Returning to Exercise Postpartum: A Safe Guide to Postpartum Fitness Recovery
Becoming a parent was a hard transition for me.
I wanted to do everything right - continue to perform at work, have a clean house, be a present and "good" mom.
But in 2018, I found myself at a breaking point. I was staying up late and getting up early to squeeze in the demands of parenting and working a full-time job.
My daughter, who was almost two, had recently recovered from open heart surgery. Every time I got in the car to go to work, I started sobbing.
I was living my life the way I thought I was supposed to, but the daily hustle was grinding me down and I couldn’t meet my own needs.
Finding My Way Through Motherhood
I needed to make a change. So I quit my job, which at the time, felt like a huge failure. I remember thinking, "I'll just take a break and come back fresh."
Guess what? Life was still demanding, and taking space for myself was still hard. I had another baby, and a year later we entered a pandemic.
Even as I found my stride as a stay-at-home parent, I realized this wasn't exactly the "break" I was hoping for.
How did I cope? I learned that my mental health is deeply connected to my ability to exercise. I found joy and meaning during some pretty hard times because of it.
As a busy parent, it's not easy to prioritize yourself. And yet, working out has become non-negotiable for me. Moving my body clears my mind and helps me feel centered, so I can show up to my life in a more meaningful way.
My Own Postpartum Exercise Journey
Getting through my pregnancies, though, was not easy. Even as an experienced runner, yoga practitioner and weight lifter, I struggled to find good information about how to adapt my exercise to my changing body.
Returning to exercise postpartum was even harder. I was a beginner all over again, in a body that didn't feel like my own.
Whether you're currently postpartum, planning for the future, or supporting friends through this journey, understanding postpartum fitness is part of our inclusive approach at Full Body Fitness in Seattle.
Your Body After Birth: What Every New Mom Should Know
If you are postpartum, you have done something incredible - you've grown and birthed a human! And now your body feels different, which is completely normal. Understanding these changes is key to building strength safely through postpartum exercise.
During pregnancy, your body undergoes significant changes to accommodate your growing baby. Your core and pelvic floor adapt, your posture shifts, and your body prepares for birth. After delivery - whether vaginal or cesarean - these systems need time to recover and rebuild through proper postpartum recovery.
Essential Elements of Safe Postpartum Exercise
This is why our postpartum fitness approach focuses on:
Reconnecting with your core and pelvic floor through diaphragmatic breathing exercises.
Slowly retraining the core and pelvic floor muscles by adding load gradually over time.
Continuing to strengthen the whole body to adapt to parenting demands.
Moving at a pace that respects your recovery, which is unique to everyone
The Truth About Postpartum Recovery
Remember: Postpartum is forever - there's no timeline for "bouncing back." Instead of chasing your pre-pregnancy body, you can focus on building strength that supports your new normal and the physical demands of parenthood.
Some days you'll feel stronger than others during your postpartum journey, and that's okay. You can continue adjusting and progressing your postpartum workout routine based on how your body feels and responds.
Postpartum Personal Training in Seattle
At Full Body Fitness, I specialize in helping new moms safely return to exercise after birth. Whether you're dealing with diastasis recti, pelvic floor issues, or simply want guidance on when and how to start exercising postpartum, personalized training can support your recovery.
Ready to start your postpartum fitness journey? Contact me for your free consultation and begin building strength that honors where your body is today.
