Having a baby was always a dream of mine. I grew up in Brazil surrounded by little cousins and I always felt very comfortable around babies. As soon as I got married, I decided it was time to start trying. It wasn’t an easy journey for my husband but after a few heartbreaks, we finally had our baby girl. In this post, we will talk a little bit about my pregnancy journey and recovery using postpartum exercises.
My pregnancy was bliss. I was always very active before and kept myself fit. I have a sweet tooth so exercising helped me find some balance. I felt amazing during the first few months. I didn’t experience any of the common pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness or nausea. Wanting a healthy baby and knowing that as the months passed by, I would feel less motivated to exercise, I improved my cardio and fitness levels.
I was eating healthy most of the pregnancy. I developed a strange taste for Caesar Salads and tangerines! I had tonnes of energy and as an already yoga lover I kept my practice until I was 37 weeks pregnant. After that, I started feeling very heavy and decided it was time to nest and slow down. I also wanted a natural birth and thought that building my core muscles would benefit me.
Her birth was perfect. I didn’t have any medical interventions or complications. Not everything went as planned but overall, it was an amazing and transforming experience. A few weeks after she was born, I started doing some walks with her in the pram and some at-home exercises. I did some research online and found some excellent free videos specifically dedicated to postpartum exercise and I was hooked. I learned about diastasis recti and how to identify it and minimize it.
One of my absolute favourite exercises to do pre and postpartum was Yoga. It’s amazing for flexibility and the slow movements are very welcoming when you just been through birth. I just wasn’t feeling like doing anything too hard like lifting weights for example and if you are struggling with diastasis recti heavy weights are not ideal. Pilates are also fantastic. Pilates is very much focused on strengthening the deep core and also breathing and controlled movements. The good thing is that you can do Pilates on the machine or on the mat which offer you flexibility you will need when having a newborn baby to care for. Pilates is incredible because of the slower pace you can focus on your breathing while keeping you core engaged during the exercises.
So, if you suspect you have any postpartum issues like diastasis recti or any health concern, make sure to seek help. You would be surprised to know how many mothers are going through similar issues and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Luciana joined our team as a mum blogger in 2020. A dedicated mum to a lively daughter and a dog, Luna, Luciana brings authenticity and passion to every post. Her expertise in parenting and lifestyle topics offers practical, relatable advice for real-life situations.