I had a c-section (my 2nd) almost 2 weeks ago and am wondering when it is OK for me to seriously start to work out. I gained a lot of weight during this pregnancy due to depression and really want to get back to 'normal' as soon as possible. My doctor did not put any restrictions on me - walking/steps were fine, drive when I felt like it, if I got too tired or was in pain to slow down a bit and take a break. I have very little (if any) pain from the surgery and feel fine 98% of the time. I have been walking quite a bit around the house and going up/down the stairs as much as possible with no issues. Getting in/out of the car also poses no issues for me.
I have the Windsor Pilates DVD's that I thought about starting, or maybe getting a Tae Bo DVD and have my daughter (2) do it with me, but am wondering if the Pilates would be too much for the 'core' right now.
What do you think? Should I wait another week or so before attempting a real ab workout or should I give it a go - just take it real easy and maybe only do 1/2 of the workout to start?
Thanks in advance,
J.
I think you should wait at least another few weeks with something like an ab workout. How about just walking for now?
I would check with your doctor at your 6 week visit. You need time to heal now and bond with your baby. If you are breast feeding, in my experience I lost weight in the first months. Enjoy your new baby ! D.
I would NOT recommend starting the kind of exercises which stress abdominal areas...you may feel fine, but your body and tissues need time to heal completely or you may do more damage to them. Any kind of surgery that cuts through tissue or muscle requires longer "down time" than just a couple of weeks. I would call the surgeon's office who performed the C-section to get his/her recommendations.
I have had 3 sections in my life and the firt one was by far the worst. I tried to do things early and I would hurt in the evening and the night and I couldn't sleep, and it was awful. My second section all of those nerves were already dead and I could do things alot faster, the same thing also happened 5 months ago with my third section. So, if it is your first I would hold off a coupole more weeks before doing pilates....I prolonged my recovery for months and didn't really feel 100% until my baby was 6 months old or so, just by doing too much! Good Luck!
As tempting as it is to try to start an ab work out, I'd wait until at least 6 weeks. Even then, I'd start very slow. For example, just start a small ab contraction by just lying on your back lifting your head of the bed. Then progress to just an isometric, pulling your belly button in towards your spine, tilting your pelvis back. Work up to holding that with some arm movement. Work on holding your abs tight while you walk or do basic things around the house. All of those things should be low intensity but still get the abs working. You just don't want to risk tearing anything.
I had the same great recovery with my first after a C-section. I chose to wait because I didn't want to risk opening the incision or injuring myself in any way. I'd wait until after your 6 week checkup and ask your doctor. Your body is still readjusting itself back to before you were pregnant. You'll have plenty of time to loose the weight, enjoy the new baby right now.
I think it depends on your body before your pregnancy. Did you do these things before preganancy. I wouldnt recommend a really hard workout if you werent conditioned for it before your pregnancy. If you are feeling little or no pain then I would think you were okay to start working out but be careful not to over do it. With the C section your muscles are still healing even if you feel fine. Just take it slow, I went back to Yoga about 3 weeks after my second C section. Just be careful and dont overdo it.
I would not try to do pilates or tae bo quite yet. In fact, I had vaginal childbirth and did not return to my cardo kicboxing class until 3 months after I delivered. Even now, I can hardly keep a plank for more than 15 seconds (9 months later). I would keep it to something like cycling, elliptical or walking for the first couple of months. The other excercises require a lot of core Ab strength.
Hi J.~
I had the same great recovery from my C-sec. I felt fine by day 3 and had virtually no incision pain no matter the movement involved. Still, I wouldn't do more than what you are already doing. Your pain level doesn't indicate faster healing. It still takes time for the tissues to heal properly and the last thing you want is to backtrack and feel worse. Just wait a few more weeks and I'll bet your doc gives you the ok!
Congrats on the newborn!
L.
