At a certain point, every young mummy wonders if she can get back in shape after giving birth to her baby. However, the question should not be “if” but it should be “how” you get your body back. You gained some pounds over a period of nine months. And of course, it will take some time to get rid of them again. Here are some tips that will facilitate this process.

In the first weeks, you won’t be able to do much as your baby will need your full attention for 24 hours. Besides that, it is not recommended to do exercises shortly after giving birth to your baby. Your body needs some rest and you should respect that. So start with taking walks for 15 to 30 minutes several days a week. Take a pushchair or a baby sling and enjoy the fresh air. Baby slings are a nice alternative to pushchairs as they give you the convenience of having both hands free. At the same time you can offer your baby the security of your presence because it can hear your heartbeat and breathing.

Once you are allowed to do exercises again, you should begin slowly with a light workout. Use light weights or intensify your walking exercise on a treadmill. With Nordictrack treadmills for example you can customize your workout program. If you don’t feel like going outside, use your treadmill and walk on trails in the comfort of your living room. Just put your child in an infant seat and start your workout. Besides walking you can also go swimming, biking or jogging as these sports are particularly effective for elevating your heart rate. Increase your intensity and duration over time.

Another way of losing weight is breastfeeding. This is probably the simplest way. The fat accumulated in pregnancy provides a ready supply of calories for your baby. Try to breastfeed as long as possible. Besides various other benefits of breastfeeding, you will lose weight faster than without breastfeeding.

But getting back in shape is for most women not just about losing weight but also about getting rid of annoying stretch marks. Unfortunately there is not much you can do about it. They are a normal consequence of pregnancy. You can just reduce their visibility by using stretch mark cream. These creams stimulate collagen production in the skin which is the main issue causing stretch marks. They also smooth away some imperfections of your skin.

However, just make sure that these exercises make you feel good. Don’t overdo it. Rome wasn’t built in a day either.

Did you know?

The first pram was developed in 1733 by the English garden architect William Kent. It was richly decorated and was meant to be pulled by a goat or small pony. Even Queen Victoria bought such a baby carriage.

- Manuela

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