Exercise for nursing mothers is healthy, both for mothers and babies. One of the greatest challenges nursing mothers face is not
so much summoning up the energy to get back into a fitness regimen, but finding the time to do so. Although newborn babies sleep most
of the day, their periods of sleep are usually very short.
Here are a few tips that should help you get back into fitness:
- Do not even contemplate starting an exercise plan without first consulting your doctor or gynaecologist. This is particularly important if you had a Caesarean birth or underwent other medical complications
- Flexibility is the answer. Your baby may sleep for a few hours at a time throughout the day, or might take numerous short naps. If your baby is a napper, then shorter exercise routines several times a day will be more realistic than one longer session
- Nurse your baby before exercise. This makes it less likely that your exercise session will be interrupted by a hungry child. You will hardly be able to enjoy exercising if your baby is crying!
- Go slowly and enjoy getting back into a fitness program. Make sure the program is varied and appealing, so you look forward to your sessions
- Walking is an ideal exercise that you and your baby can do together. Just pop the baby in a sling or stroller and go out. Take your baby for a jog in a running stroller. Avoid any motion that jars or shakes the baby
- Get a comfortable cotton bra. If the bra doesn’t have openings, change back to a nursing bra after exercising. When you nurse wearing a regular bra, the position of the fabric may cause milk to remain in the breast, which could cause painful plugged ducts or a breast infection called mastitis
- If your milk leaks, cotton washable pads are more comfortable than disposable ones
- Eat healthy, well-balanced meals and drink plenty of water
Ask other family members to help you make exercise a priority. The whole family benefits when mom feels great, is in a good mood and has higher energy levels.