Contents:
- Medical Video: Recovering From a C-Section
- When can you return to exercise after caesarean section?
- Start exercise with mild heating
- Type of exercise after caesarean is safe
Medical Video: Recovering From a C-Section
Sports is one way to maintain fitness, even if you have just recovered from a major surgery such as a caesarean birth. However, you might be wondering, when is the right time to return to exercise after caesarean section? Here's the answer.
When can you return to exercise after caesarean section?
Mothers who give birth to their babies by caesarean section take longer to fully recover than mothers who give birth normally.
The length of the recovery process after caesarean section for each woman is certainly different. But generally, you need about 6-8 weeks to rest at home and wait for the stitches to heal before you can return to your normal activities. It may take longer if there are complications or infections in the suture wound.
If after 6 weeks recovering you already feel fit and the doctor has given you the green light to continue your exercise after caesarean, then it's okay to do it.
Even so, of course the type of exercise that can be done after caesarean should not be too heavy first.
Start exercise with mild heating
You can start back slowly with Kegel exercises to train the pelvic floor muscles or practice lifting both legs straight alternately up while lying down. If you feel pain when you lift your legs - especially in the incision area - this is a sign that you are too fast to start exercising. You can repeat the lifting test every week until you feel sick.
Alternatively, you can do exercises to improve your posture when standing as much and as often as possible. Pain may appear, but this is natural because you are used to bowing during pregnancy and stitch marks.
If the exercise to improve posture is correct, then after four months to six months of childbirth You can start a sport that strengthens your abdominal muscles. The method is to lie down and bend both legs. Then lift your butt up slowly. The mentioned exercises will suppress the stitches, but it shouldn't be too painful.
Remember: even though you are sure your body is strong and fit, it is still very important to consult a doctor before starting sports again to avoid the risk of opening stitches.
Type of exercise after caesarean is safe
If you have got the green light from a doctor to do a type of exercise that is more intense than warming up above, congratulations!
Sports that are classified as safe for mothers after caesarean delivery are a way of relaxing or brisk walking, running, swimming, and yoga. This type of exercise is healthy but does not cause pressure on the surgical scars. But for women who experience pelvic prolapse after giving birth, you should avoid running and other types of exercises that suppress the stomach or require you to lie down like sit-ups and squats, because it can put a great deal of pressure on the stomach.
You can exercise indoors or if outdoors, choose a shade. Don't forget to always bring drinking water so that your body stays hydrated and take a break to avoid fatigue.
