask at my next check-up. Isn't walking suppposed to be good for all sorts of ailments?

I wouldn't advise to go for big walks as in exercising walks, becaust it can take some weeks for your hormones to settle down, especially the relaxin, which is what helps losens your pelvis for birth and you run the risk of injuring yourself. I remember even after 6-7 weeks that I still got sore in the pelvic area when I overdid the walking and I had easy births too - which needs to be taken into account as well. I'm not saying you shouldn't walk at all, but to be aware that your body just doesn't go back to normal as soon as bubs is born and that it can take time. If you feel sore, stop and take it a bit easier.

After my first pregnancy, DH and I took Chelsea for a walk when she was 1 week old, but only up the street and back and I was only shuffling and took it very slow. It took ages, but felt nice to get out in the sunshine. After Marley was born, I didn't leave the house until she was 3 weeks old! I was much sorer and looked like a duck walking LOL!! See how you feel once you get home and just take it slow. Try walking around the house or yard first and see how you go.

6 weeks would be a long time lol! I think you have to see how you are coping with it all. I was hanging out to get moving but my body was good at telling me when it had to slow down. Listen to your body and you should find a balance of what you want to do and what you should be doing. I was definately right to get out and about after 2 weeks though..6 weeks I would have been going crazy!

Jo

I think that strolling would be ok. Like the other girls said you can take it easy and listen to your body. I think it's important for Mum's and bubs to get out of the house and into the fresh air. It helps babies to sleep better (so 'they' say) and for me I found that I was always more relaxed if I got out of the house for a while.

I think it would depend on what type of birth you have (if you have stitches etc). I had an episiotomy and had a very long recovery with that and wasnt physically able to walk for long without aching. I tried to do everything for Jesse just around the house and my stitches ended up bleeding. I say just take it easy until youre feeling back to normal. Theres no big rush to get back into shape.. you would have just gone through a major sort of surgery and you need to rest.
Best of luck with the birth :)

I had a Csec and I was strolling within a couple of days of coming home so about 10 days after birth. For me it helped initially control the PND that set in.

I think the "no walks" thing would refer more to big long strenuous walks. I would have thought a nice short slow walk would be good for you, if you are well enough to do it of course... but then again I am yet to give birth so maybe thats not right.

After Olivia was born, I went for long walks at a very easy pace......it took me an hour to do what would normally take 40 mins, and it was all level and easy. It was just part of my routine (we have a dog who needs the excersise!) and I did this from when Olivia was just a week old.

After Charlie was born, we actually went and did some gentle but lengthy bushwalking, when he was just 10 days old!

Same with Lexie....she was only 6 days old and I was walking round the park (again, at a leisurely pace, pushing a double stroller.)

I might add, I am no fitness queen at all, and I did have very quick recoveries after my births, and minimal aches and pains, so I didn't push myself to excersice, it is just part of our routine. My OB saw no issue with it at all.......

Thanks for all the replies. I'll just take it as it comes. I'm usually a good judge of what my body can and can't handle.

Exactly - you will know what your limits are.

After I had Indah, Maddy was on school holidays but once she was back at school, I tended to give myself about 25mins to do the 15ish min walk to school & really took my time on the way back too...


I'm sure you'll know & I think some ppl maybe dont feel like walking, moving etc & so they make crazy statements that it's a forbidden (when it isnt!)

I really wanted to go for walks - but I had an episiotomy and could only manage walking to the letter box for a few weeks - but I agree at the very least getting outside is good for you - I found seeing other people outside made me feel better too - watching cars drive by reminded me that there still was a world out there!