Great Exercises For Mums With Newborns

Before I got pregnant with Rohan I used to run, do sit-ups, and pull-ups every other day. During pregnancy I started pregnancy safe pilates which I had to stop because of placenta-previa. My exercises got cut down to a walk across town a day. Then after 18 hours of labour hoping that it would all end normally I had to have an emergency C-section. At first you can imagine I couldn't do much of anything let alone even contemplate exercise, but 12 weeks later I was itching to get back to an exercise routine! My health visitor and GP both still said no exercise but walking or swimming, which isn't enough for me to feel like I've done anything. Not only that, when do I have the time or energy to fit an exercise routine into my day anyway? Then without realizing, I started to pick up on ways I could exercise while I was playing with Rohan, which not only helped me feel better, but made him a lot happier too, as we started to bond even more than we had before!

The Exercises
One's marked with * are safe for women who have had c-sections but I advise that you should not start any exercises before you've been given the all clear from your health visitor & GP.

*Plank-O-Plane - Start by lying on the floor or a safe flat surface with your baby. Pick him up and lift him into the air above your face. (Plane noises optional) As if you were doing push-ups upside down, do a set of 10-20 lifts (or whatever you feel comfortable with). These will focus on your arm muscles while letting the rest of your body relax.

Swing Seat - This is best to do when your baby is having one of her bouts of crying. Put your baby in their car seat, make sure you buckle them in. Lift the handle of the seat and start gently swinging the seat beside you in the air. Put your other arm on your hip for balance and posture. Make sure your feet are shoulder width apart. Do 10-20 of these then switch arms and repeat. This will build not only your arm muscles but your neck, shoulder, back and chest muscles. (obviously not suitable for women who've had a c-section as this could open their scar unless fully healed)

Side-Ways Y - Whilst lying down in bed or playing on the floor with your little one do a set of 20 (or whatever comfortable with) leg lifts, note that when you bring your leg back down that it should not touch the floor but slightly hover above before lifting back up. Switch legs and repeat. This will use your thigh and belly muscles (not suitable for c-sections unless stated otherwise by your health visitor & GP)

Baby Crane -  Lay on your back and lift your knees towards your face so that you make a shelf with your legs. Place your baby sitting or laying on his back on the shelf (whichever's more comfortable and controlled). Then lift your feet into the air at an angle towards the ceiling (make sure your baby doesn't slip off ) then bring it back to the shelf hold, gently straighten your legs to just above the floor, hold then bring back to shelf position, repeat this as many times as you wish. This will strengthen your legs, stomach and back. (Not suitable for c-sections unless stated otherwise by your health visitor & GP)

*Dance Off - Hold your little one in your arms, take one of his hands as if you are about to dance ballroom with your partner. Do two steps to the left, then two steps forward, gently hopping your feet together, then two steps to the right and two steps back. After awhile add some turns after each two steps so that it is almost like you are dancing. Make sure there is enough space to do these and that their are no obstacles in the way that you could possibly trip on. If you can do this for 20 minutes or so. These will strengthen your leg and bum muscles but is gentle enough that you are just burning calories by breaking a sweat and not your scar. Don't forget to sing a tune for your little one.