Worrying about PP time off...

[LisaMarie]

I'm sure this concern has been posted somewhere along the way, but I can't seem to find anything. Although I'm happy that I've been able to continue working out at at least a moderate level throughout my pregnancy, I'm worried about the time off I'll need to take after delivery. Six weeks without lifting weights?? My arms seem to shrivel up after just a week off! I've gained 18lbs, so I'm not worried about the weight loss part---more of the loss of muscle strength/definition and cardio capacity.

Oh, yeah, and then there are the abs..I'm only doing about 15 minutes of ab work each week...planks, stability ball,etc. I was SO proud of my flat, defined pre-preg abs, but I'm pretty sure I'll never see them again

Anyone have some reassuring insight?? As I'm sure is the case with many of you (except those who have had children), it's been over a decade since I've ever gone more than a week or two without working out. Little worried about it!

 

[Jennifit]

I understand your fears, but I swear you be back to working out in no time, especially if you have been working out throughout your pregnancy! (You will not be thinking about working out for a few weeks anyway...you will be thinking of your little one and sleeping!!! LOL)

I had twins at full term - 12.5 pounds of baby and I was able to workout just a few weeks after their birth (c-section). Ok, the honest part...I had great abs too, and they are not the same as they used to be because I got an umbilical hernia and diastastis because I was SO HUGE...but, I CAN see my abs again...just not the same. All of my clothes fit, etc... I am in as good or better shape than before...

Also, your priorities will change. You (all of us) are beautiful because you are mother and, for some reason, you just don't care as much anymore because you are a mother and your child is THE most beautiful thing...I used to be obsessed with my "great abs", but I just don't care as much and it is so liberating - I finally care more about my health and fitness than about what I look like...KWIM? (And, with that...I look better) My muscle tone has gotten better...it is like when you let go, everything falls into place!

So, please try not to worry about you abs or anything else - you WILL get back into shape!! And, fast! Give yourself time to enjoy this part of your journey - it is a once in lifetime experience. Good luck!

 

[melimcn]

You'll get there, especially since working out was part of your life before and while you were pregnant. I can't tell you how neurotic I was about this while I was pregnant!

Not sure if you are having a section, I did not. I started working out 4 days after I had the baby. Like you, I didn't gain a lot, just 25 lbs. For me, it was a comfort level. No one warned me (and it never occurred to me) how much of a toll it takes on your body NOT to have any abdominal strength at all. I really thought that I'd have the baby, and have this huge relief of not having to carry all of that weight out front anymore! Boy was I wrong!
I had back spasms so badly, that I started doing belly breathing and planks (on my knees initially) to start getting strength back.
I was concerned about diastsis, because I had a 4 finger split at the end of my pregnancy. But I tied a scarf around my waist for all ab work those first 2 weeks (was just doing planks and crunches) to make sure it healed correctly.
I went back to regular workouts with Cathe and TaeBo 1 week after I had Mason.

Here's the reassuring part. If this is your first, it will all just fall off.
By week 2, I was back in my pre-preg clothes. By week 3, I had some muscle tone back.
By week 4, my "gut" was flat again if I held in my transverse. By week 5, it was flat again without having to hold it in.

Here I am at week 11. I have the vast majority of my ab muscle tone back. It's mostly there in the abdominis rectus, but not all the way. I'm getting there. Things are shaped a little differently (see my other post about the shape of my abs, muscle seems to have toned differently than it did before baby. Not bad, just that my clothes fit differently despite being the same size.)

I still have some "deflated balloon skin" around my belly button. I'm told that will take awhile to go away - some have said a year. But apart from that, I'm 100% back to normal and have been for quite awhile.

That all said - I think it's up to you when you want to start working out. I know doctors say 6 weeks. Since I didn't have a C section, I chose to ignore that and go with how my body felt. Some ladies prefer to take a few weeks off to adjust and bond with baby. For me, it was important to still have that "me" time. I found that it didn't detract from my ability to bond with Mason, and it kept me feeling healthier and more positive. There are days where I had to stop to tend to him and come back to the workout later. There are days where he's napped the whole way through. Either way, as long as I've made it through the workout at some point, I feel better for it.

So long story short, if you still have that commitment to making workouts part of your life, you'll snap back. Some folks take longer than others, but it will come back if you keep doing the work. I promise!