Kathleen’s update: the end of the 4th trimester

Kathleen’s update: the end of the 4th trimester

We call the first three months of a baby’s life the fourth trimester because they often act like they want to be back in the womb, but it’s also the fourth trimester for the mom. Her body is experiencing many of the same physiological realities of pregnancy (the hormone relaxin, stretched out abdominals, back pain) AND also trying to recover from childbirth. For moms the fourth trimester is a massive physical challenge, on top of also being a sleep deprived, hormone-fueled emotional roller coaster.

The 5 Things I Did BEFORE Returning to Exercise After Having My Baby

The 5 Things I Did BEFORE Returning to Exercise After Having My Baby

In my work, I often see women rush right back into exercise after they have their babies. I understand the urge– pre-pregnancy jeans are calling and the mental kick of a good workout can’t be beat. However, I’ve seen lots of women return to exercise too early or without a plan and end up injured. In an effort to learn from them, I did the following things before returning to exercise:

Study says exercise during pregnancy gives babies brains a boost- but WHY?

Study says exercise during pregnancy gives babies brains a boost- but WHY?

A really exciting study was released this week that shows women who exercise deliver babies with “more mature” brains—basically, exercising while pregnant gives your baby’s brain a huge boost! Having a smarter baby is something every mom wants and now you know you’re helping make that happen just by exercising.

3 Exercises You Can Do After You Have Your Baby

3 Exercises You Can Do After You Have Your Baby

We get asked all the time how quickly women can return to exercise postpartum. While you don’t want to vigorously exercise until cleared by your doctor (usually at your 6 week postpartum visit), there are some simple exercises you can do before then to help get your body recovered and rehabbed from pregnancy and delivery. The video below shows three exercises you can do in those first six weeks—starting in the hospital! Check them out to find out how to get your body ready to get back to exercise as soon as your doctor clears you.