WATCH the short post-pregnancy Q and A I did with Dr. Jill Gamberg from Double Bay Doctors. (Be sure to ALWAYS listen to your own medical carer’s advice first and foremost.)

ANNA: When can new mothers return to low impact exercises?

DR. JILL GAMBERG: New mothers can return to low impact exercises at around 6-8 weeks. If the delivery was complicated or there were any birth injuries, recovery time may be longer, and the return to exercise may be delayed.

It is important to check with your GP, midwife, physiotherapist or obstetrician before returning to exercise after childbirth. Mothers who have issues with incontinence, or develop incontinence once re-starting low impact exercises, should seek professional help before continuing.

There are general guidelines from the Australian Continence Foundation to follow to help plan your return to post childbirth fitness:

0-3 weeks after delivery:
1. gentle walking
2. abdominal muscle bracing (tightening your abdominal muscles without movement)
3. pelvic floor exercises

6-8 weeks after delivery (wait until your six-week doctor/midwife check before starting a group exercise program or going back to the gym):
1. walking
2. low impact aerobics or post-natal classes
3. low intensity water aerobics class and swimming (once vaginal bleeding has stopped)
4. gym program (light weights)
5. abdominal muscle bracing
6. pelvic floor exercises

8-12 weeks after delivery:
1. follow the same guidelines for 6-8 weeks, gradually increasing your intensity and weights
2. progress your postnatal abdominal muscle bracing
3. continue pelvic floor exercises

12-16 weeks after delivery:
1. consider seeing a women’s health physiotherapist for abdominal and pelvic floor muscle testing before returning to high-impact exercise, running, sport or abdominal exercise programs

16 weeks and more after delivery:
1. you may be able to return to previous activity levels IF your pelvic floor muscles have returned to normal and you are not experiencing any back pain, vaginal heaviness, or urinary incontinence during or after exercise

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Stop Planking During Pregnancy - Here's How to Modify

Ya’ll know how much I love intense exercise. But plank exercises need to be modified in later stages of pregnancy.

Diastasis recti or abs separation risks are increased when women plank during pregnancy. Plank exercises must be modified as our pregnancy progresses and our bellies get bigger.

Diastasis recti after pregnancy can lead to a bulging ‘mum tum,’ back pain, muscle imbalances, pelvic floor dysfunction, etc.

In this video, I share how to modify plank exercises like push-ups and mountain climbers to protect our tummy muscles. Pelvic floor, transverse abdominis, and diaphragmatic breathing are also covered.

If you want to get back to running and jumping after having babies… it’s a good idea to be diligent about looking after the integrity of your belly tissues and pelvic floor during pregnancy and the early post-natal period in particular.

My Strong Sexy Mammas fitness classes are PERFECT for this! Check them out. Try a 7 day free trial. What do you have to lose!?

Early Core Exercises After Baby Delivery

🚨 Ab Rehab! I am 3 weeks postpartum with Annabel. Restore your core with me. Whether your kids are 3 weeks old, 3 years old, or 30 years old... these simple exercises will serve you well! 🔖 SAVE this post using to watch later if you don’t have time right now. Send it to your girlfriends too. Core restoration is not talked about enough and many women injure themselves by doing improper exercises at the improper time. 👌In this video, I go over three valuable exercises that work the pelvic floor, diaphragm, and transverse abdominis to help flatten tummy after baby, get pelvic floor functioning properly, improve posture, decrease back pain, lower stress, improve intimacy, etc. The potential benefits are endless. If you have a few minutes - watch til the end and follow along with me. Head to strongsexymammas.com for coached workouts with Anna Kooiman. We have a brand new *6 week challenge* starting soon! Reserve your spot by joining our full year or monthly membership. Places are limited! Don't delay!

These exercises can help you get back to high impact exercise in a shorter amount of time. Some women never get back to high impact exercise. Building a strong foundation is so important!

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Doctor Pregnancy Fitness Tips

Anna Kooiman of Strong Sexy Mammas interviews Dr. Jill Gamberg about the following:

1. Why exercise is beneficial for mom & baby?

2. How much exercise do we need each week?

3. No contact sports or those that risk falling— but does that include things like bike riding & snow skiing?

4. Avoid hot Pilates and hot yoga.... or exercising in hot & humid outdoor conditions.... why?? And does this also mean we should stay out of the sauna, steam room, & hot tub?

5. How intense should we exercise? Why do we use RPE & talk test rather than heart rate?

6. How heavy or light should weights be for classes?

7. Why is it important to pay attention to our pelvic floor for both short term and long term health?

8. How can certain exercises help and hurt our chances of abs separation?

9. Old recommendations to stay off back completely.... have been replaced with something less strict- why? And how do we know if we should be conferenced and get off our back?

10. Is it okay to run and jump in pregnancy? How much? And how do we know if/when we should slow down?

11. Every women is different. Every pregnancy is different... what are some common aches/pains/issues to be aware of as it relates to exercise? (incontinence, pelvic pubic pain, round ligament pain, back pain, swelling, carpal tunnel)

12. Breathlessness... how do we know if it’s something to be concerned about?

13. Basic water & super quick nutrition tips?