15/03/2026
LET'S TALK POSTPARTUM
Definitely not an easy ride!
I have reached the 6 month postpartum mark. Thinking back of my pregnancy journey, I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone by and that our precious little girl is now already 6 months old!
Getting back into your exercise routine is not going to happen overnight. Trying to "figure things out" as a first time mom and getting to your exercises hoping you will lose the weight fast, is not as easy as you may have had it in your mind.
First things first, your recovery is very important. Having a cesarean is a major abdominal surgical procedure. No heavy lifting and high intensity training for at least 6 weeks postpartum. Light walking is good to start off with but taking it easy is key until you get doctor's clearance before starting with an intense training program. Talking from experience, I only felt ready to start with my training program from 10 weeks postpartum. Not only was it pain and discomfort holding me back, but exhaustion took over. That first few weeks you try and find your feet and get into routine with your baby and figure things out. With very little sleep, you manage to keep things going in your household and caring for your newborn. It is OK not to jump back into an exercise routine so quickly!
Week 6 to week 10 I have started with light pilates exercises and walking. HOW? At home in front of my baby entertaining my newborn with exercises while she lies safely in her swinging chair or nesting pod, most of the time in the beginning it was when she was sleeping and allowed me to put her down in her nesting pod. As she grew a bit older, it was when she was calm and relaxed and allowed me to entertain her with these exercises. I couldn't manage to do more than 10 - 15 minutes a day and that was what I started with. Until now, 6 months later I am slowly getting back to my workout routine pre-pregnancy.
It was definitely helpful to get back to training as I was engaging in a safe exercise routine throughout my pregnancy. If you have doctors clearance and no complications, you can safely engage in a safe exercise routine during pregnancy. This will make it easier for you to get back into an exercise routine postpartum. Weighing 51.2 kg before pregnancy, 67.9 kg at the end of my pregnancy and now 6 months postpartum weighing 56.6 kg.
Take it easy and listen to your body. You got this mama!
Contact Kristin for a safe exercise program prescription specifically to your needs pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy and postpartum
084 449 8261
bio@kristinkinetics.co.za