I'll bet your Healthcare Provider didn't anticipate that you'd feel as good as you do! You are probably in great physical condition. A healthy body heals faster. However, your body is doubtless still healing. Even though you feel great, you still have tissues that are not fully recovered from your surgery. My advise is to call your HCP and ask him/her about your exercise regimen. Don't be discouraged if they slap some restrictions on you that seem conservative. In the long run, it's better not to develop herniations in your abdominal wall, or have problems with your bladder than to get on with your fittness program sooner.
Just depends on how you feel! Don't overwork yourself to much and don't push yourself hard. Just do whatever you are comfortable with.
I have a now 8 week old baby. I asked the same exact question 2 weeks ago at my 6 week check up. She told me to wait till 8 weeks. I asked if she was serious and she said yes since I had a c section it took 8 weeks. I reminded her I DID NOT have a c section and she okayed me to go ahead now that I was past 6 weeks. So there is my idea. I would check at 6 week exam (if you are going to it) but don't be surprised if they make you wait till 8.
Best advice is when in doubt always go with what your doctor says to do!
DO NOT EXERCISE FOR 6 WEEKS! You may be feeling great, but your insides are seriously still healing from being cut up! Walking is great and arm lifts, but nothing that even comes close to using your abdomen (crunches, leg lifts, pilates). You will do some SERIOUS damage is you workout before your insides have completely healed. You could delay your recovery time by months.
I know it seems like forever, but walking is your only alternative right now. Please be patient.
Hi J.!
I am a personal trainer and group exercise instructor. I had my first baby about 7 mo ago. I started working out 3 weeks after having her. I started getting a lot of back pain!!! I don't think I gave my body enough time. I really strengthened my abs and everything right away but ended up regreting it due to the pain that came later. I would start really slow and see how your body reacts. Good luck!
WOW - I can't beleive that your physician hasn't put more restrictions on you. Remember that you have had a major surgery and that your body is healing from being cut into. Take it easy and let your body heal completely before over-doing. Definitely don't be doing things that involve the abs until at least 6 weeks. At least that's what I was told. I was told cardio only until 6 wks and then I could get back into strenth and toning.
Be careful, you only have one body. And speaking as someone that really wants back the body I had before getting pregnant, I'd still rather be safe than sorry.
When I had my 1st daughter naturally my doctor wouldn't let me do ab workouts until my 8 week appointment. Also, I wasn't cleared to work until 6 weeks. When I had my twins and yes had the 2nd baby by c-section i was advise not to do anything but walking until my 8 week appointment. However 2 days after leaving the hospital I throw a blood clot to my lung (Pulmonary Embolism-PE) which is very serious. People can throw PEs for several months after their c-sections. So I would be very careful not to do much ab workout because your incision is still healing. Don't want to scare you but PEs can be deadly if not treated immediately. I would ask your doctor specifically if you can do ab workouts before you start.
I'd wait till your 6 week check up before you start any exercise more than a casual walk.
You won't be any good for your baby if you are in the Hospital!
Love the name.... :). I would say hold off on the ab work but it would probably be oksy to do simple things like walking and some stretches, instead of looking at a work out right know maybe just do some prep work to get your body ready for when it is safer to start on the nitty gritty, There are a lot off stretches out there that can help your body to get ready for when the doctor gives you the okay to get started on the harder stuff. Take it slow and think simple.
I was in very good shape before my pregnancy and exercised every day during it (but still ended up gaining almost 60 pounds) - I had an emergency c-section but felt fine 2 weeks after and started walking on the treadmill. At 4 weeks I had my postpartum visit and got the all-clear from the doctor and started jogging and doing the stairmaster and yoga (which I teach) right away. I recovered my fitness level very quickly and the weight came off fast (except for the last 10 pounds which took forever). If you feel good - do it! Pilates will help immensely to regain your core strength.
What does your doctor say? I don't think by not putting restrictions on you that the doc was thinking you were going to be jumping righ into ab exercises. Ask the doc - he knows what condition your body is in. I think simple walking would be ok - but wait another month or so for the more strenuous exercise - give your body a chance to heal!!!!!
