Benefits of Postnatal Exercise

Engaging in regular and appropriate postnatal exercise offers a wide range of benefits for new mothers, including:

• Physical Recovery: Postnatal exercise helps restore muscle strength, tone, and flexibility, particularly in the abdominal, pelvic floor, and back muscles, which may have been affected during pregnancy and childbirth.
• Weight Management: Exercise can assist in losing pregnancy weight and achieving pre-pregnancy fitness levels, promoting a healthy body composition and boosting self-confidence.
• Mental Well-being: Physical activity releases endorphins, the “feel-good” hormones, which can improve mood, reduce stress, anxiety, and postpartum depression, and enhance overall mental well-being.
• Energy and Endurance: Building stamina and endurance through exercise can help new mothers cope with the demands of caring for a newborn, sleep deprivation, and daily activities.
• Pelvic Floor Health: Specific pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) can strengthen pelvic floor muscles, improve bladder control, and prevent or alleviate urinary incontinence common after childbirth.