Postpartum Moms: Don’t Listen To This Advice

The two worst pieces of advice ever given to new postpartum moms:

1. “Don’t do anything until you’re cleared for exercise at 6 weeks postpartum” and

2. “You’re cleared for normal exercise!” at that 6 week postpartum appointment

So you’re telling me that a CrossFit mom who has deloaded their workouts over a 10 month pregnancy, then had a baby, then was told to not do a single thing for 6 weeks is now good to go hit an AMRAP with box jumps, heavy deadlifts & toes to bar just as they “normally” did before pregnancy?

That’s just not how it works.

But unfortunately, this is the advice most moms are given.

So so many will go right back into their “normal workouts” – CrossFit, group classes, running, whatever – and find themselves feeling weak, frustrated, potentially experiencing symptoms/pain, and just discouraged.

All this to say: your first workout should not feel like a normal workout.

If it does, you’re hopping back in too early.

So, what should your first workout feel like?

It should feel like a rehab/mobility/recovery session.

Then from there, it should feel like a long warm up.

Then from there, it should feel like a beginner workout.

And then that’s when you start progressively building – over time – into your “normal.”

I didn’t feel like I had my “normal” intensity of a workout until I was like 9-12 months postpartum! One where I could push my weights, pace, skill level, etc.

Now obviously I had plenty of workouts before getting to that point, but it simply TAKES TIME to build up to your personal desired level of weights, intensity, all the goods!

That’s why it’s SO important to follow a postpartum program, like my ​FIGR:Postpartum program ​, so you get the rehab/recovery you need BEFORE jumping into the weights and intensity.

From there, you’ll then progressively build into your normal at a pace that’s appropriate for your postpartum body!!

I got you,

Katelyn