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May 11th, 2015
May 11th, 2015 / Nicki Chick
Post-baby sex tips plus more ways to feel like you again Women’s Health 8th May 2015
New babies are exciting and tiring in equal measure. So it’s not surprising that many new mums don’t give a lot of thought to what will happen to their bodies in those early weeks. Here, Camilla Lawrence, Women’s Health Physiotherapist at Six Physio, gives us the facts and shares her tips on how to safely and quickly get back to feeling like you…
Address back pain
40-60% of postpartum women complain of ongoing back and pelvic pain following
pregnancy whilst common, this pain should never be seen as ‘normal’. If your pain is not
settling by itself within one week of giving birth then seek a specialist therapist for
treatment.
When to nail those Kegal exercises
Pelvic Floor Contractions aren’t as easy as they seem. Not only do 30% of women who try
kegal exercises do it wrong, but sometimes what you think is weakness, is tension and a
whole different issue. Complexities resulting from working this area incorrectly include a
weakened pelvic floor, muscle spasms, pain, and urgency and difficulty emptying the
bladder. Hence the importance of seeing a specialist to ensure you get it right.
The Sex Issue
When to have sex again – the big question! It is important to remember that everyone is
different and there’s no normal time when you should aim to have sex by. A survey has
shown that 29% of women resumed sex within a month of their baby’s birth, and almost
60% within eight weeks. This left 40% who took longer, 3% took over a year. The most
important thing is to wait until you are physically and emotionally ready.
Getting back into exercise
It’s perfectly normal to feel a little uneasy when thinking about starting your workout
routine again, and it’s important to take things slow. Pregnancy and the hormone relaxin
(that relaxes your ligaments to let the cervix open) alter how your body functions, and you
can’t expect to go back to your pre-baby workout routine immediately. During those first
weeks you’re particularly fragile, and highly susceptible to things like sprains and strains.
After about six weeks (eight after a C-section) start out with low impact activities, such as
pilates, and focus on building up your strength and core stability.
You can go back to being a gym-bunny
First, though, you need to optimise your core strength and control before re-starting highimpact
exercise, such as jogging, running, aerobics, and team sports. Ensure you are pain
free before gradually getting back to this, around three months postpartum
